NRL: Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga set to retain the captaincy to push the Knights into the finals

There’s not much Kalyn Ponga can’t do and his newest job at Newcastle could be crucial as the Knights make a finals push.

Kalyn Ponga leads by example against Brisbane. Picture: NRL Images

Knights coach Adam O’Brien says he will consider retaining fullback Kalyn Ponga as team captain in the run to the finals as his side prepares to get their first-choice spine together for an extended period at just the right time.

Ponga was skipper of the Knights for the first time against the Broncos in the 28-20 win and set up two tries in a classy display, while veteran half Mitchell Pearce starred in just his seventh game of the season after returning from a month lay-off with a hamstring injury. Hooker Jayden Brailey was rested against Brisbane but should return for the vital clash with the Sharks on Sunday week.

“There is a four-man leadership group I named in the pre-season and (Ponga) is one of them. There is Jayden Brailey, Kalyn, Mitch Barnett and Daniel Saifiti,” O’Brien said.

“I just feel like we needed an injection of energy on the back of four days (turnaround) and I knew he was going to lead. He was really clear with his footy and knew exactly what we wanted to achieve without having a whole lot of training sessions there, so I think he could articulate the message to the playing group.

“I threw him a 20c piece at training during the week and said ‘you better learn to flip that and give us a bit of a boost’. When you think about the Knights you think about Kalyn Ponga.

“Daniel and Jayden have shared (the captaincy) but it might be that I go with Kalyn and Jayden. One does the toss and one runs them out. It is just a four-man leadership group and they are all getting experience…but KP was the right man this week.”

The Knights get around Mitchell Pearce after a try. Picture NRL Images

Pearce was outstanding against Brisbane. After the Knights struggled to make the most of a mountain of possession early, the 32-year-old took control, scored a try and got his forwards going.

“Junior was the one who calmed them down and steered the ship,” O’Brien said.

“We haven’t played with our full spine except for the one game against the Cowboys (in a 38-nil win in round 16).

“Now we have a longer turnaround thankfully and we will get rest first, but we will get our spine together and get some training. Having Mitchell, Kalyn, Jake Clifford and Jayden Brailey…I’d like to think our best footy is still in front of us.”

Newcastle went into the top eight with the win over Brisbane but will have to wait until round 21 is completed until finding out if they stay there.

The Knights were far from their best against the Broncos after having the first four-day turnaround in the NRL since the Titans in 2009.

“There is stuff that we will fix up but it is hard to be critical of them at the moment,” O’Brien said.

“They found a way to get themselves not only physically right to compete…but also mentally. That was our biggest asset.”

O’Brien said “defensive resolve” would be the key to going deep into finals football, if they did make it.

“We’ve leaked too many points this year and we need to pick that up if we are going to compete at the back end of the year,” he said.

Originally published as NRL: Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga set to retain the captaincy to push the Knights into the finals