Kalyn Ponga detail called out as Andrew Voss drops truth bomb on Newcastle Knights

NRL commentator Andrew Voss has questioned whether the Knights are too reliant on superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga after the reigning Dally M winner did everything to keep his team in the game against the Roosters. The home side fans were left booing referee John Sutton on Thursday night after the Knights felt hard done by when Ponga was not awarded a penalty when the Roosters chases held him down with 90 seconds to go.

While the controversy erupted with 90 seconds left in the game it wasn't the only detail that left fans angry. Voss rightfully pointed out the Knights didn't do enough to support Ponga on the break, which could have handed the team a win.

Ponga broke the line and left his teammates and the Roosters scrambling. While the play-the-ball interference was very questionable, there were no teammates in sight for Ponga.

The players also took ages to support him after the play-the-ball when the Roosters defence was scrambling. This left the Knights disjointed in the final set. Then on the final play, instead of Jack Cogger or Jackson Hastings receiving the ball it was Jayden Brailey who put the weak grubber through with no result. And this didn't sit well with Voss who questioned a number of Ponga's teammates.

"The 2024 model. Unless Ponga fires, I don't think they are a top eight side...On your last play in the game. You are two down and have a chance to win. The halfback, the five-eighth, the playmaker is screaming, 'I have to have the ball'". And it is Jayden Brailey putting in the little dab. That can't happen.

"That means between the seven and the six. They didn't own the moment." Voss claimed with Ponga injured and struggling around the park due to his hip injury, neither half stood up and took it upon themselves to make a difference.

"Who steps up to the plate. Your six and seven have got to be more involved. They have got to run more. They have to own the game....If the halfback takes control and steps up and at least has a crack..." Voss questioned if the Knights had improved or learned from last season's epic run, which saw them reach the top 8.

Knights legend Andrew Johns was also lamenting the lack of support for Ponga in the pivotal moment of the game. "Where is the support," Johns said in Channel Nine commentary. He was also critical of Brailey's decision at the end of the game. "Ponga went through. No one there...that's not the kick," he added.

Unfortunately, the Knights will have to figure out their clunky attack quickly having only won twice in six games. Other than Hastings' try in the first half, neither playmaker threatened the Roosters defence with Ponga and the outside backs left to do most of the damage.

Kalyn Ponga plays through pain in tough loss

Ponga sent a scare through the team when he appeared in pain during the first-half. Because the injury wasn't muscular (like a hip flexor), the only real issue for Ponga was pain management. Once he got the injection at half-time he was moving without restriction and made a number of breaks in the second 40 minutes.

"Few needles at half-time definitely helped," Ponga said after the game. "It shouldn't be too bad I think, I just banged my hip. I was never going to come off myself. I got to half-time and just waited to see how it was and I was sweet in the second half." This is a confidence boost for the team going forward with the fullback most likely sitting out little NRL.