The title says it all.
Kalyn Ponga is staying in Newcastle until 2027.
This should put to bed all the BS the Sydney media have been playing out about how Ponga will go to Redcliffe, Cameron Munster is on Newcastle’s radar and the rest of the crap they aim to throw on us.
Kalyn Ponga has been Newcastle’s best player in their last two encounters.
He scored a try in Newcastle’s Easter Sunday loss, there was his try-saving tackle on a rampant Tarim Sims and there was a try assist to his name. Ponga was the best player on the park.
If we compare Newcastle’s first six this season to last season, they have scored less and conceded less for both tries and points.
Same goes for metres run and metres conceded.
Tackle efficiency and completion rates are down and there is an increase of tackle breaks. Unfortunately, they have fewer wins in their opening six this year than last.
I do have a golden question to ask: is Kalyn Ponga the right choice to be the Newcastle Knights’ captain?
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Personally, I don’t mind him being the captain but Tyson Frizell or Dane Gagai would be my pick while Jayden Brailey is on the sideline.
Could this announcement be a difference maker? Absolutely.
Now, we don’t have to deal with every Sydney sports journalist trying to cause a wedge between the Knights with their cock-and-bull stories.
It may also take pressure off and it could even lead to better displays on the pitch.
Against the Dragons, Newcastle had the game in their hands but they just let it slip.
Their next two games are at home against two red-hot teams, Parramatta and Melbourne.
Parramatta are the next opponent and despite coming off a last-second lost to the Wests Tigers, they’ll be playing with a point to prove.
The Knights have to prove to themselves and us fans they are capable of bouncing back.
I can think of a certain year the Newcastle Knights lost four games in a row and bounced back: 2001.
We all know what happened that year.
This week is the time the Knights need to bounce back to show exactly what they’re made of and now all the speculation about Ponga is over, let’s show them exactly what we are made of.
Justin
Guest
Wayne Bennett was the main reason Ponga went directly back to the Newcastle management & signed a new contract. Ponga’s father actually met with Bennett & Bennett did nothing but talk trash about the Newcastle club as a whole. Ponga’s father didn’t like all the negativity about Newcastle, as the Club had always been good to him & Kalyn. So went back home & advised Kalyn to take up the new deal at Newcastle! Good work Wayne…
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
If he's the best every week the rest must be pretty ordinary . I see they got rid of Barnett to get that few extra dollars for Ponga .
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Ponga was the best player on the park. You are deluded. He had a couple of nice touches as you mentioned but was barely sighted otherwise. I was at the game he wasn't even close to being the best on the park. Ben Hunt was much better
Robbin Banks
Guest
The big bad Sydney media is the problem, deeeeeeflection. Ponga has had two good games this year , that means he's used up half his quota :thumbup:
max power
Guest
5 in a row coming up