NRL: Kalyn Ponga has backed Wayne Bennett’s appointment as Queensland coach, but first he wants to beat the master mentor
Kalyn Ponga is happy to play under Wayne Bennett with Queensland, but wants to take down the super coach this week when Newcastle take on Souths in Sunday’s elimination final at ANZ Stadium.
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Kalyn Ponga has backed Wayne Bennett’s appointment as Queensland coach, but first he wants to beat the master mentor when Newcastle take on South Sydney in Sunday’s elimination final.
Bennett will return to the Origin arena for the first time in 17 years to coach the Maroons after Kevin Walters picked up Brisbane’s top job.
Ponga has never played under Bennett, so he is looking forward to connecting with the seven-time premiership-winning super coach.
But first the Newcastle fullback is focused on defeating South Sydney on Sunday to keep the Knights’ season alive.
“He (Bennett) is obviously a great coach and it would be exciting, but in saying that I’m going up against him this week, so I don’t want to say too much,” Ponga said speaking as a Fox League Ambassador.
“I have heard that he is a great people manager and he cares a lot about his players, so it will be interesting to see what I can learn from him.
“In this (Origin) arena there is a lot of trust that you rely heavily on because you can’t really learn a game plan in a week.
“I know that Wayne is good at getting people together, so that is exciting.”
Ponga revealed Walters called all the Queensland players to inform them that he will be departing the Origin role to coach Brisbane.
“It is exciting,” he said.
“I said good luck to him and thank you for everything, especially for me given he gave me my first jersey.
“I wish him all the best.”
For now, Ponga is happy to put November’s Origin series aside to concentrate on the finals.
He first tasted the NRL post-season with North Queensland in 2016, which also was his NRL debut, when he played on the wing in the second week of the finals against Brisbane.
Four years on, Ponga feels like he is more experienced, and battle hardened to handle the big stage.
“Your debut is always your most memorable game, but this year I’ve worked a lot harder to get here,” he said.
“I was just thrown in last time I was in the finals, whereas this time I’ve worked hard so it probably does mean a little bit more.”
Newcastle face a tough task to defeat an in-form South Sydney side, who piled on 60 points against the Roosters in the final round.
The Knights also have their own deficiencies, especially in defence.
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien recently described his team’s inconsistency as ‘between the ears’, and Ponga agrees the Knights need to be stronger in the mind if they want to progress beyond the first week of the finals.
“It is obviously indicating a mental (issue),” he said.
“Everyone is fit at this time of the year. We can’t really get fitter, so for us it is mental.
“I can’t really pinpoint one thing as to why we’ve been inconsistent but for us we just have to play our best footy for a month.
“It doesn’t really matter what you’ve done up until now, you just have to go out there and give it your all.”
10 of the 17 Newcastle players named for Sunday’s elimination final against Souths haven’t played finals football, but Ponga isn’t worried if the Knights play to their potential.
“Our best footy is good enough, it is just about delivering that on the weekend,” he said.
“There is a bit of nervous energy or vibe getting around the place, but that is a given considering it is the finals.
“We are excited.”
The Knights versus Rabbitohs elimination final at ANZ Stadium is live with no ads on Foxtel on Sunday from 3.00pm.
Originally published as NRL: Kalyn Ponga has backed Wayne Bennett’s appointment as Queensland coach, but first he wants to beat the master mentor