I’m sorry Newcastle, but this won’t be your year. Unless your whole approach can change.
Kalyn Ponga’s Lisfranc injury may have cost him 12 weeks in the sideline, but it has also cost Newcastle the 2024 season.
In a struggling Newcastle attack, Ponga has been the only shining light. His ability to find space and exploit a tired defence is something the Novocastrians have relied on for too long, and now it has come back to bite them in a big way.
Knights’ fans have done it tough since the Johns era, and the administration have done them no favours. Ponga’s emergence as the premier fullback in the competition gave Newcastle hope. That hope went a little too far however – blind faith. Blind faith and reliance to a point where, without KP, the Knights are no chance.
Kalyn Ponga. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
To achieve success in this game, its imperative to have that marquee player to build a team around. Panthers have Nathan Cleary. The Chooks have James Tedesco. Manly have Daly Cherry-Evans. Newcastle, have KP. But it’s important that you play a style of footy that your marquee player fits into, not to build your whole system around that player.
Penrith seem to get along fine when Nathan Cleary is out. Sean O’Sullivan steered the Panthers home at the back end of the season in 2022. Jack Cogger did the same in 2023. Yes, the Panthers have a brilliant attack, and stars all over the park, but their system allows for success. Individual brilliance is the cherry on top of a well thought out, strategic system put in place by coach Ivan Cleary. So, when Cleary is injured, or they lose a star to another club, the Penrith system remains, and the juggernaut continues to roll on.
Newcastle’s system, so obviously hinges solely on the fullback to have a blinder. So much so, that even when he is visibly injured, and in pain, coach Adam O’Brien refuses to take him off the field, hoping for a miracle. It cost them the game against the Roosters, where KP spent most of the first half in agony, the Newcastle attack faltered. Only after medical treatment at halftime, were Newcastle able to gain momentum late in the second half, though it was too little too late.
Against the Bulldogs, the Knights capitulated. KP again was in visible discomfort. Unable to run, and no longer an attacking threat. Their attack fell apart and it cost them a try in the second half with KP failing to clean up a regulation grubber. KP finally succumbed to his injury and left the field.
adam
Adam O’Brien. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
O’Brien’s reluctance to take his star off while KP struggled to break out of a jog showed how dependent this team, and this town, is on their captain.
Statistics show that the Knights have won just 14 of their 37 games without Ponga since he joined the club in 2018.
This reminds us all of a struggling Newcastle outfit whenever the eighth Immortal, Andrew Johns, was injured. Granted Joey was something of a revelation, I find it hard to believe Newcastle are back in the same predicament some 17 years after Joey retired.
Even with KP, the knights were struggling for form. The revolving door of half combinations, and an underperforming forward pack leaves Adam O’Brien bereft of answers.
Newcastle’s roster is top 8 quality. They have shown that in the past. Dane Gagai and Bradman Best are State of Origin quality. Their forward pack has size, speed and aggression. The addition of Kai Pearce-Paul, and the return of rake Jayden Brailey had the Novocastrian outfit a lock for finals footy. However, after Round 7, the Knights are sitting 2 wins from 7 games and the prospect of their main man out for the next three months.
So how does Newcastle turn this around? Without KP sweeping around the back and breaking ankles, this Newcastle team will need to play some footy. As with all teams, it starts with the pack. If their forwards lay a platform for Jackson Hastings, the Knights can score points. But it is up to the players to stand up and take it upon themselves. ‘Origin Gags’ also needs to make an appearance. We all know what he is capable of.
This injury could be a catalyst for Newcastle to change their attitude, be accountable and play to their potential. I for one, hope this is the case, because when Newcastle, a proud rugby league town are on top, the whole town is a buzz. When Newcastle wins, rugby league wins.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Agreed which us back to the NRL's biggest hidden problem; a lack of quality top grade coaches. Newcastle is now a good Club, not the basket case it was a few years ago, so should be able to attract a strong field of coaches - except there's precious few to choose from. That's why Bennett's being linked to so many Clubs next year.
langparker
Roar Rookie
Yep, think you also see that at the broncs with the difference between Reynolds and Madden when he comes in. Madden is a reasonable half but Mam stepped up in Reynolds absence which helped. I have little doubt that Mam takes that halfback role in 2026 if Reynolds gets through this season and the next.
Maso
Roar Rookie
Halves can cop some of the blame, but without a dominant forward pack not even Joey can get you out of trouble. Jacko Hastings needs to dig into the line more for starters, and stop engaging in the grubby, niggly stuff. These props really need to knock down the front door.
