Damned it they do, gone if they don’t: Why Kalyn Ponga the NRL’s ultimate boom or bust player…

Fans of the Knights either seen to love him or loathe him. There isn’t much in between.

As for the wider NRL community? There seems to be an even split of fans who would move heaven and earth to bring him to their side, and fans who believe he is both over hyped and overpaid.

I’m not here to argue about Ponga’s credentials … he is an out and out superstar of the game and I’d say the most important player in the competition when it comes to his teams success.

Not necessarily the best player in the competition, but absolutely the most important.

No Ponga, no Newcastle.

That fact is what I am here to discuss.

Newcastle are in all on their star fullback. Moreso than other other club in the competition is in on one of their players.

For good reason too.

The current Dally M medalist dragged his struggling side from the NRL wilderness to the second week of the Finals in 2023, almost entirely on his own back.

Star wingers Dominic Young and Greg Marzhew more than played their part, but only once Ponga returned from injury and took charge of literally everything.

Ponga’s form was such that he won a Dally M over a 10 week stretch. He polled almost perfectly along his team’s nine game win streak to end the regular season.

To put it bluntly, if Ponga hadn’t made a late return, the Knights not only don’t play Finals footy but they finish 14th, at best.

In 2023 he was worth every bit of his reported $1.4 million contract. This despite missing weeks and weeks of football due to injury and concussion.

Every team knows the key to beating the Knights it to stop Ponga. Easier said than done as it took the mighty Warriors to end the Knights run and 2023 season.

That said, there is one glaring issue with the Ponga or bust game-plan employed by Adam O’Brien in the Hunter. Stop Ponga, stop Newcastle.

Or, if Ponga is missing through injury or suspension, the Knights are a shell of their otherwise selves.

That’s not to say they flat chat can’t win without him, but the stats don’t lie.

Unfortunately in 2024, the Kalyn Ponga show has been on, but it has often been delayed or showing re-runs. His form has been good, but unless its great, the Knights struggle.

Right now – ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Gold Coast Titans – the Knights sit in 11th spot, a win and points differential outside of the finals spots.