The Tackle round 26: Kalyn Ponga injured as Newcastle Knights seal NRL finals spot

Newcastle dominated fellow top-eight contender Cronulla to book a place in the NRL finals — but the victory could come at a huge cost. WATCH THE VIDEO

Ricky Stuart has blasted the refs yet again.

The form of Kalyn Ponga means as much to the Newcastle Knights today as Andrew Johns at his inspiring best.

And that is said with the greatest respect to the rugby league Immortal who was arguably the best footballer the game has ever seen.

But the way Ponga has been able to pick the Knights up off the canvas and carry them to the point where they can now be considered among the genuine premiership heavyweights has just been incredible.

And it only makes the shoulder injury Ponga suffered in the 32-6 win over the Sharks even more concerning, after he was forced from the field late in the game after getting absolutely jammed by Jesse Ramien.

Before the injury Ponga was so good it was scary as the Knights guaranteed they will be playing finals this year.

I know Ponga and Johns starred in completely different positions.

But the fear Ponga strikes in the opposition every time he touches the ball absolutely brings back memories of what Joey was capable of in his day.

After injuries to Jahrome Hughes, Joey Manu and Jarome Luai over the weekend, everyone who loves rugby league will be hoping all these players can be fit for the finals.

You just want to see the best against the best at this time of the year.

Kalyn Ponga will go for scans on a suspected AC joint injury - textbook mechanism with direct contact to shoulder side on. Hope minor/moderate sprain considering ability to stay on momentarily. If so most return in 1-3 weeks (pain management issue) - can needle up & play through pic.twitter.com/GSuUBUhvDh

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 27, 2023

Kalyn Ponga was ironed out by Jesse Ramien.

DISLIKES

JWH OUTRAGE IS RIDICULOUS

It dead set defies belief that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing up to eight weeks out for his late shot on Api Koroisau and a half-baked headbutt on Stefano Utoikamanu.

I totally get the NRL is trying to limit concussion injuries.

But to have the Roosters enforcer cop such a severe suspension on the eve of the finals is just taking it way too far.

Wearea-Hagreaves can escape with a three match ban for his grade two dangerous contact charge on Koroisau, and three weeks for a grade one striking charge on Utoikamanu.

I get that the penalty is more severe given it is his third and subsequent offence for both charges.

But, seriously, a six-week minimum ban for those two incidents is crazy.

Especially in relation to the punishment for the supposed headbutt that was nothing more than a head nudge.

I said at the time of Victor Radley’s four-match ban for a similar incident on Dragons prop Blake Lawrie that it was too severe, and I will double down on that here.

Fair dinkum. Is this rugby league or tiddlywinks?

Talk about blowing something out of all proportion in the act of trying to be seen as politically correct.

AIM RICKY RAGE ESLEWHERE

Anyone blowing up about Ricky Stuart swearing “f*** off” in the direction of a TV camera during the Raiders’ dramatic 29-18 loss to the Broncos needs to direct their anger at the NRL.

So what if Stuart swore.

How many times do we see Craig Bellamy or any number of coaches cut loose with colourful language throughout the course of games?

In this instance Stuart just happened to be on the sideline with a camera pointed directly at him as he tried to deal with his raw emotions.

If that warrants a fine, the game has lost the plot.

Not what you want to see heading into the finals.

Kotoni Staggs might be seeing some time on the sideline for this late effort on Jordan Rapana. pic.twitter.com/fg0I7ysANl

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 26, 2023

But let’s not let that hijack the real story which is how the Raiders had so many contentious calls go against them in the run of the game that there is absolutely no wonder Stuart was so infuriated.

And let’s start with the dreadful double standards that were exposed over the sin binning of Jordan Rapana for a trip on Selwyn Cobbo when the Broncos only led 20-18.

Yet Kotoni Staggs was not sin binned for what was a blatant and far more vicious forearm to the head of Rapana in the first half that was also reviewed by the Bunker.

This presser could be one for the ages #NRLRaidersBroncospic.twitter.com/KS0aNIkNiy

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) August 26, 2023

You could almost argue Staggs was lucky he was not sent off.

As Mal Meninga said on the Fox League coverage at halftime: “I’m thinking that is fairly intentional and I think he could be in lots of trouble.”

