Kalyn Ponga’s burnt me once and he could do it again says Tyson Frizell

The memory of Kalyn Ponga skipping out of his grasp is still fresh for Tyson Frizell and the Blues backrower knows it could happen again if he doesn’t get the help he needs.

Tyson Frizell has already been stood-up once by Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga this year and has warned his Blues teammates it will happen again unless he receives support.

Ponga’s footwork is still fresh in Frizell’s mind when the Newcastle No.1 breezed past one of the game’s best defending players in Frizell.

Frizell was isolated by Ponga who use his trademark footwork to skip past the St George Illawarra back-rower on his way to score for the Knights just three rounds ago.

Frizell knows Ponga will be looking to get similar space when the pair cross paths in Origin I on Wednesday.

“You can’t defend him on your own,” Frizell said. “They did a good job to isolate our edge and our middles and then isolate me.

MORE NRL STORIES

Troubling sign for battling Parra

Chambers joins anthem boycott

How Walker got his first start

Bateman poised for shock return

Sea Eagle rubbed out for headbutt

Ponga tore Frizell to shreds in Newcastle’s big win. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

“No one is going to be able to stop him one-on-one. He is too good. Defensively if we’re nice and solid and looking after each other you can stop anyone. There are going to be times in the game you’re going to be clocking off but you can’t do that on this stage with him.

“It’s not easy. He is going to do it to anyone.”

Frizell will be defending alongside halfback Nathan Cleary on the Blues’ right edge.

“If I’m looking after the guy inside me and the outside guy is looking after me there are no dramas and you don’t have to worry about it too much,” Frizell said. “It’s usually when guys are clocking off and leaving you isolated it’s tough to defend.

Matty, Kenty and Finchy dissect both Origin teams and a game looming as a classic, recount the best of Tommy Raudonikis and Matty recalls Mitchell Pearce’s sleepover at the Johns household.

“Nathan Cleary is a solid defender. He is not one of those halves that you have to go ‘oh I have to look after him’. He holds his own.”

Frizell returning to the training paddock with his Blues teammates for the first time yesterday as he continues to make his way back from a sickening head clash in the Dragons loss to Cronulla last Sunday. He will do a full contact session for the first time tomorrow as he tries to put a horrid 2019 behind him.

A raft of injuries from a lacerate testicle to a facial injury had plagued his season.

Ponga has earned his first Origin start. Picture by Adam Head

“It was nice to finally join the boys,” Frizell said. “Not full contact but being able to gel with the boys and be among it.

“It hasn’t been ideal. It’s my worst run of weird injuries. I’ve had to cop it. It’s hurt me a little bit in my form and how I’ve been wanting to play. It’s no excuse.

“I know I can do a job here. I’ve been able to do it.

“(The injuries) effect my consistency. I’m a bloke that needs to get out there and do the work continuously over and over. When it gets disrupted it impacts me a little bit not in terms of confidence. I’ve played too much footy and done the hard work to not be confident in what I can do.”