Andrew Johns blasts ‘sad’ Kalyn Ponga toilet cubicle debacle

Knights legend Andrew Johns has weighed in on the Kalyn Ponga toilet cubicle video, offering a sobering take for the Newcastle captain.

Andrew Johns has blasted the Ponga situation. Photo: Getty Images and Instagram

The Newcastle Knights' greatest ever player Andrew Johns has given Kalyn Ponga a sobering reality check as the toilet cubicle drama continues to play out.

Ponga and injured teammate Kurt Mann were filmed coming out of a toilet cubicle together at the Delany Hotel on Saturday night, sparking an investigation from the NRL and widespread condemnation.

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Ponga’s father Andre told The Daily Telegraph Kalyn was “sick in the toilet and his mate went in to help him”, an excuse which was widely panned by fans and journalists.

The plot thickened further on Wednesday when it was revealed the pair were only at the premises for 25 minutes.

Ponga and Mann reportedly arrived at 10:45pm before leaving at 11:10pm, after the Knights match had finished.

Staff at the venue also reportedly told the club both weren’t intoxicated and the pair were subjected to a targeted drug test by the NRL on Tuesday.

Speaking about the drama on Channel 9’s Freddy and the Eighth, Johns, who is a coaching consultant for Newcastle, echoed the sentiments of Knights head of football Peter Parr, saying “it’s not a good look”.

“It’s hard for me to comment because I’ve lived a colourful life … but it makes me sad, not angry,” he said.

“The Kalyn and Kurt Mann stuff is still before the tribunal. It’s not a good look when your team is playing away and the captain’s out, and you’re out on the drink.”

Joey has dropped the old parental favourite ‘not angry, just disappointed’. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The issue has sparked conversations around whether Ponga is the right man to lead the Knights going forward after a horror season in 2022.

Ponga signed a five-year deal with Newcastle in April which The Daily Telegraph reports is worth more than $6 million.

But the current drama has raised questions over whether Ponga should retain the captaincy.

While Johns was disappointed, he believes the 24-year-old will continue to grow into leadership.

“Those questions are warranted,” he said. “I think he does (need the captaincy) – he’s their best player.”

Fittler interjected: “He’s the one the whole club’s based on, you need him to lead and he’s just got to become a leader.”

In his press conference earlier in the week, Parr, who used to work for the North Queensland Cowboys, blasted the “lack of leadership around the playing group”. However he said it was up to the coaches and staff to help educate the young leaders developing at the club.

Johns said Parr was the right man to turn Ponga’s leadership skills around.

“I thought something Peter Parr said was that when JT (Johnathan Thurston) first went to the Cowboys, there was some rough edges and a few up and downs when JT first got the captaincy,” he said

“But Parry mentored him and we all know the captain and player and leadership qualities of Johnathan Thurston, so hopefully with that sort of influence Kalyn can be that captain.”

Johns added he believes Ponga would now understand the “fishbowl mentality of Newcastle”, being the biggest star of a one-team city.

The players leaving the cubicle.

Ponga’s season is over due to concussion. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Ponga was blasted on NRL 360 on Tuesday night as Paul Kent took aim at the Knights skipper.

“The fact that the captain of the club, who is paid a million dollars a year has such little care factor that rather than sit at home and watch and see how they perform, he is out on the sauce,” Kent said.

The Ponga-Mann video wasn’t the only drama in Newcastle this week after it was revealed Bradman Best and Enari Tuala were dropped from first grade after being late for the team bus on Sunday after their 28-10 loss to the Broncos.

Parr said the pair had been stood down for “not living up to team standards” for turning up late.

Johns said it was arguably worse for the team.

“The one for me is the Bradman Best and Tuala missing the bus, it’s just the biggest no-no,” he said.

“If you want to go out on the drink then fill your boots – but you turn up, whether it’s for recovery, for pool, to train or getting on the bus to go home.

“You can’t be late.”

Tuala and Best will play NSW Cup this weekend as punishment.

Originally published as Andrew Johns blasts ‘sad’ Kalyn Ponga toilet cubicle debacle