‘Jumping at shadows’: Knights hint at Kalyn Ponga conspiracy after head knock drama

Knights coach Adam O’Brien suggested officials are “jumping at shadows” to get Kalyn Ponga out of the game after a huge drama on Friday.

Kalyn Ponga and Adam O'Brien

Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga “couldn’t believe” he was taken from the field for a HIA in the dying stages of his side’s clash against the Warriors, stating he was “literally fine”.

The 24-year-old marquee playmaker was dragged from the field by the independent doctor with 11 minutes left in the game as the score sat 14-12 to the hosts.

Ponga collided with Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake but was clearly surprised when referee Chris Sutton gave him his marching orders.

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Speaking in the post-match press conference, Ponga explained he knows what it feels like to be knocked out, having suffered three nasty head knocks in six weeks before being ruled out in 2022.

“It will be interesting to see their take on it, I have been knocked out before and definitely wasn’t in any state,” Ponga said.

“I couldn’t believe it, 10 minutes to go, game on the line, I am literally fine, I think there’s an assessment that normally goes on but I got taken off by an independent doctor.

“It caught me by surprise, I said to the ref ‘I’m not going off’, but it’s not his call, it is someone in a box.”

Kalyn Ponga and Adam O'Brien were both frustrated.

Ponga was also confused why he wasn’t able to complete a head knock assessment with a club doctor on the field.

“I did it in the tunnel but it is a ten minute process, but there’s usually a process on the field where they check your balance,” Ponga said.

“But that wasn’t the case because it was an independent doctor in a box somewhere, came straight off.”

However, head coach Adam O’Brien explained the independent doctor ruled the knock a Category Two blow, meaning Ponga wasn’t allowed to be checked on the field.

O’Brien was also clearly frustrated he lost his key playmaker in a crucial moment and said the Bunker was “jumping at shadows to get him out of the game” in a comment that could be viewed as a suggestion of a conspiracy against Ponga.

“There was a minute to go, so it ruled him out of the game,” O’Brien said.

“But he was unaware of any incident, like he said, he knows what they feel like.

“And we’ve worked really hard, he has to get himself back in the game and now we are jumping at shadows to get him out of the game, I don’t get it.”

Kalyn Ponga was fuming after being ordered off. Pic: NRL Photos

Despite losing their opening clash of the season, O’Brien was happy his side were able to stay in the game and overcome adversity with Tyson Frizell failing a HIA in the first half.

“I was really proud with the effort defensively, we had to overcome some stuff tonight, we lost Frizell early, Phoenix got put in the bin,” O’Brien said.

“We defended with 12 men, then Kurt gets taken off the back of the dead ball line, and we are down to 12 again, and then they take him off.

“We had a bit to get through… I am really proud of the character of the group.”

Elsewhere Warriors coach Andrew Webster was happy to see the back of the marquee gun.

“I wasn’t disappointed to see Ponga go off, but I don’t know if it was right or a bad call,” Webster said.

“He is obviously a great player.”

Originally published as ‘Jumping at shadows’: Knights hint at Kalyn Ponga conspiracy after head knock drama