NRL pre-season news: Knights captain Kalyn Ponga could miss All Stars clash

Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga is in doubt for the annual All Stars match after suffering an injury at Knights training. Keep up to date with all the pre-season news.

Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga could be in doubt for the annual All Stars match next month after reportedly suffering a calf injury during training.

Ponga was slated to be a headline attraction for the Maori side to face the Indigenous All Stars in the traditional fixture in Rotorua in early February.

However the Knights captain may now fail to get any playing time during the two-week trial window in preparation for this season.

In what will be a setback to his anticipated full-time move to the halves this year, it is understood Ponga was seen in a moon boot in Newcastle this week.

The first of the Knights’ two trials, both in Gosford, is against Cronulla on February 10, before they complete their preparation for the campaign against Parramatta on February 17.

The All Stars game is in New Zealand on February 11, where Ponga was expected to play.

Kalyn Ponga in action for the Maori All Stars. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

Huge blow for Roosters as star sidelined

- Fatima Kdouh

The Sydney Roosters have suffered a huge pre-season blow after star utility Connor Watson went down with a serious knee injury at training.

Roosters officials confirmed Watson had suffered a “suspected” patella tendon injury and is set to meet with a surgeon to assess the extent of the injury early next week.

The length of his recovery is unclear at this stage but it’s expected Watson will miss the start of the season.

If Watson does require surgery, the injury could see him sidelined for up to six months.

Fans watching the training session witnessed the 26-year-old go down as his teammates and coaching staff rushed to his aid in wet conditions on Friday morning.

One of the witnesses, Brandon Savage, told The Daily Telegraph Watson appeared to suffer a non-contact injury and was chaired off by coaching staff just after 10am.

“I was on my way to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the cricket. I saw the incident,” Brandon said.

BREAKING: Connor Watson has gone down at training with what looks like a non contact knee injury. More to come pic.twitter.com/JW0zJUdmwG

— The SuperCoach Experience (@TheSCXperience) January 5, 2023

“It was wet. He got the ball in a touch football session and when changing direction he slipped and immediately he was attended to and got carried off.”

Recruit Brandon Smith can be seen showing concern for his new teammate, in what was the former Melbourne hooker’s first week at Roosters training.

If Watson were to be unavailable, coach Trent Robinson would have to rethink the make-up of his bench. Both new recruit Jake Turpin and Drew Hutchison are genuine options at No.14. Hutchison offers more flexibility given his ability to cover multiple positions including at centre, hooker and in the halves. But the decision will ultimately depend on Smith’s ability to play the full 80 minutes in the No.9 jumper.

Connor Watson of the Roosters passes the ball during the round 10 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

In April last year, Watson missed a month of football after he fractured cartilage in his throat playing against the New Zealand Warriors.

Watson rejoined the Roosters in season 2022 after a four-year stint at the Newcastle Knights.

The versatile utility, who can cover at hooker, lock and in the halves, played 21 games for the Bondi club last year.

Watson sustained a season-ending achilles injury back in July 2020, while still at Newcastle.

A shoulder dislocation back in 2018 left him sidelined for four weeks.

STORM STAR HEADS TO US FOR INJURY HELP

By Russell Jackson

Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has become the latest NRL star to head to reconditioning guru Bill Knowles in the US as he takes the next step in his rehabilitation from a fractured kneecap.

Papenhuyzen boarded a flight for Philadelphia on Monday afternoon to embark on a two-week program working with Knowles who is also looking after Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic and his troublesome hamstrings.

Knowles worked his magic on South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell this season, the Rabbitohs star bouncing back from hamstring issues to lead his side to a preliminary final and the Kangaroos to a World Cup win in the UK.

Despite his issues, Papenhuyzen will start the KFC SuperCoach season as the most expensive player in the competition at $830,100 ahead of Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes at $788,300 and Mitchell ($776,500).

Ryan Papenhuyzen is US bound to work with reconditioning guru Bill Knowles.

Storm No. 1 Papenhuyzen, who sustained the injury against Canberra in July, is travelling with Melbourne physiotherapist Liam Robinson.

“This is an opportunity to progress my rehab,” Papenhuyzen said.

“I don’t want to go into this with any expectations. I just want to go in and do my best and see how I come out after that. I’ll be learning new things, knowing it’s going to be tough.

“I’ve jumped at the opportunity. I like to do these type of things that are a little bit different.

“Once Lachie mentioned it as a possibility, we went pretty hard to make sure it was going to

happen ... I’ve got work to do to get back to where I want to be. I know I still have a long way to go.”

Ryan Papenhuyzen works on his fitness as he comes back from a fractured kneecap.

The plan is for Papenhuyzen to work twice a day with Knowles before rejoining the Storm for the second week of its annual pre-season camp in Geelong but exactly when the flyer is expected back on the field for Melbourne remains up in the air.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is hoping to rejoin the Storm for the second week of its annual pre-season camp in Geelong.

It’s been a frustrating time for Papenhuyzen after fracturing his kneecap into multiple pieces.

“My time will come I think. It’s just about getting through these parts of the process now,” he said.

“It’s a journey but any career is a bit of a journey.

Latrell Mitchell when in the US working with reconditioning coach Bill Knowles.

“If I experience these hardships now, hopefully I get a bit of luck at the end of (my career). It’s all part of it.”

Melbourne’s NRL squad returns from its Christmas-New Year break on Wednesday when the Storm’s World Cup players Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tui Kamikamica and Justin Olam will rejoin their teammates for the first time this pre-season.

The Storm face the Sydney Roosters in the Pre-Season Challenge in Geelong on February 12.

Originally published as NRL pre-season news: Knights captain Kalyn Ponga could miss All Stars clash