January 13, 2023 media 0

Round 1 Predicted Teams – Knights: Ponga major doubt for season start as star man pings calf muscle

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As part of a daily series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2023, the Knights are a team in need of a shake-up.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien recognises there needs to be change to get the Knights firing again and that will revolve around getting marquee star Kalyn Ponga more involved.

That has taken a backwards step, however, as his captain was revealed to have suffered a calf injury that will rule him out of the All Stars game – where he has previously represented his Maori heritage – and potentially both preseason trials, leaving him in a race to gain sharpness before Round 1.

The Newcastle Herald reported that he has undergone scans on the injury, but the full extent of the complaint are not yet known.

It comes just days after it was confirmed that Ponga would be shifting into the halves for 2023, with a training plan adapted to suit the demands of front-line defence having been agreed as early as last year, as soon as Ponga was ruled out for the season due to repeat concussions.

“If we were ever going to move Kalyn to six, now was the time,” said O’Brien. “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.”

The Knights were one of the NRL’s biggest underachievers last year and O’Brien enters the season under pressure after the team took a massive step backwards following back-to-back finals campaigns.

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Ponga and co-captain Jayden Brailey were injured for large portions of last season and the Knights can’t afford lengthy absences among their main players as they lack depth in the spine.

Kalyn Ponga in action for Newcastle Knights

(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Who’s new?

There are five new faces and all have the potential to make an impact.

Experienced forward Adam Elliott has made the switch after a season restoring his reputation on and off the field at the Raiders while Jack Hetherington has headed north from the Bulldogs where his stint was marred by suspensions and injury.

After pursuing Luke Brooks to solve their halfback dilemma, the Knights landed his Wests Tigers teammate Jackson Hastings, who can be the on-field organiser they lacked last season following Mitchell Pearce’s departure to the Super League.

Brisbane’s Tyson Gamble could end up at five-eighth alongside Hastings or as a bench utility while Titans winger Greg Marzhew should deliver plenty of metres out of the backfield and attacking strikepower out wide.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Jackson Hastings of the Tigers passes the ball during the round 10 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Who’s gone?

David Klemmer’s switch to the Wests Tigers as part of the trade for Hastings leaves a big hole in terms of experience and go-forward up front.

The departure of fellow forwards Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Pasami Saulo (Raiders) and Sauaso Sue (Hull KR) has also reduced Newcastle’s depth in the pack.

Starting halves Anthony Milford (Dolphins) and Jake Clifford (Hull FC), back-up hooker Chris Randall (Titans) and utility Tex Hoy (Hull FC) round out an exodus of NRL-level talent even if many of them failed to cement regular spots.

Key spots to unlock

The Ponga predicament is central to the team’s make-up. If he can play in the halves full-time, injury-plagued English fullback Bailey Hodgson is likely to get the No.1 jersey as there are no other specialist fullbacks in the squad.

Newcastle unsuccessfully tried to get Manly’s Reuben Garrick to fill the fullback role and have been linked to a similar play for Sharks speedster Lachie Miller.

Gamble is the likely playmaking partner for Hastings if jersey No.6 doesn’t hold appeal for Ponga.

The Saifiti twins will likely be the starting props with Klemmer gone with Hetherington and Elliott potentially starting off as bench options for the middle-forward rotation.