‘Disrespectful’: Kalyn Ponga called out after Newcastle Knights defeat

A flippant comment about departing coach Nathan Brown was strike one, and Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga has attracted heavy criticism after his effort against Wests Tigers.

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He is one of the NRL’s most talented players but Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga has been accused of “lacking desperation” while also being “disrespectful” to departing coach Nathan Brown.

Ponga’s substandard performance in his side’s 46-4 loss Wests Tigers on Saturday — he failed tidy up a grubber kick which led to a try, kicked out on the full from a restart, dropped a bomb, threw an intercept pass and battled poor defensive reads — attracted heavy criticism.

Yet it was his flippant comment when asked how he felt about Brown’s departure — “I was at lunch having a nice strawberry thickshake so I wasn’t too sad” — that was savaged by former greats.

Defeat on Saturday night, when their season was squarely on the line, has ruined Newcastle’s hopes of competing in this season’s finals.

While some of Ponga’s stats were acceptable, he still registered two errors and failed to record a linebreak, linebreak assist or try assist in a lethargic performance.

The moment that sent fans into meltdown was his casual inability to prevent Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma from scoring after a grubber kick. It prompted former NSW stars Brett Finch and Braith Anasta to go after Ponga on Fox Sports.

“There’s no energy from Kalyn at the back,” said Finch.

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Kalyn Ponga was nowhere near the play as David Nofaluma crossed. Picture: Fox Sports

“That’s really poor for a fullback there (not to cover Nofoaluma). Kalyn’s not even in the picture. He wasn’t even within 10 metres and fullbacks in those positions have to follow from the inside and there was no energy at all.”

Anasta added: “He’s not showing any desperation there. Let’s be honest, we’re looking at a sensational player, Kalyn Ponga, everybody is happy to give him a rap.

“But we have to be honest, if we don’t see him putting in the extra effort and not putting his body on the line and we need to call it out right? You never see him give up on a play, it clearly shows where the Knights are at right now.”

Kalyn Ponga and the Knights had a tough night against the Tigers. Picture: AAP

But that effort was not as bad, according to many inside the club, as the comment he made when a shattered Brown walked away.

Former Australian halfback Peter Sterling and ex-Test star Brad Fittler attacked Ponga, who claimed he was “having a nice strawberry thickshake so I wasn’t too sad” when he heard about Brown’s demise.

“It was disrespectful, no doubt about that. That comment didn’t come across well at all. He has come out and said he wouldn’t be the player he was if he hadn’t had Nathan Brown,” Sterling told Nine.

Kalyn Ponga’s flippant comment when asked how he felt about Nathan Brown’s departure was savaged by former greats. Picture: Getty Images

Fittler added: “They are talking about giving him $1.5 million and they have given him plenty of respect. The least he could have done, given the question about Nathan Brown not being at the club, he could have given it a bit more thought. I thought it was terrible.”

Ponga spoke about his form and future when penning an exclusive column for Fox Sports over the weekend, where he fiercely denied “laughable” reports he wanted $1.5 million a year for the next four seasons.

“I want to be the best. I want to be the best player in the game and that’s what is driving me, not money,” Ponga wrote. “I’ve never discussed a $6 million contract with anyone, let alone with the club or my manager.”

On Brown’s departure, Ponga wrote: “News of his exit isn’t great timing but we have to push it aside and focus on these next three weeks.

“We had a bit of a team meeting (before Wests Tigers game) where we all said we want to play these next three games for each other and have a real crack at finals.”

Originally published as ‘Disrespectful’: Kalyn Ponga called out after Newcastle Knights defeat