NRL finals 2023: Kalyn Ponga scare, Jackson Hastings injury sour Knights’ epic finals win

The Knights are through to week two of the finals but face adversity with Kalyn Ponga copping a scary head knock and Jackson Hastings injured.

Jackson Hastings down after re-injuring his ankle. Picture: Getty

The Knights are through to week two of the finals after they outlasted Canberra 30-28 in extra-time in the most dramatic game of the year, decided by a late Kalyn Ponga penalty.

The Raiders led 16-6 at the break, fell behind 28-16 after a flurry of Knights tries, somehow fought back to level things up and then missed two field goal attempts that would have won them the game in regulation.

That sent the game into extra-time where they had a golden chance to hit the lead when Kalyn Ponga spilled a bomb, but Jamal Fogarty had his field goal attempt from close range charged down by Tyson Gamble.

That was only the start of the drama as the Knights found themselves in range and were denied the chance to take a shot because of Hudson Young who pressured Ponga from an offside position.

It was the only chance the Knights hero needed, with Ponga slotting the penalty goal from in front to have the home crowd celebrating like it was 2001.

Kalyn Ponga copped a knock late but played on to notch the winning penalty goal.

KNIGHTS BITE BACK

Newcastle five-eighth Gamble made a stunning biting claim against Jack Wighton but then dramatically backed off his claims afterwards, insisting it was an accident and should be left on the field.

Gamble starred for the Knights in their 30-28 win over Canberra before a full house of screaming Novocastrians, the decibels rising significantly in the second half when Gamble rose to his feet and pointed to what appeared to be bite marks on his right arm.

The ramifications are significant, not just for Wighton but also for South Sydney, the club he will join next season. The match review committee will meet on Monday morning to review the footage and likely seek a formal statement from Gamble.

If his comments after the game are any indication, they may struggle to get information out of the Newcastle No.6. Asked after the game about the incident, Gamble said: “Just leave it where it was mate. What happens on the field stays on the field. Everything is an accident – it’s all good.”

The match review committee may not be as blasé given the incident sparked outrage among Knights fans and commentators.

Braith Anasta and Corey Parker were among those to suggest Wighton should have been sent off.

“I don’t know how he didn’t get sent off the field,” Anasta said on Fox League.

The Rabbitohs will be on tenterhooks as they await the results of the match review committee meeting on Monday morning. Wighton is Souths’ major off-season recruit but he may miss the start of next season, including the Rabbitohs trip to Las Vegas to play Manly, if he is handed a significant ban.

Wighton could have served any potential ban in the upcoming international tournament but retired from representative football before the State of Origin series, meaning he is not in calculations for Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga.

Jack Wighton allegedly biting Tyson Gamble.

Knights playmakar Gamble was incandescent as he rose to his feet and pointed to his wrist, claiming he had been bitten. There appeared to be clear marks on his arm.

Wighton insisted he had no choice.

“Hey sir, he lays on the back of my head, and pushes down. What am I meant to do?” he said to Klein.

Klein then addressed Gamble.

“Is there a bite or there’s…” he said.

Gamble replied: “There’s a bite mate, he bit me.”

Klein then spoke to the bunker: “There’s a mark there but you tell me what I’m seeing, because I haven’t seen it.”

After speaking to the bunker, Klein opted to place Wighton on report and allow him to finish the game.

Tyson Gamble shows off the fresh bite mark.

CRANK THE AC

Spring has sprung, the action is heating up and Ponga just showed the footy world why he might just be the hottest star in rugby league.

The Knights fullback was supposed to be the target of Canberra’s big men who were urged to go after the injured shoulder that kept him out of their Round 27 win.

Things started well for Ponga and the Knights when he played a part in Greg Marzhew’s opener in the first few minutes, but he was restricted to just two carries in the first half which led to fears he was far from 100 per cent.

But the bite seemed to ignite something in him and his teammates as the hosts exploded with three tries in nine minutes which started with Ponga backing up a Kurt Mann break to get the Knights back in the contest.

That got the crowd going and it was only a matter of time until Ponga was again in the backfield, this time linking up with Englishman Dom Young who tied things up before his fullback slotted the sideline conversion to put them in front.

Young then turned provider the following set for a Dane Gagai try before the towering winger sent the heaving crowd of 29,548 into raptures when he finished off a length of the field effort in his final game as a Knight at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Jack Wighton making the most of his teeth before they all get surgically removed once he arrives at Souths

— Hux (@AdamHux2) September 10, 2023

I can’t believe Jack Wighton is still on the field! I just if you’re a man and it’s a big game it’s okay!

— Hann (@princess_hann_) September 10, 2023

Jack Wighton should be off the field what is this nonsense? #NRLKnightsRaiders

— Rewster (@Rewster7) September 10, 2023

Ashley Klein has completely lost the plot. Not sending Jack Wighton off for a pretty obvious bite is beyond belief #NRLKnightsRaiders

— Gene Irvine (@geneirvine12) September 10, 2023

BATTLE OF HASTINGS

The Knights are sweating on the fitness of veteran halfback Jackson Hastings who is in massive doubt for Saturday’s trip to New Zealand after he failed to return after the break with an ankle injury.

Hastings aggravated the syndesmosis injury that has kept him sidelined since Round 24 when his feet collided in a tackle late in the first half.

The halfback broke his ankle last year in a sickening hip-drop tackle by Patrick Carrigan, and there were fears he’d done something similar when Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston brought him down with another hip drop last month.

There was nothing illegal about the contact this time which left Hastings writhing in pain and unable to return to the field with his side down by 10 points after a double to Raiders winger James Schiller.

Kurt Mann filled in admirably but the reliable Adam Clune is on standby if Hastings is ruled out.

Jackson Hastings down after re-injuring his ankle. Picture: Getty

GREEN WITH ENVY

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said no one expected his side to even make the finals after they limped into the top eight, but they played like a team that deserved to be there and could have easily knocked off the $1.10 favourites.

Already without star middles Josh Papalii and Corey Horsburgh, the Green Machine lost youngster Hohepa Puru in the opening few minutes to a head knock.

They played like a typical Stuart side, bashing the Knights in the first half and hitting the lead with some unorthodox tries including Trey Mooney’s first in the NRL which came off a line dropout.

The lead could have been even greater had Ata Mariota been given the benefit of the doubt by the Bunker who ruled he had been held up by Adam Elliott.

Even when it looked like they were dead and buried, the visitors found a way to fight back with Matt Frawley silencing the crowd with a solo effort before Tom Starling tied things up with three to go thanks to a couple of audacious offloads.

They even had the chance to win it in regulation but Jamal Fogarty had a field goal attempt charged down and then Frawley shanked his attempt in a wild final few seconds.

Originally published as NRL finals 2023: Kalyn Ponga scare, Jackson Hastings injury sour Knights’ epic finals win