'Disappointed' Ponga opens up on brutal Origin axing

1 year ago 106

Knights ace Kalyn Ponga says helium was "disappointed" with his State of Origin axing but "respected" Billy Slater's determination to opt for roar Broncos youngster Reece Walsh.

Ponga fielded questions astir his Queensland dumping pursuing Newcastle's 28-18 triumph against Manly astatine McDonald Jones Stadium connected Sunday.

The Newcastle co-captain switched from five-eighth to fullback and was dangerous, mounting up a try, tallying 169 tally metres and mostly being highly progressive successful attack.

He was disposable for the Knights aft Slater, successful his 2nd twelvemonth arsenic Queensland coach, picked Walsh astatine fullback for Wednesday night's State of Origin opener astatine Adelaide Oval.

"I was disappointed early. I've got bully enactment astir maine and ... arsenic soon arsenic I knew what the determination was from Billy I accepted it, respected it and moved on," Ponga said of being chopped from the Queensland side.

"I knew I had a occupation to bash this week for the Knights and thing I did retired determination contiguous was for Queensland ... It was for the Knights.

"I privation to play games, I request to play a batch much footy and conscionable beryllium connected the field.

Kalyn Ponga was axed for the State of Origin opener. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"We had a bully conversation, I respect Billy's determination and I enactment Queensland and I'm excited to spot the boys spell retired determination connected Wednesday.

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"But we had a bully chat and I respected his decision."

Slater admitted that Ponga's concerning past with caput knocks, which led to him visiting a concussion adept successful Canada this year, was a origin successful his Origin omission.

Ponga flew to Vancouver for precocious neurological investigating aft copping his 4th concussion successful 10 months successful circular two.

The 25-year-old sustained much knocks to the caput successful Sunday's crippled against Manly but was not ordered disconnected for a caput wounded assessment.

"I conscionable person to play games. I can't interest astir that unfortunately," Ponga said.

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"But fortunately contiguous I had a mates and (they had) nary effect and I felt fine.

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"It's a portion of footy and a portion of my game.

"I've had a mates but I can't interest astir them ... I conscionable person to benignant of determination connected and bash my relation and conscionable effort and play bully footy."

Walsh volition marque his Origin debut connected Wednesday night, taking Ponga's spot despite the Newcastle superstar scoring the match-winning effort successful the 2022 decider.

"I conscionable privation to triumph games here; it's honestly what I privation to do," Ponga said.

"I request to play footy … I've had a mates of pugnacious months, to beryllium honest, with the caput knocks and everything that has been going on. So for maine I conscionable privation to play bully footy here. That's the precedence and disconnected the backmost of that hopefully things volition come, but I can't interest astir that."

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