Newcastle Knights claim Kalyn Ponga’s concussion risk reduced by move to five-eighth

There has been lots of debate surrounding Kalyn Ponga and people calling for his shift back to fullback. However the data doesn’t support the critics.

Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga will remain defending at five-eighth after data uncovered the No. 6 jersey the safest position on the field.

Ponga’s move into the five-eighth role lasted just two games until his latest concussion, but he has no intention of moving back to fullback, nor changing his attacking style of play.

“I do (want to play five-eighth),” Ponga said.

“I am excited by that role just like I was coming into the season.

“I’m keen to get back there. Lachie (Miller) is going amazing (at fullback).

“I’m not going to change the way I play. Being smarter and more detail around my tackle technique, definitely. I am not going to change too much.”

Knights star Kalyn Ponga wearing the club's Anzac Day jersey. Credit: supplied.

A chorus of people – including Knights legend Andrew Johns – have called for Ponga to shift back to the fullback role when he returns to the field next weekend, with the belief the Knights skipper will be greater protected if he is shielded defensively.

However, News Corp can reveal that players taken for head injury assessments since 2020 shows that five-eighths have had the least amount of head knocks.

Five-eighths have had 32 HIAs, with halfback the next least at 36. Halves traditionally defended three players in from the sideline on either side of the field.

Broken down even further, there have been 18 instances each for fullbacks and five-eighths who have been taken from the field while defending.

Seven of Ponga’s nine head injury assessments at fullback came about with ball in hand.

Regardless, Ponga knows defending in the front line will mean he will have to make more tackles. The Knights spent the summer working hard on his tacking technique which they have again focused on in recent days.

Kalyn Ponga will need to make more tackles at five-eighth. Picture: Getty Images

“There has been a little bit more detail in what I do,” Ponga said. “Going into the season I had done a lot of reps and I was feeling confident in my tackle technique. It was a head clash and I could’ve put my head here or what not. I don’t think I need to revamp my tackle technique. There is not a whole new technique I need to adopt.

“It won’t be like I will be defending in a whole new position. The confidence I had leading into the season, I should have that. I am confident at defending at the three man.

“I know what my best plays are and I am still going to run them.

“That’s what makes me good at my role.”

PONGA REVEALS PRIVATE FEARS FOR HIS NRL FUTURE

Kalyn Ponga held genuine fears for his playing career before he underwent a series of testing in Canada.

The Knights’ million-dollar man spoke publicly and candidly for the first time about his ongoing concussion concerns and how close his playing days came to a premature end.

Ponga suffered a severe concussion in round two against the Tigers which drew widespread doubt about his long-term playing future.

While the Knights always thought Ponga would be back on the field sooner rather than later, the 25-year-old had his own uncertainty.

“It was confronting,” Ponga said.

Kalyn Ponga watches from the bench after being knocked out early in Newcastle’s round 2 clash with Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Getty Images

“It was scary at the time. After the head knock there were a few days of uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what was going on.

“It was difficult to have that thought that you might have to stop playing was weird. I was trying to be positive and open-minded about everything.

“My mum was at the game – to see her son black out and drop out was scary. Unfortunately she’s had to see that a few times.”

His latest setback came after his 2022 season ended in July after suffering three concussions in six weeks.

The concerns prompted Newcastle to send Ponga to Canada last month. He flew to Canada with Knights chief medical officer Dr Jin Lee to undergo testing at HealthTech Connex, a Centre for Neurology Studies about 34 kilometres south of Vancouver on the US-Canada border.

He undertook a six-minute test – not available in Australia – which produced a report immediately and displayed information on three different brain responses: auditory and sensory responses, basic attention and cognitive processing.

The device uses sensors that are held in place by a thin mesh cap.

Kalyn Ponga has a worrying history of head knocks. Picture: Getty Images

Ponga said the trip was life-changing as his results came back as reassuring as they could.

“That trip made me very positive and confident to play,” Ponga said.

“During that test there were words said. At the end of that test they had objective data on where my brain was at.

“The reassuring thing for me is they said if I was a normal person that didn’t have head knock history they would say I am pretty good. There were other tests we did. Within a few hours they knew where my head was at and if and when I could return to play.

“Going over to Canada and getting the clarity and reassurance makes me really confident to play.

“They just don’t deal with head knocks – they deal with people who have Alzheimer’s, dementia and slowly build them back.”

Ponga maintains contact with the Canadian concussion experts and still undertakes training to help improve his brain functionality. They have stayed across his return-to-play program.

One question Ponga did not want to ask them though was what would happen if he suffered another concussion.

NRL R3 Newcastle Knights v Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. Kalyn Ponga Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

He hinted he would need to be retested before he could play again.

“I wasn’t asking too much about having another one,” Ponga said.

“It’s not that I don’t want to know the answer I am just worried about myself now.”

Ponga is back to full training. He completed a session with Newcastle’s full squad on Thursday and has already taken part in contact and wrestle training.

He was cleared to return as early as this week but the Knights delayed that by one more game to have him physically up to speed.

“I’m fit and healthy and happy to be back,” Ponga said. “It feels like it’s been a long time.”

Originally published as Newcastle Knights claim Kalyn Ponga’s concussion risk reduced by move to five-eighth