But to be not even sin binned was just outrageous.

Then you get a nitpicking penalty for interference from Hudson Young that had such a huge bearing on the final outcome.

At that point the Broncos only led 24-18 with six minutes left on the clock and Raiders were coming to get them.

By the letter of the law, yes, it was a penalty because Young put his hand on Cobbo.

But how often do we see escorts go unpunished in every game?

Yet the Raiders cop this one after already dealing with the Rapana sin binning.

Stuart was just telling it for what it was in the aftermath.

Fans have had a gutful. Coaches and players have had enough.

We should not even be talking about the Stuart media conference or the Rapana sin binning or the Young penalty.

But we are because game after game, week after week, outrageous double standards are overshadowing some wonderful football.

VULGAR ‘HOPPA’ ACT UNPUNISHED?

John Hopoate could certainly be forgiven for thinking the modern game has gone soft.

It is mind blowing after the punishment we saw handed out for other incidents over the weekend that Panthers hooker Soni Luke escaped with a concerning act notice for attempting to stick his finger up the bum of former teammate now Parramatta forward lock J’maine Hopgood.

It shouldn’t matter that the two used to play together.

Soni Luke was handed a concerning act notice by the NRL match review committee, but avoided punishment for this incident with Parramatta forward J'maine Hopgood. Credit: Screenshot.

Hopgood clearly took offence because he struck out with his legs the moment it happened.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this was just a blatant attempt to limit the damage this could have done to the game’s image if it had ended up at the NRL judiciary.

Hopoate copped 12 weeks for his ugly incident back in 2001 for doing it to three players that then judiciary chairman Jim Hall said at the time was one of the most disgusting things he’d ever seen.

Kenny Edwards also got 10 weeks for a similar tactic in the Super League a few years back.

Yet Luke gets a concerning act notice.

Work that out.

DOGS SEASON’S BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT?

A lot was made of the extraordinary lengths Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould went to nail down Cameron Ciraldo as coach.

But while Gould always said fans would have to be patient, even Gus would have to be terribly disappointed how this season has panned out.

Who would have thought they would finish their first season under the Panthers’ former defensive coach as the runaway losers for most points conceded?

The 42-24 loss to the Sea Eagles took their tally to 735 (or an average of 31.9 a game).

To put that in perspective the next worst is the Dragons on 641, the Titans 623 and the Dolphins and Tigers 621.

If not for two late tries this defeat would have been a lot more embarrassing.

While the Tigers will end up with the wooden spoon, you could make a fair argument the Dogs’ finish to the season has been more disappointing.

Cameron Ciraldo has plenty of work to do in the off season. Picture: NRL

MORE HEAD KNOCK CONFUSION

Kieran Foran had every right to blow up after the Titans veteran was forced off for a head injury assessment but didn’t even get his team a penalty for the tackle that supposedly did the damage.

It came after a glancing blow from returning Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen when the Titans were trailing by eight points with 11 minutes to go.

It meant the Titans had to go the rest of the game without their experienced playmaker before the Storm raced away comfortable 37-16 winners.

While it certainly wasn’t one of the bad ones, we’ve seen plenty of similar incidents at least warrant a penalty, especially if the player who has been hit then has to leave the field.

FELDT’S ‘KARATE KICK’ SHOULD BE BANNED

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has been around long enough to know how to protect himself.

And just because that brutal karate kick in the face of Dolphins playmaker Sean O’Sullivan was deemed an accident doesn’t mean it wasn’t dangerous.

It certainly was back when Billy Slater invented the tactic some years ago.

And the more concerning issue for the NRL now is we are seeing more and more outside backs do it to defend themselves when taking kicks.

If the NRL allows it to continue someone will get seriously injured.

The NRL must crackdown on raised legs from players after Kyle Feldt’s ‘karate kick’.

LIKES

REECEMANIA THE NRL’S NEWEST ATTRACTION

It is hard to remember a player who has taken the NRL by storm like Reece Walsh has this season.

It’s like the NRL’s version of Beatlemania watching young fans hold up signs asking for his jumper and his boots.

And how good was it seeing Walsh after the game deliver on the request as he braved the Canberra cold and handed over his jumper after the Broncos’ win.

