Ponga’s bravery and brilliance not quite enough for Knights

Knights captain Kalyn Ponga was as brave as he was brilliant in defeat after requiring pain-killing injections to his hip to see him through to the end against the Roosters.

The reigning Dally M Medallist suffered the injury attempting a try-saving tackle on Daniel Tupou in the 17th minute and, having led Newcastle's attack to that point, was all but a passenger for the rest of the first half.

Despite the discomfort, he still managed to support Kai Pearce-Paul's tackle-busting run to throw the final pass for Bradman Best's try in the 37th minute, then returned after the break running more freely.

"He's very sore. It was a remarkable job, what he's done for us," Knights coach Adam O'Brien said.

"He's brave, tough – no-one can ever question that kid's toughness. I'm amazed."

Pain-killers and other treatment in the dressing-room at half-time allowed Ponga to return for the second half and finish the game. His long break down the right flank in the final 90 seconds looked like setting up the winning try but the run went unsupported and the Roosters hung on for a valuable two points.

"A few needles at half-time definitely helped. It shouldn’t be too bad," Ponga told Channel Nine after full-time.

"I think I just banged my hip. I was never going to come off myself. I got needled at half-time and just wait and see how it was, and I was sweet in the second half."

As Ponga hobbled around away from the ball for much of the first half, wincing in pain after making a tackle or attempting to run, O'Brien wrestled with the idea of replacing his captain.

"I was thinking 'please battle on'," O'Brien said.

"I kept a close eye on him and I knew the kicking, we had to change our kick plan a little bit [because] he wasn't able to do any of the general-play kicking."

O'Brien was in regular communication with Newcastle's medical staff and was happy to be guided by them and Ponga, who will undergo scans as soon as possible to give himself every chance of being available for Newcastle's next game against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on April 21.

"I could see he was in some discomfort and, speaking to the medical people on the sideline, they said we'll give it a crack at half-time to try and get it going," he said.

"But I can tell now, his face, he's pale. He's in a lot of pain.

"He's experienced, he knows what he's capable of, so I do leave it a bit up to him ... If it's something else that can get progressively worse where he's going to miss a whole heap of games [but], it's just pain management this one, so that plays a factor as well."

Knights hooker Jayden Brailey said Ponga's toughness is often over-shadowed by his talent, but was no secret among Newcastle players.

"He's tough as nails. I think everyone sees all the flairy stuff he does on the field, and all the X-factor he brings for us as a footy side, but that toughness can't be questioned," Brailey said.

"He does it week in, week out, he brings the ball back with venom every single week and he cares about this footy side. He's our leader, so it means a lot to the whole playing group."