Kalyn Ponga passes HIA but sparks fears with bizarre moment

Knights star Kalyn Ponga has sparked fresh fears over his concussion dramas after a bizarre moment late in his side’s clash against the Sharks.

Kalyn Ponga said he was alright post-match. Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

There was renewed concern for Kalyn Ponga on the eve of the State of Origin teams being named after a bizarre moment midway through the second half of the Knights’ 26-6 loss to the Sharks.

Ponga, who missed six weeks earlier in the season after a round two concussion, had a brain fart with just under 20 minutes to go when he walked away from the ball with a tackle left to go.

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The Sharks led 20-6 at the time and Newcastle were looking to get back in the match.

Having worked their way back into the Sharks’ 10m zone, the Knights were set up for a fifth tackle.

The referee clearly called “last tackle” but Ponga placed the ball down as if to play it, when he just walked away before realising what he had done.

“I don’t know what happened there — oh my goodness,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.

“That might have been a concussion test we just saw. What on earth happened with Kalyn Ponga?”

Corey Parker agreed: “The lead up play to this was awful, he’s given them an absolute gobful but did not even play the ball.”

What was Ponga thinking? Photo: Fox Sports

Ponga's teammates were blowing up. Photo: Fox Sports

“He thought that was the change over, he thought that was the last and he was turning it over for the Sharks — he was going to marker,” Smith added.

“I’m fairly convinced that’s what he was thinking.”

Parker said: “What that was there, I do not know. You would have to assume what you’re saying is correct.”

Earlier in the match, Ponga went for a head injury assessment after a matter of minutes into the match when he went in for a tackle and was left on the ground.

He was immediately sent for the assessment after his head appeared to bounce off the shoulder of Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Smith said it looked similar to the round two incident that left him sidelined for weeks.

“In a game in which he’s gone for a HIA and had another head knock of some force, that’s not the kind of play you want to see,” Smith said.

Post-match, Ponga cleared up that the moment was not due to concussion.

“That was fully my fault, I was half spraying them but I also thought it was last,” Ponga said. “That’s a concentration error, it’s not good enough.”

As for the head contact early, Ponga said he didn’t feel the effects.

“It was just a heavy contact,” Ponga said. “I felt fine to be honest, I went through the assessment and everything and honestly I felt pretty good.

“I’ve had enough now to know which ones are bad and when I’m not okay. Nothing but the truth there to be honest.”

The hit in question. Photo: Fox Sports

Ponga was left on the turf. Photo: Fox Sports

The NRL’s heart was in its mouth again. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

But it will be a worry especially with the State of Origin sides to be named on Monday and Ponga in a battle with the Broncos’ Reece Walsh for the No. 1 jersey.

In last years’ game three, there were three players ruled out through HIA in the opening minutes and Ponga’s concussion woes could be seen as a liability in the sport’s toughest arena.

Asked about Origin, Ponga said: “I know what’s expected in that arena. It’ll be interesting to see what Billy does. I haven’t spoken to him or anything, I’d like to be there but obviously Walshy’s playing well as well. If I get the call and I get to be in the No. 1 jersey,” I’ll be extremely privileged.”

The Sharks pulled off yet another win to pull equal top on the NRL ladder, sitting third on for and against with the Panthers, Rabbitohs and Broncos on 16 points, while the Storm or Dolphins will join them on Saturday night, while the Raiders can also move to 16 competition points with a win over the Sea Eagles on Sunday.

The Sharks scored first but the Knights evened up the score when Ponga returned from his HIA and scored.

But the Cronulla backline continued to roll on, scoring three more tries in a match where every player apart from hooker Blayke Brailey tallied over 100m.

Sharks star Nicho Hynes

“It was very scrappy, an ugly win,” he said. “But sometimes you need those wins.

“We either blow teams off the park or we lose by a fair bit so just keep learning from these sorts of games.”

Originally published as Kalyn Ponga passes HIA but sparks fears with bizarre moment