Adam O’Brien has confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in the NRL.
Debate over how to correctly use Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga will continue to rage but O’Brien has confirmed the Queensland fullback has been training as a five-eighth since late last year with a view to starting in the No.6 jersey in Round 1.
As soon as concussion problems sidelined Ponga late in the season, O’Brien revealed the 24-year-old immediately began preparing to make a transition into the halves.
“When Kalyn was ruled out for the end of the (2022) season with his HIA issues, the decision was made then,” O’Brien told SEN Radio on Tuesday.
“If we were ever going to move Kalyn to six, now was the time. Essentially, we’ve had five months to change his training program and he’s obviously put some size on.
“He’s been training at six all summer and he has been doing a really good job at it.
“We’ve had a number of guys train (at fullback) over the summer such as young Bailey Hodgson who is finally injury free.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
“He’s trained there most of the summer alongside guys like Dane Gagai and Tyson Gamble has spent some time back there.
“Strengthening that fullback spot remains a priority for us.”
Noise also continues to grow that Sharks speedster Lachie Miller will end up at the Knights to wear the No.1 jersey.
Ponga will link with former Wests Tigers halfback Jackson Hastings, who has recently joined the club on a three-year deal, and O’Brien believes will be the perfect partner for the skipper.
“(Hastings) will make the transition for Kalyn to six so much easier,” said O’Brien.
“He knows the game well and he’s a general so he will steer the team around, he’s very vocal and he’s very clear about what he wants those to do around him.
“That allows Kalyn to be himself and doesn’t bog him down with a lot of responsibility of him being a director.
“I want Jackson to steer the team around and get Kalyn the ball in the space that we need to get him in.
“They’re working really well together at the moment.”
There were big expectations for Ponga when he first joined the club in 2018, but has come under much scrutiny for not living up to his recent million-dollar per season price tag.
The Knights will be hoping the positional change brings the best out of their star, especially after the club has produced very little the past few seasons.
Their first trial will be against Cronulla at Central Coast Stadium on February 10 and they kick off the regular season against the Warriors in Wellington on March 3.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Ponga is a great player but a bit like a couple of other gun fullbacks a bit prone to injury. Moving him into a spot where he will have a bigger physical demand seems a bit dim to me
Nathan Tee
Roar Rookie
Isn't he out of gaol now? The knights could sign him up, he would be angry & awesome!!!
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I don't see it changing his attack much - if anything it limits him to one side and takes away some of his broken play threat. He is going to have to do significantly more tackling (obviously) which i would think impacts his offensive effectiveness and increases his risk of injury - for which he has been very prone. 6 full seasons in first grade and he averages less than 16 games per year never having played more than 20. I think this is important. People like to reference a player like Lockyer for the fullback to 5/8 change. In his 8 first full seasons he played full back averaging 23 games a year. Apart from being a generational talent, his body didn't fail him. Similarly Munster came into grade and played basically 2 full years at fullback barely missing a game Greg Inglis shifted to 5/8 for only one season (granted a very good one) but found himself moving back to centre and eventually fullback, so he isn't the poster child for the move either. There have been others like Hornby and even Preston Campbell who made the move from fullback to halfback, but even though they were both good players, i think the expectation on Ponga is far greater and again - both of those guys, even though they weren't huge men, were durable. In terms of playing style, i think the closest comparison is the former Eels, Titans and NSW player whose name we don't mention but he also had a stint with the 49ers in the US. Parramatta tried him at 5/8 several times in his career and even Parramatta and the varying degrees of back office incompetence they had, recognised they were limiting his impact when he played 6. He was also a bigger body and better defender and they still kept him at fullback. So i just don't see the rationale here.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
True, I use it only as a tangible to support my own 'watching' that Ponga is no worse than other defenders (Albo's major criticism) currently wearing the 6.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Yeah if he thought Kev wasn't a good coach... He's in for some fun....
Adam
Roar Guru
Gamble knows lots about the quality of coaches, so there's that...
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Agree Albo, it’s a junk stat for most purposes. It’s pretty obvious who can tackle and who can’t just by watching the game. League isn’t played on a spreadsheet.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Ask Cody Walker. Or Darren Lockyer. Or Matt Burton for that matter. If they're not available Jack Wighton might have a few thoughts on the matter. Munster came into grade as a ripping fullback. Greg Inglis handled both positions on top of being the best centre in the game.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I am not sure how Ponga will go at 6 defensively ? We know he can attack. But I suspect he will be strongly tested by edge forwards running at him trying to work him over to limit his effectiveness with the ball. He will now be in the front line of defence expected to make up to 30 tackles a match , unlike his previous couple of tackles a game at fullback . Time will tell how he copes.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
So how will Ponga defensive strategy be any different ? He was the same size as Munster last year, has played in the middle for Qld and coach quoted as saying he’s built up a bit. Apologies Luai not there, he missed 7 regular season games.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yeah. But I don't rate missed tackles as a major KPI for those players rushing up in defence and particularly those chasing down kicks, like these number 6's all do. Many of the top missed tackle offenders are also top of the tackle counts ( mostly forwards I'll admit) . Often, even missing the tackle is still enough effort to allow others to get to stop the ball carrier. And, I don't see Luai in that Top 50 list ?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes I could see Miller working as a 5/8. There’s a lot of similarities between league 5/8 and rugby sevens (the game, not the 7 jumper).
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Did you check NRL.com top 50 for missed tackles ? Munster's in, so is Luai, so is Burton, so is Foran, and Jack's at 31. Mam only played 13, but he squeezed in as well.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
you would think one more head knock and that will be the end of it.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I don't know why you would want to put a great ball runner and game breaker in the middle where he can't move.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Definitely Munster, whilst Luai, Wighton , Burton & Foran are more than handy defenders at 6.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I think RCG played in the 6 jumper at the World Cup …does that count?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Name 1 notoriously good defending 6 in the NRL.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Lachie Miller will be a good signing
Redcap
Roar Guru
It makes sense to me. Will Pryce will arrive next year - best to get Ponga acclimated to the position in the interim and he's obviously quite capable of doing it well. No harm in giving Hodgson a run to see what he's got either. And who else have they got? Clune and Gamble - pffft! Crossland - hell no.