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Kalyn Ponga kick-off sparks massive Knights comeback in Raiders horror show

The Canberra Raiders were looking great in the first half in Wagga Wagga, but it took just one kick from Kalyn Ponga to bring them undone.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
2 min read
May 8, 2021 - 5:27PM
Kalyn Ponga's trick shot changed the game.
Kalyn Ponga's trick shot changed the game.

The Canberra Raiders’ week from hell has found a new way to get worse, capitulating from a 16-0 halftime lead to lose 24-16 to the Newcastle Knights.

It was the Knights biggest comeback since 2014 and was wrapped up when Jayden Brailey crossed the line with three minutes remaining.

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After winning their first two games of the season, the Knights themselves were in a hole having lost five of their last six.

And the Raiders have now lost five straight for the first time since 2014 and face one of the biggest challenges of Stuart’s tenure at the helm of the club.

The Raiders have now conceded 93 points to eight in second half this season and continues to be one of the more concerning aspects for the once high-flying Raiders.

It continues a horror week for the club on the back of criticism from the wife of New Zealand Test forward Joseph Tapine, who was injured in the match, reports halfback George Williams is homesick and leader Josh Hodgson is looking for the door.

Williams said it was a “really disappointing” after another second half fade out.

“It probably sums up sour season; we’re good for 40 minutes and the wheels seem to fall off in the second half … we’re just not good enough in the second half at this level,” he told ABC Sport.

It ain’t easy being green at the moment.
It ain’t easy being green at the moment.

While the Knights were nowhere in the first half, a trick shot short kick-off from Kalyn Ponga appeared to kick Newcastle into gear.

“How about that from a trick shot from the restart?” Matt Russell said on Fox League.

“They had to try something different to start the second half for them, and they got the ball back,” Steve Roach added.

“Fantastic, what a show of intent,” Russell replied. “A real show of intent.”

The Knights then got a repeat set with try from halfback Phoenix Crossland to cross just a minute into the second half.

The Knights kept ticking off the points with a try for Ponga and then Tyson Frizell got to the line in the 67th minute to take the lead for the first time in the game.

The Raiders had built the lead on two converted tries and two penalty goals but appeared to have no answers in the second half.

Desperate defence stopped the Raider with George Williams denied after a Josh Papalii line break and kick was spoiled on the line by a Knights player.

And within the final 10 minutes, a Williams kick appeared to be grounded by fullback Caleb Aekins, only to be denied by the Bunker when the official saw a bounce off the forearm.

Kalyn Ponga didn’t have a barnstormer but he may have changed the game.
Kalyn Ponga didn’t have a barnstormer but he may have changed the game.

While wins can heal a lot of a team’s ills, the Raiders’ result is now bleeding into a second month.

Despite the dire predicament on the field, Raiders CEO Don Furner said Ricky Stuart would be safe and he back the club legend to dig them out of the hole they’re in.

“Coaching is a very hard job,” he said on ABC Sport. “It’s easy to wait back for a few losses and throw knives out but we’re not a club that doesn’t back the coach. We’re not a club that will buckle because there’s a few social media posts or someone’s got their nose out of joint.”

Prop Josh Papalii said he “couldn’t put a finger on where it was all going wrong”.

“I thought it was a great first and then the second half we just went missing,” he said.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/kalyn-ponga-kickoff-sparks-massive-knights-comeback-in-raiders-horror-show/news-story/b5d68912058fbdd67534901613895cfb