'The best result': Ponga optimistic ahead of Knights return

Newcastle Knights match-winner Kalyn Ponga said his trip to Canada for intensive testing on his brain after multiple concussions had provided reassurance and clarity about his return to the NRL.

Ponga, who has not played since being knocked out in Newcastle’s 14-12 victory over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on March 12, has been earmarked for a comeback against his former club North Queensland in Townsville on April 22.

The 25-year-old utility back returned to Australia last weekend after the trip to Vancouver for advanced neurophysiological testing, a step he took in consultation with Knights medical staff after being knocked our four times in the past 10 months.

Speaking to ground announcer Glen Hawke before Newcastle’s game against the Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium tonight, the Knights co-captain said he could now look forward with confidence to returning to what he loves doing.

“I’m good. Four weeks ago there was talk about retirement,” Ponga said, referring to speculation about his future in rugby league.

“To go over to Canada and get clarity about what I am doing and what I can do, it’s reassuring for me. I should be back in not too long.

“I just want to get back on the field, doing what I love with the boys.

“We got the best result I could over there. That was the result I got, that you are able to go back and play. Your brain is in a healthy position to do so, [which is] really reassuring and positive news.

“… I got cleared on the brain perspective. It shouldn’t be too long until I am back, I just have to get some more [kilometres] in my legs, get match fit and then I will be ready to go.”

Ponga said he was overwhelmed by the amount of support he received from Knights supporters.

Where he plays when he returns remains to be seen, given the form of fullback Lachlan Miller and concerns about Ponga remaining at five-eighth and defending in the front line, but Knights coach Adam O’Brien will address that selection dilemma in good time.

When asked after Newcastle’s 34-24 victory over the Warriors, O’Brien would not be drawn into answering questions about what position Ponga would play when he returns, and was reluctant to reveal specific details about his roadmap to recovery.

“There’s everything from footy contact to the type of tackles that we think that he’ll experience,” O’Brien said.

“There’s a whole lot of thought that has gone into it all, and we’ve actually started some of it, but rather than me going and handing it all over to everyone, we’ll just go about it over the next few weeks and we’ll work out whether he’s right to go, and if he’s not, we’ll go another week.”

In a club statement issued last Thursday, Knights football director Peter Parr said Ponga would need a few weeks of contact at training to prepare for his targeted return against the Cowboys.

“We are comfortable with the objective evidence from our independent testing, indicating normalisation of his cognitive function,” Parr said.

“Kalyn has recovered well from his recent concussion, however, he has had limited specific training due to the amount of travel he has had to undertake in recent weeks.

“We will now focus on building his physical and tactical performance, with an aim to return in round eight against the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.”