NRL 2023: Kalyn Ponga thought he was just making up the numbers on Dally M night

Kalyn Ponga sealed one of the greatest Dally M Medal victories in the award’s history - now the Newcastle star has revealed how close he came to missing the whole event.

Dally M winner Kalyn Ponga has revealed how close he came to skipping the ceremony after informing the NRL that he wanted to watch the event from home.

“I wasn’t going to go – I actually sent the NRL an email that morning saying I didn’t want to go,” Ponga told 2 DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.

“I just wanted to sit back and watch it at home. They then said I had to go. Back in 2018 I said the same thing, and (the) NRL insisted that I had to go and that year I came second.

“So I thought I was there to keep the numbers up. “

Far from it. Ponga stormed home to win the award to cap a stellar comeback season for the Newcastle star, whose career was in doubt after a series of head knocks.

CONCUSSION HELL TO DALLY M: PONGA’S LEGENDARY RESURRECTION

Newcastle skipper and Queensland Origin superstar Kalyn Ponga has overcome a career-threatening battle with concussions to be crowned the king of the NRL.

In a monumental career fightback, Ponga claimed the prestigious Dally M Medal on Wednesday night, edging out Shaun Johnson and Nicho Hynes in a leaderboard nailbiter to reign supreme at the NRL’s night of nights.

It was fitting that the NRL’s official awards night was held at Royal Randwick racecourse because the Dally M count went down to a photo finish, with Ponga saluting on 56 points, one ahead of Johnson (55), who pipped last year’s winner Hynes (54) as runner-up.

“I feel humbled and very lucky, there’s a lot of talent in this room,” Ponga said.

“I had an early holiday and thought I need to stop letting people down and I’m thankful to my family for all their support.”

It was a magical night for Newcastle, who celebrated a memorable quinella with Knights fullback Tamika Upton claiming the NRLW’s top gong to join Ponga at the Dally M summit.

Kalyn Ponga claimed the Dally M Medal by one point. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Knights stars Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton with their Dally M Medals. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

For $6 million man Ponga, his victory is sweet reward after his Dally M heartbreak of 2018, when he led for most of the count, only to lose in the final round as Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stormed home to win by a point.

This time, Ponga exacted revenge by beating another Warrior, resurgent halfback Johnson, who went into the event as the red-hot favourite after his stellar season piloting New Zealand to the preliminary final.

RE-LIVE THE 2023 DALLY M MEDAL AWARDS NIGHT HERE

Hynes went close to securing back-to-back Dally M gongs but Cronulla’s patchy finish to the season opened the door for Ponga to snatch the medal.

As resurrections go, this is as emphatic as it gets.

Ponga’s career was at the crossroads just six months ago when the 25-year-old flew to Vancouver in Canada for state-of-the-art brain testing after suffering four concussions in a 10-month period.

Even Ponga’s father Andre feared his son might never make it back, but Knights bosses kept the faith and when Canadian head-trauma experts gave the fullback the green light to play again, the relief was palpable.

Ponga’s comeback was cautious.

He was tentative when he returned in round 8 and it prompted the incumbent Maroons custodian to withdraw from State of Origin selection after a candid chat with Queensland coach Billy Slater.

But by round 18, ‘KP’ exploded into form, unleashing a lethal back-field burst that underpinned Newcastle’s 10-game winning streak to charge into the top five for the playoffs before their semi-final loss to the Warriors.

Ponga’s devastating touch evoked images of Jarryd Hayne’s 2009 Dally M purple patch as the Knights talisman finished his superb season with 2904 metres, 96 tackle busts, 21 try assists and 19 line breaks from 20 games.

Speaking last month, Ponga revealed he had finally shaken off the lingering doubts over his spate of concussions that could have forced him into premature retirement.

“Last year toward the back end I was getting knocks quite frequently and I could feel the effects of them,” he said. “Now I feel pretty strong.”

Kalyn Ponga leaves the field for an HIA. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Kalyn Ponga after the Knights’ win. Picture: NRL Imagery

Aside from the top three, Manly and Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans finished an honourable fourth on 50 points, while Panthers maestro Nathan Cleary was fifth on 48, just ahead of Melbourne hooker Harry Grant (47).

Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake impressed with 44 points, ahead of Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards (42), while early-season leader, Broncos prop Payne Haas (42), faded badly after a one-match suspension cost him crucial points.

Penrith lock Isaah Yeo rounded out the top 10 on 41 points, but Ponga walked out as the Knight in shining armour.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Kalyn Ponga thought he was just making up the numbers on Dally M night