It capped off another incredible performance from the 21-year-old who just gets better and better every week.

Greg Alexander said in Fox League commentary how he can’t remember a player with Walsh’s ability to accelerate into the line, while his passing and kicking had the Raiders bamboozled.

It’s hard to remember a player who has taken the NRL by storm like Reece Walsh in 2023. Picture: Getty Images.

There was a moment of concern when Walsh came up holding his knee after scoring a late try.

Why Kevvie Walters didn’t take him straight from the field was a huge gamble. Especially after seeing the limping Walsh poleaxed in the final tackle of the game by a rampaging Joey Tapine.

But even the way Walsh handled that in his post match interview with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga on Fox League was all class as he laughed it off and praised Tapine for his competitiveness.

As for Meninga’s upcoming conundrum, the Kangaroos coach should be praised for his loyalty when coming out recently and backing James Tedesco to keep his spot on the end of season tour.

The problem for Meninga is going to be keeping Tedesco that promise while still finding a spot for Walsh and Kalyn Ponga who are just absolute must picks if they remain fit.

Throw in Scott Drinkwater, Dylan Edwards and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and what a talented bunch of fullbacks we are witnessing in the game right now.

KEARY KEY TO ROOSTERS’ FINALS HOPES

So do we still think Luke Keary is too old to play out the final season of his contract at the Sydney Roosters in 2024?

Because it wasn’t too long ago that was the conversation plenty in the game were having.

Yet the way Keary, 31, has fought back this season just again highlights what a courageous competitor the Roosters veteran is.

And didn’t he put on another masterclass in the 32-8 win over the Tigers.

While young Sam Walker had some exceptional moments in his return to the top grade, Keary was the conductor in another impressive win that will have Rabbitohs fans extremely nervous ahead of Friday night’s final round blockbuster.

Luke Keary fired back at his critics, winding back the clock to keep the Roosters season alive. Picture: Getty Images.

The likely loss of Joey Manu to a hamstring injury will be huge, as will Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ suspension, but Tedesco should be back, although that will also mean moving Joseph Suaalii.

The teenager was exceptional when shifting to fullback to replace Manu, finishing with 19 runs for 229m that included a try, 11 tackle busts, three line breaks and two line break assists.

ISAAKO CLOSES IN ON AN IMMORTAL FEAT

It’s hard to believe Jamayne Isaako’s career looked all but washed up before the Dolphins threw him a lifeline.

Now Isaako has a chance to do what no player has done since Mal Meninga 33 years ago to finish the season at the top of the top try scorer and point scoring tables.

Meninga did it in 1990, when he finished with 17 tries and 212 points. Isaako currently has 23 tries and 230 points.

Jamayne Isaako could finish the season as with the most tries and points scored. Picture: Getty Images.

PAPENHUZEN STORM’S FINALS X FACTOR

Just when the Panthers looked to be cruising towards the finals, a serious shoulder injury to Jarome Luai and a shock loss to the Eels has turned the race for the premiership on its head.

Meanwhile, the Storm have their own concerns following a knee injury to Jahrome Hughes that is likely to rule him out of Thursday’s huge clash against the Broncos.

The biggest positive for the Storm coming out of that win over the Titans was the long awaited return of Ryan Papenhuyzen who was extremely solid if not at his spectacular best.

While you wouldn’t think Craig Bellamy would move Nick Meaney from fullback on the back of what we saw in one short spell, it is certainly going to give the Storm X factor heading into the big games.

On the back of Hughes’ injury it also comes at the perfect time.

EELS GO OUT WITH A BANG

You talk about saving your best for last.

What about the Eels’ stunning 32-18 win over the Panthers.

It’s just a pity it came a week too late to save their season.

Had they produced that type of performance the previous week when they went down 34-12 to the Roosters their season would still be alive going into the final round bye.

It was a gutsy win that showed why Eels fans can go into the off-season knowing there is a reason things can be a lot better next season.

But it’s still the ultimate proof Brad Arthur’s team will look back on this year as a missed opportunity after last year’s grand final appearance.

Originally published as The Tackle round 26: Kalyn Ponga injured as Newcastle Knights seal NRL finals spot