Buzz’s highlights and lowlights: Why Kalyn Ponga has some explaining to do

The Newcastle Knights have hidden their superstar captain for six months but finally it’s his time to face the music, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Kalyn Ponga finally faces the media this week.

Kalyn Ponga will do a press conference in Newcastle on Monday morning.

He has some explaining to do.

The Knights have hidden their superstar captain from the media since he was sprung mysteriously leaving a toilet cubicle at a Newcastle pub with team mate Kurt Mann in August last year.

At the time it was a terrible look because both were in injury rehab.

The Knights were having a horrible season in which Ponga played only 14 games.

Both escaped punishment. It says a lot about the culture at the Newcastle Knights under football general manager Peter Parr that no action was taken.

Kalyn Ponga is under serious pressure, writes Buzz Rothfield. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

No player in the NRL is under as much pressure as Ponga this season in his switch to five-eighth.

He will earn more than $1.4 million with a ratchet clause in his contract that kicked in with the NRL’s new salary cap.

Over five years it’s worth around $7.5 million.

It’s the season we’ll find out if he is a very good player or a great one.

We spoke to Knights legend and now assistant coach Andrew Johns over the weekend.

“Kalyn does things at training and you just shake your head,” Johns said.

“Mate he’s so gifted. Some of the things he does … it’s frightening.

“As for the pressure and expectations, it doesn’t seem to bother him.”

Still, I was in Newcastle recently for a 60th birthday party.

I picked up a lot of comments from punters around the Knights that weren’t all that complimentary.

They have a brand and an image problem.

Obviously winning football games can change all that.

You look at the overall depth and strength of their roster and it shows why Ponga is the man who has to deliver.

Kalyn Ponga (left) emerges from a toilet cubicle.

Kalyn Ponga (unseen) and Kurt Mann (green) being asked to leave a toilet cubicle.

HIGHLIGHT

A fantastic weekend for Indigenous sport with the All Stars victory in Rotorua and Ashleigh Gardner’s five wickets for 12 runs from three overs in Australia’s stunning victory over the Kiwis at the T20 cricket World Cup in South Africa.

LOWLIGHT I

The Australian cricket team. Shocking team selections and a shocking performance in the first real test this team has had in 12 months. #BRINGBACKJUSTINLANGER

LOWLIGHT II

English champions St Helens have been in Sydney for a week to prepare for the World Club Challenge against the Penrith Panthers. They have still not heard from Andrew Abdo or anyone from NRL senior management. No welcoming function, not even a phone call. This is the exact opposite to the wonderful hospitality afforded to NRL clubs when they are on tour in England.

LOWLIGHT II

Dominic Perrottet gives $11 million to North Sydney Oval yet snubs the battered and broken old NRL venues that really need a cash injection – Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt Oval and Shark Park.

The Broncos have re-signed Kevin Walters (right) to a big contract. Picture: Picture Lachie Millard

SHOOSH

Why are the Brisbane Broncos about to give Kev Walters a two-year contract extension before the start of the season when there is absolutely no danger of losing him to a rival club and when there are question marks around his relationships with players? Surely they could have waited to see how the team performs in the first half of the season.

SPOTTED

Dave Warner’s Test average in the last two years is just 17.8 from 22 innings if you take out his 200 at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test. He has been a wonderful player but desperately needs runs in the second Test match in India.

SPOTTED

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and RLPA boss Clint Newton on the same flight to New Zealand on Saturday for the All Stars game.

SPOTTED

Retired Cronulla Sharks legend Luke Lewis on the whipper snipper and mower in his front yard in Cronulla. Lewis, 39, still looks fit enough to play on an edge for the Sharks this year.

ORIGIN 4

Magic Round has become such a huge event that is now challenging State of Origin as a commercial money spinner. Already almost every corporate suite has been sold in Brisbane. Fans have snapped up 70,000 tickets, well ahead of previous years.

BIG BREKKY

Catch you on the Big Sports Breakfast on Sky Sports Radio on Monday morning with Laurie Daley, Michael Clarke and Gerard Middleton to discuss the trials and other rugby league issues.

Originally published as Buzz’s highlights and lowlights: Why Kalyn Ponga has some explaining to do