Newcastle Knights’ season saved by exactly who you’d expect

Newcastle’s fortunes have turned on a dime as fiery fullback Kalyn Ponga returned to the fray and inspired a huge win over the Cowboys.

The Knights recorded their biggest ever win over the Cowboys on Saturday night. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga declared himself a certain starter for Origin III despite being the victim of a nasty crusher tackle that could cost Queensland teammate Valentine Holmes his place.

Ponga left the field with four minutes to go in the Knights’ 38-0 win over Cowboys on Saturday night, clutching at his neck after being hit awkwardly in a tackle by Holmes at McDonalds Jones Stadium.

The brilliant No.1 will have the injury checked out but appeared confident of lining up for Queensland in the dead rubber against NSW on July 14.

“It’s a bit stiff at the moment but I will put ice on it and I’ll be alright,” he said.

“Hopefully I will be out there (for Queensland).”

Holmes may not be so fortunate.

He was placed on report and could miss Origin if charged.

“It was one of the more dangerous ones (crusher tackles) I’ve seen. It was ugly,” Fox Sports’ commentator Braith Anasta declared.

Ponga is what Tom Trbojevic is to Manly or James Tedesco to the Roosters – and he took just three minutes to remind the Knights – and Queensland - what they’ve been missing, torching North Queensland in his return.

Playing his first game in two months after a long injury lay-off, Ponga scored Newcastle’s opening try in the third minute and backed it up with a second just before the half hour mark as the home side recorded a vital win.

After losing four of six games in his absence, the Knights all of a sudden have a top eight look about them with Ponga in the No.1 and Mitchell Pearce returning to his best after his own injury break.

Newcastle is a different side with Ponga at the back, his impact on a game and the confidence his gives his side the equal to the competition’s other premier No.1s.

He finished with 161 run metres, three tackle busts, a line break, two try assists and two tries.

His successful return is also good news for the Maroons, who desperately need some attacking spark after scoring just six points across back-to-back Origin losses to the white-hot Blues.

All his class and skill was on show at the hour mark, taking the ball 35m out and gliding through the North Queensland defence with a mix of footwork, speed and agility before sending winger Dominic Young over with a neat inside ball.

He backed it up with a clever crossfield kick for Young to collect his double 10 minutes from time.

With their key attacking weapons back, the Knights promised to release the handbrake and go full tilt for the top eight by reinvigorating their attack.

That backed words with actions, scoring early through Ponga via a spilt bomb and extending their lead in the 14th minute when Pearce presented Jacob Saifiti with a passage to the line.

Connor Watson and Ponga added tries within two minutes of each other, helping the Knights ease out to a 22-0 half-time lead.

Ponga added two try assists and another try to his personal stats as the Knights cleared away in the second half to complete a comfortable win.

They move into ninth position on the competition ladder.

The Cowboys were never in the contest, failing to land a single blow.

The Knights ran in four first half tries and then chalked up another three in the second stanza. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Pearce in our time

I’m here if you need me.

That seemed to be the message veteran Mitchell Pearce was sending NSW coach Brad Fittler as the Blues boss searches for two new halves for Origin III.

Penrith duo Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai will miss the match through injury, with Freddy sifting through a host of options.

Mitchell Moses appears to be just in front of Adam Reynolds for the No.7 jersey, while Jack Wighton looms as the likely No.6.

But Pearce has been there and done it at Origin level and would be a safe bet should Fittler wish to dig his number out.

The Newcastle No.7 was just behind Ponga as Newcastle’s best against the Cowboys, with Jake Clifford a steadying influence at five-eighth.

Utility Connor Watson finished with a try double.

Originally published as Newcastle Knights’ season saved by exactly who you’d expect