North Queensland Cowboys vs Knights: Kalyn Ponga set for hostile welcome home

Todd Payten has issued a call-to-arms as more than 30,000 pro-North Queensland fans prepare to boo Kalyn Ponga and the Knights in a sudden-death showdown at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Todd Payten has accused North Queenslanders of being too nice and has appealed for Cowboys fans to intimidate prodigal son Kalyn Ponga and his Newcastle teammates.

The Cowboys coach has issued a call-to-arms as more than 30,000 pro-North Queensland fans prepare to boo Ponga and the Knights in a sudden-death showdown at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Eight years ago, Ponga was North Queensland’s next big thing, making his NRL debut as an 18-year-old in the Cowboys’ epic semi-final defeat of the Broncos at their former 1300Smiles home ground in Townsville.

Within two years, Ponga was lost to the club, sensationally walking out on the Cowboys, and the chance to be mentored by Johnathan Thurston, to sign a four-year, $3 million deal with the Knights.

Fast forward to 2024 and Ponga returns to Townsville not only as Newcastle’s main man, but the NRL’s No. 1 player after his stunning form burst to win the Dally M Medal last season.

Payten is acutely aware of the Ponga threat and wants Cowboys fans to turn their $290 million stadium into a Queensland Origin-style Suncorp cauldron.

The Cowboys know they must contain Kalyn Ponga if they are to beat the Knights. Picture: Getty Images

Incredibly, the Cowboys have a better record on the road this season – they have won eight games away and seven at home.

But Payten says it’s time for North Queenslanders to make Ponga’s Knights feel the heat.

“All bets are off,” a pumped-up Payten said.

“I love playing here at home, I really do.

“Our crowd get behind our boys, but they are like our footy team – we are too nice.

“I would like to make it a cauldron and a hostile environment for the opposition.

“We have been to some stadiums this year where it can be quite uncomfortable for us with how their crowds interact with our team.

“I would like to return the favour on Saturday night and make it uncomfortable for them.”

Adding to the intensity of a death-or-glory elimination final, Payten and his rival Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien traded barbs as the psychological war began.

O’Brien threw the first punch, claiming the Knights are more mentally steeled than the Cowboys because they have had to scrap harder in some games to qualify for the playoffs.

Payten fired a riposte on Friday, intimating O’Brien’s assessment was laughable and pointing to their most recent clash at the same venue in March.

In round two, Newcastle led the Cowboys 12-0 at half-time and 20-10 after 54 minutes, only for North Queensland to surge home and level scores at 20-all two minutes from full-time, forcing golden point.

Kalyn Ponga made his NRL debut for the Cowboys. Picture: Zak Simmonds

In extra-time, Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend snapped the 82nd-minute field goal to break Newcastle’s hearts 21-20.

Payten says the Cowboys can mentally and physically outlast the Knights again.

“I had a bit of a chuckle,” Payten said of O’Brien’s comments.

“They have done a great job to get into eighth spot and everyone in the eight deserves to be there.

“We had 27 rounds to get our positions secured and we can only beat who’s in front of us.

“Whether we win tight or close, it doesn’t matter.

“We won in different ways this year. We won from in front. We won from behind and we won some tight games in the final stages of matches.

“The last game here we came from 12-0 down against the Knights and got it done late in the piece. If it helps him (O’Brien) sleep, I’m OK with it.”

Cowboys coach Todd Payten. Picture: Getty Images

Payten is mindful of Ponga’s plan to sink the Cowboys, but equally determined to break the NRL’s 26-year title hoodoo. Since the birth of the NRL in 1998, no team has come from the bottom half of the top eight to win the premiership.

“If we are going to go on and do something special, we will have to create some history, we understand that,” Payten said of his fifth-placed team.

“It’s not that common that people from outside the top four get in the grand final and win it.

“It’s been done in the AFL. We are very capable.

“But the focus is (the Knights) and we have a group that’s excited.

“Kalyn is in some really good form, he breaks tackles, it’s not just our kick, it’s the chase and what we do after that.

“We need to negate Kalyn’s impact on the game, whether it’s him coming out of his own end or the opportunities he will get in good ball.”

Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys vs Knights: Kalyn Ponga set for hostile welcome home