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Newcastle’s ‘momentous’ eighth-straight win soured by injury to superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga

The Knights have recorded their eighth-straight win, but will sweat on scans to fullback Kalyn Ponga.

Fox League
2 min read
August 28, 2023 - 6:13AM
Knights celebrating but Ponga is injured
Knights celebrating but Ponga is injured

The Knights have recorded their eighth-straight win with a 32-6 home victory over the Sharks, however will sweat on scans to star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who left the game with a shoulder injury.

Ponga suffered the injury in the same play his side scored their fifth try. The fullback was hit by Sharks centre Jesse Ramien just after passing a ball.

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Fox League’s Darcie McDonald reported that Ponga suffered a “suspected AC joint injury” and will be “sent for scans in the coming days.”

After heading out of the sheds level at six, the Knights dominated the second half with a near 100% completion rate and four unanswered tries.

Ponga starred before his injury, with his electric 48th minute run from deep in his own end leading to one of two Bradman Best tries. That weaving, 50-metre gallop proved to be the turning point of the game, with the floodgates opening for the Knights after that.

It was an encouraging start for the Sharks, who broke the deadlock when Connor Tracey continued his red-hot form and crossed in the 6th minute.

Tracey ran hard and at an angle close to the line to beat Bradman Best and score in the corner.

“His Sharks teammates love him. He’s the club’s Mr. Fix-It,” Fox League’s Darcie McDonald said.

Tracey’s opposite number Ponga would answer for the Knights at the midway point of the first half and level the scores.

After receiving the ball 10 metres out, Ponga was good enough to get past a Matt Moylan with ease to score.

“That’s as easy as you like,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.

Both sides had tries overturned in the first forty minutes, with the Bunker finding evidence to disallow them.

Dom Young had a great chance early for the Knights but his foot was ruled to have touched the sideline just before he put the ball down.

Sharks back-rower Briton Nikora looked to have scored for all money in the 30th minute, but bobbled the ball slightly after some desperate Knights defence and the score remained 6-6 at the break.

It remained that score until Best crossed in the 48th minute, with the Knights scoring four more tries after that while the Sharks weren’t able to threaten Newcastle’s line at all.

One of those including a maiden NRL try for second-rower Dylan Lucas, who handed in an outstanding individual effort.

“That’s a momentous win,” Warren Smith said.

Originally published as Newcastle’s ‘momentous’ eighth-straight win soured by injury to superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/newcastles-momentous-eighthstraight-win-soured-by-injury-to-superstar-fullback-kalyn-ponga/news-story/9863aea81f7b83b7c916f62bc43656b0