Speaking about the situation on NRL 360 on Monday night, co-host Paul Kent said he was worried the Knights could now be
wooden spoon contenders without their talismanic skipper. “The problem is they spent so much money on their fullback,
there wasn’t much money to go and get a halfback… managing their cap,” Kent said. “They’ve just got to go away and
simplify their footy. Don’t finesse their way to a win, don’t miss your tackle, all that sort of stuff…
If they make the finals they have done better than par, I don’t think they can
make the semis but I think they are a chance (of winning the wooden spoon). They have lost the dominance of Kalyn,
they are unsettled in the halves and are still trying to find their groove. Whatever
they were doing last year hasn’t been re-found this year.
“Now they have got to go away and readjust their style, they are going to
have to find a new style because they won’t have this guy for three months.
They have to play differently, they have three trying to get into two at the
moment in the halves, they have to go away and find a new blueprint.”
Even with Ponga in their side earlier this season, the Knights have struggled and
are languishing in 15th spot with two wins and five losses. Newcastle’s form
was equally patchy last season before Ponga’s Dally M Medal-winning displays
inspired a stunning 10-match winning streak and march into the semi-finals.
But league great Braith Anasta is concerned the Knights are too reliant on
one player and worries what Ponga’s extended absence will mean for their NRL season
