Kalyn Ponga lasts less than four minutes in NRL match against Sharks before taking ANOTHER alarming head knock with Origin squad just around the corner
- Kalyn Ponga has received another blow to the head
- Later cleared and returned to play Sharks
- Queensland will name their Origin team on Monday
Kalyn Ponga’s chances of being selected for Queensland’s Origin are at the cutting edge after suffering another headbutt in the Knights’ clash against the Sharks on Saturday.
Ponga, 25, was sent off for a head injury assessment (HIA) after just four minutes after colliding with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo – and as he returned to the field midway through the first half, it would have put Maroons coach Billy Slater on edge .
Slater will announce his squad for the series opener against NSW on Monday – and if fit the fullback will be on the team sheet.
Ponga previously suffered his fourth headbutt in ten months during the win over Wests Tigers on March 12 after missing the final six weeks of last season with a previous concussion.
It saw multiple rugby league pundits calling for Ponga to play in the number 1 jersey permanently, rather than playing five-eighth for Newcastle where he is subjected to more defensive duties on the front line.
Kalyn Ponga’s chances of Origin selection for Queensland are at the cutting edge after another headbutt in the Knights’ clash against the Sharks on Saturday
Ponga collided with Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo in the fourth minute – but was later cleared to return and scored a first-half try
NRL great Corey Parker said there was no doubt the final head knock would play on Ponga’s mind.
“It must be a concern, no doubt,” he said on Fox League.
“Especially with the Origin team announcement in a few days, Kalyn knows he will be the full-back if he is not injured.
“He has big backrowers at him every game for the Knights, there must be some doubt.”
Ponga recently traveled to Vancouver, Canada, to test his brain activity with equipment not available in Australia.
“At the end of that test, they had objective data on where my brain is,” he said.
Ponga also suffered his fourth headbutt in ten months in the victory over Wests Tigers on March 12 – having missed the last six weeks of last season with a previous concussion
“There were some other tests that we also did, but within a few hours I knew where my head was and if I could continue playing footy.
“The reassuring thing for me was that they said if I was just a normal person who wasn’t familiar with headbutting, they’d say I’m pretty good.
“Going to Canada and getting that clarity, I personally found that so beneficial.”
Ponga made his NRL debut with the Cowboys in 2016, after rejecting approaches from the Broncos, Storm, Roosters and Queensland Reds [rugby] and the Brisbane Lions [AFL] such was his sporting pedigree.
He was also a champion junior golfer before deciding that the NRL was the sporting path he wanted to follow.