'Crossroads': Joey unsurprised by grim Ponga admission

9 months ago 85

Newcastle Knights fable Andrew Johns has admitted helium wasn't amazed to perceive the club's $1.4-million-dollar antheral Kalyn Ponga considered retiring aft repeated caput knocks.

Ponga spoke candidly with media during the week astir his comeback, aft lone playing 2 games successful the archetypal 7 rounds.

"When I archetypal came backmost I was a spot nervous," Ponga said.

"I wasn't hesitant, but I was tense conscionable due to the fact that astatine 1 constituent I was looking astatine status astatine 25."

Kalyn Ponga successful enactment for the Knights against the Tigers. (NRL Images)

Since his return, the Knights person gone to different level and present beryllium connected the borderline of the apical eight.

Johns explained the circumstances astir Ponga's concussions meant status was a way helium could've taken.

"No I didn't cognize but it doesn't astonishment maine due to the fact that helium was successful a atrocious way," helium said connected Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.

"He had fractional a twelve (head knocks) successful 18 months, and atrocious ones, truthful helium was truly astatine a crossroads."

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The erstwhile Knights halfback said the resurgence from his beloved broadside was chiefly down to Ponga.

"Ever since he's gone backmost to fullback, helium conscionable looks similar a antithetic subordinate ... I don't cognize however galore games he's strung unneurotic now, whether it's 8 oregon 10 successful a row, but each crippled helium plays wherever they've won he's been the champion subordinate connected the tract - he's specified a talent, he's specified a peculiar player," helium said.

"His velocity endurance (is great), which means you tin prolong your velocity adjacent erstwhile you're tired, and you tin lone get that truly connected the field, you tin effort and simulate it astatine grooming but nothing's similar that crippled fitness.

Legends' telephone for imperishable Ponga switch

"He's lightning, erstwhile he's coming retired connected the backmost of those acceptable moves, nary 1 tin get a manus connected him.

"He's precise akin to Reece Walsh similar that wherever the defenders deliberation they've got him and helium conscionable burns them, that repetition speed, that velocity endurance which he's getting due to the fact that he's been connected the tract truthful much."

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