New Zealand Rugby League has lured young Australian gun Kalyn Ponga into a Kiwis training camp to try to persuade him to pledge allegiance to New Zealand.

The 17-year-old Ponga is regarded as one of the best sporting teenagers in Australia.

He had four NRL clubs, plus the Queensland Reds and Brisbane Lions chasing him before he chose to go with the Cowboys and all signs are that he's destined to be a superstar.

Although born in Australia, he has Kiwi parents and they all returned to New Zealand to live following the tragic death of his 18-month old younger brother, Kacey, in a car accident in 2006.

They are now back in Australia and Ponga is on Queensland's and Australia's radar and has state and country at under-15 level.

But the NZRL is determined not to lose the gifted young fullback without a fight, so flew him last weekend to Auckland where he roomed with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to give him a taste of the Kiwis' environment.

"I enjoyed every minute of it," Ponga said.

"It's been an eye opener for me, to get around the boys. They are people that I look up to and I'm pretty fortunate to get the opportunity to be around them."

Tuivasa-Sheck said that although he told Ponga about his experiences playing for the Kiwis, he didn't try to twist the teenager's arm.

"We enjoyed a bit of time hanging out," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"Talking about what he does at Townsville and not once I said to him that he needs to play for the Kiwis.

"I hope he enjoyed himself in camp and it was good to have him here."

Ponga played eight games for the Cowboys NYC team at the end of this year's season and scored six tries, capitalising on his deadly sidestep and quick turn of pace.

Ponga says he's in no rush whether to throw his lot in with New Zealand or Australia, but says he got a lot from his time with the Kiwis.

"Predominantly growing up in Australia and playing most of my rugby league there, I did get exposed to how the Aussies play," he said.

"Being picked in Australian sides and representing Queensland, you can get overwhelmed and lean towards the Australian way.

"So to come over here and experience this culture has opened my eyes about the New Zealand way and also how important family is.

"In terms of where my allegiance lies, I don't really know at the moment, I want to experience as much as I can and go from there."

In recent years the Kiwis have lost James Tamou and Valentine Holmes to Australia. NZRL general manager of high performance and football Brent Gemmell says they're keen on showing talented young players based in Australia, but with New Zealand roots, that there is another path.

"It's ensuring that those boys who have Kiwi heritage understand the opportunity that exists within the New Zealand environment," he said.

"This is not something we'd do for every athlete, but it's something you'd do for those who are very special and he definitely appears to be a one in a lifetime scenario."