Maso
Roar Rookie
It's an easy trap to fall into, and now its exposed them in a big way. Their roster would be perfect with a quality half, unfortunately they don't have that luxury hence their reliance on KP.
Cam
Roar Rookie
As a coach, if you had an average to middling roster, but the best attacking fullback in the comp, it would be impossible not to centralise the attack around that player. Would you rather Ponga handles the ball three times each set, or Gamble and Hastings?
Maso
Roar Rookie
Not comparing Newcastle to Penrith, just using them as an example. They are the benchmark of the competition, and they don't rely on one single player. Easier said than done, but every man in the Penrith squad knows their role. Newcastle used to have an element of toughness about them, a non-assuming style of grit that was their identity. I don't see that anymore.
Maso
Roar Rookie
I don't think he's that guy tbh
Johno
Roar Rookie
Knights need to employ the ex Storm, ex Roosters, ex Warriors, now Dolphins recruitment manager. Problem solved. :stoked:
Knights4Ever
Roar Rookie
This is my 25th year as a Newcastle Knights member and the injury to Kalyn has this supporter , pretty low and at this very moment with very little confidence or optimism going forward, pretty gutted to be fair. We do have players who give their all alongside our inspirational leader two of those Dane and Tyson Frizell didn’t play against the Bulldogs, fingers crossed back this week. The squad needs to have a long hard look at themselves and lift big time. Coach O’Brien has to show why he has been given an extension , in my opinion he and some players were happy to let Kalyn try and carry the huge load. Andrew Johns wouldn’t have accepted complacency or lack of effort from any player, unfortunately as talented as Kalyn he doesn’t have that strong, vocal type of personality. Thoughts are absolutely with Kalyn , who should not have played at the weekend, plain stupidity . Newcastle Knights are my team, always will be , let’s hope the team gives 100 percent moving forward.
langparker
Roar Rookie
I reckon it’s a stretch to suggest the Knights develop s game plan that Ponga can fit into and then use the Panthers as an example. Aside from the odd games missed because of injury by Cleary or Luai in the past 3 or 4 seasons, Penrith have had their key playmakers (Edwards/Cleary/Luai/Yeo) intact for all but around 20 games. After Koroisau left, they’ve had a few hookers but they know better than to try to overcall Cleary or Yeo as first receivers. Generally, there has only been one of the four injured at any one time so whoever has had to slot in has had the remaining three to guide them through the plan. The Knights have shuffled through spine candidates in the same four seasons, including the unsuccessful attempt to turn Ponga into a 5/8. They’ve never had a dominant hooker, halves or ball-playing lock. When the made their 8 game run last year Ponga was fresh from an injury break & didn’t have a post origin hangover while Young gave them a significant outside back advantage. Things are different this season, Ponga has been dominant at times but has been bashed around while Young is gone. The Safiti twins look a bit slow to me, solid props but certainly not origin material while Frizell is showing the effects of his hard-nosed style. Gagai suffers from having ordinary halves inside him, unlike when he suited up in maroon. Best needs to be set up, a bit like Kotoni Staggs, he’s a ‘run through a brick wall’ centre, not one with flair and finesse. Without Ponga, I reckon O’Brien needs to scrap his current style and get the team to play grafting footy, staying in the game as long as possible to jag their wins.
Albo
Roar Rookie
There are a few problems that the Knights need to deal with urgently: 1. Despite having 6 Origin players and 3 Internationals ( Ponga, Gagai, Best, Frizell, the Safiti twins, Leo Thompson, Pearce -Paul & Will Price) in their squad, their pack hasn't dominated any other team this year and the only creativity has been all with Ponga. 2. The whole pack needs a good rollicking by the coach and fans. They are going nowhere until their pack can dominate teams, because they now don't have Ponga to get them out of gaol. 3. Their halves (Hastings, Gamble & Cogger) have shown no creative chops at all this year. The last chance seems to be to give Will Pryce a shot in the halves ? But it will still all depend on the forwards getting dominant. And they really should, with the experience they have there ? But right now you wouldn't feed any of them except for young guns Lucas & Thompson. The twins need to get serious and lift along with Elliot, Brayley & Frizell.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I think you're right Maso but it begs the obvious question, is Adam O'Brien the bloke to come up with Plan B? He's been there long enough and had enough games where Ponga hasn't been available to sort out different game plans and there's not much to show for it.