'That’s what makes me, me': No fear for Ponga ahead of NRL return

Kalyn Ponga has revealed he won’t be changing his playing technique when the Knights playmaker makes his long-anticipated return from a Round 2 concussion.

After suffering his fourth head injury in 10 months, Ponga’s recent move to five-eighth has raised concerns on whether the Maroons star is more susceptible to head knocks in the front line, rather than his former position at fullback.

But since returning from his recent trip to Vancouver for advanced neurophysiological testing, Ponga said he isn’t too concerned about changing his tackling technique or where he stands on the paddock.

“I know what my best plays are and I’m still going to run them, that’s what makes me good at my role,"

Regardless of head knocks, that’s what makes me, me. So I’m not going to start changing the way I play.

Kalyn Ponga Knights five-eighth

“Going into the season I had done a lot of reps and to be honest I was feeling pretty confident about my tackle technique.

"There’s been a little bit of detail done on it but I don’t think I need to revamp my whole tackle technique.

“I don’t think there’s a whole new technique that I have to adopt it’s just about being a little bit smarter with my feet, my head and stuff like that.”

With new recruit Lachie Miller proving to be a shining light at fullback in Adam O’Brien’s injury-hit Knights side, Ponga said he hopes to pick up where he left off in Round 2 and work on new combinations with Miller out the back and Jackson Hastings at halfback.

“I’m definitely excited for that role (five-eighth), just like I was coming into the season,” Ponga said.

“Lachie at the back is going amazing for us at the moment so I’m keen to get back there and build upon that combination.

“In terms of my brain, it’s good to go. Now it’s just about getting me back, around the boys, footy, running, gym and stuff like that and the confidence I had leading into the season.

"The reassuring thing for me was that they said after the testing if I was just a normal person who didn’t have the head knock history, they would say I’m pretty good.

"There was some other tests we did as well but within a few hours, I knew where my head was at. I’m fit and healthy. It feels like it’s been a long time but it’s only around the corner now and I’m excited to be back out there with the boys."

A Mackay junior, Ponga will take his rugby league career full circle when he travels to Townsville to celebrate his 100th NRL game against the club that handed him his debut seven years ago.

“It’s like Round 1 for me almost, to go up there and do a job against the Cowboys, you’d be nervous anyway but it’s a good thing to have those nerves,” he said.

“I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on it, I started there and they (Cowboys) gave me the opportunity to live out and continue this dream.

“It’ll be an exciting week for me and my family and to do it back in Townsville is pretty special.”