Kalyn Ponga sends his fans a cryptic message about his future in the game as he breaks his silence after suffering another shocking knockout on the field.
- Kalyn Ponga sends a cryptic message to fans
- He has suffered four concussions in 10 months.
- Knights coach has serious concerns
Adam O’Brien says he’s worried about Kalyn Ponga’s long-term future and can understand why people want their star player back at fullback as the Knights star shares a cryptic message about his future.
Ponga suffered his fourth concussion in the last 10 months while trying to make a tackle in the second minute of last week’s tough win over the Wests Tigers.
It’s the latest in a series of blows to the head that ultimately ended his 2022 season prematurely when the Knights decided to take a safety-first approach with their most important player.
O’Brien said Ponga and his family were “in good spirits” and he wanted to let Professor Chris Levi handle the matter before making any calls about when his fifth eighth could return.
Some of the leading voices in the game have pushed for Ponga to return to fullback for his own safety, but as O’Brien pointed out, this was his first concussion defending on the front line after several blows to the head in the back. last year.
Adam O’Brien says he’s worried about Kalyn Ponga’s long-term future and can understand why people want their star player back at fullback, but the Knights coach says he’ll leave him in the hands of medical experts before comment more.
Ponga suffered his fourth concussion in the last 10 months while trying to make a tackle in the second minute of last week’s tough win over the Wests Tigers.
This is why he is reluctant to make any positional decisions at this point, although he was quick to praise the NRL for introducing a mandatory 11-day rest policy for players with concussions.
‘I completely understand where people come from. Ultimately, everyone wants Kalyn in the game, and everyone wants to take care of this guy,’ O’Brien responded when asked about moving Ponga to fullback.
‘He has a lot of life to live yet, so that’s first and foremost. But there are a number of conversations that will need to be had, but we’re nowhere near that point yet.’
The Knights coach was also asked if he feared for Ponga’s long-term health after his latest blow to the head.
‘Of course, I am a human being. I’m not just talking about his future in football,’ he said.
‘It doesn’t look good what you saw over the weekend, but there are a number of things to talk about. That’s the first she’s had on the front line — the concussions she had last year were at fullback.
It’s in the hands of someone much smarter than me. Until we get to that, there’s no point in commenting further.
Ponga, meanwhile, took to social media on Thursday with a poignant post that seemed to suggest he was resigned to the fact that there was uncertainty about his future as a player.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien says he is concerned about the fullback’s long-term health
Ponga, meanwhile, took to social media on Thursday with a poignant post that seemed to suggest he was resigned to the fact that there was uncertainty about his future as a player.
“I appreciate all the love and support over the past few days,” Ponga wrote on Instagram.
‘Whatever it is will be.
‘I do appreciate you though, thank you xx.’
The Knights have been forced to make several big trades, with Jayden Brailey (concussion), Jacob Saifiti (suspension) and Tyson Frizell (foot) joining Put on the sidelines for Friday’s home game against the undefeated Dolphins.
“I’m getting pretty used to it in the last few years in terms of missing personnel,” O’Brien said.