Knights return a weight of Ponga’s shoulders: Gamble

Jasper Bruce | April 25, 2023

Newcastle utility Tyson Gamble expects the best is yet to come for Kalyn Ponga after having the weight lifted off his shoulders by returning from his latest concussion.

There were serious fears for Ponga’s playing future when he suffered his fourth head knock in ten months during round two, but consultations with a specialist in Canada cleared the State of Origin star for his NRL return.

The Knights nevertheless took a cautious approach and waited until he had spent six weeks on the sidelines before welcoming him back for the round-eight clash with North Queensland.

Anointed Newcastle’s starting five-eighth in the pre-season, Ponga made his return via the bench and was solid in 53 minutes of game-time.

The 25-year-old could not prevent an 18-16 loss in his 100th NRL game but the Knights are taking confidence from Ponga’s long-awaited comeback.

“He’s only going to get better,” said Gamble.

“The confidence is just going to keep growing with him.

“I think he sort of a bit of the weight come off his shoulders. First game back after something like that is pretty intimidating.

“But he held himself really well.”

Gamble started at No.6 on Saturday and switched into the middle of the park when the Knights captain entered the fray.

After the game, coach Adam O’Brien revealed the humid Townsville conditions played into the decision to start Ponga from the bench against the Cowboys.

Gamble said Newcastle would wait until after training on Tuesday to confirm whether Ponga would need another week of restricted minutes in Friday’s clash with Parramatta.

The utility is open to keeping the gameplan the same, or returning to the bench.

“I just want to be playing NRL week in, week out,” Gamble said.

After tight losses in the past fortnight, the Knights are only too aware that a fit Ponga is essential to keeping on the right side of the scoreboard in 2023.

“As long as we can keep him on the field for the rest of the year, we’ll go a long way to making the eight,” Gamble said.

“Obviously you want your best players out on the field all the time. To see KP come back from, I wouldn’t say close to retirement, but thinking about it, it’s pretty good for him.”