Ponga's Homecoming: Knights Aim to Upset Cowboys in Townsville Finals Showdown

Kalyn Ponga has given a shout-out to Johnathan Thurston and a number of other Cowboys greats as the Newcastle skipper gets set to return to the scene of his NRL debut on Saturday night. Ponga's Knights will go into the sudden-death finals clash in Townsville as underdogs against a Cowboys side that sent a warning to their rivals with a 44-6 thrashing of Canterbury last week to clinch fifth spot on the ladder.

The Knights have been rocked by the news representative centre Bradman Best has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, placing even more pressure on Ponga to deliver for his side. The reigning Dally M Medallist almost single-handedly guided Newcastle into the eighth and final playoffs spot with a man-of-the-match display against the Dolphins last week.

And the 26-year-old has fond memories of playing in Townsville, having made his first grade debut on the wing for the Cowboys in their 2016 semi-final win over Brisbane. Ponga admits he had little understanding about the enormity of finals footy at the time, but returns as his Newcastle side's great hope of booking a spot in the second week of the finals.

Ponga's Fond Memories of Townsville

Ponga admits playing alongside Cowboys premiership winner and NRL legend Thurston was a valuable learning experience and that the 26-20 finals win ranks among his fondest memories on a footy field. "It all happened very quick - young 18-year-old with no idea what was really going on, how big the occasion and everything was." Ponga said.

"Being naive and young was probably in a way a favour, not really understanding the work that had been done to get into that position. I was lucky to have some good leaders at the time, obviously JT (Jonathan Thurston), Michael Morgan, Matt Scott, Gavin Cooper, Lachie Coote. All these players are legends of the game. It was probably one of my favourite experiences, really."

Ponga's Return to Form

Ponga has guided the Knights into the finals for the second season in succession after returning from injury earlier in the season. Last year, the 26-year-old shook off a serious concussion to inspire a 10-game winning streak that stretched to the second week of finals. The Knights beat Canberra in week one of the finals before being eliminated by the Warriors in the second week as Ponga was named the player of the season.

His Newcastle side looked to be in dire straights this season when the superstar fullback a Lisfranc injury in his right foot as the side sat 15th on the ladder through seven rounds. But after Newcastle held themselves together in his absence, Ponga hit top gear on return for the final two months of the regular season to help the Knights sneak into the playoffs in the final game of the season.

Ponga's Shift in Mindset

And Ponga says his impressive form at the back-end of the season comes down to a shift in mindset during his 11-week injury layoff. "Coming back from my injury, I sort of felt like I had a point to prove." Ponga said. "Just proving that the best version of myself is the best. When you're injured, you're not really the best version of yourself. You're coming back from rehab, you're doing all that.

"Once I'm on the field, I want to be the best version of myself so just making sure I do everything day to day to do that... "I've been injured the first half of each season so then I'm kind of timely at the back end." The Knights go into the Cowboys finals clash having spent just three weeks in the top-eight all season - the fewest for any finals team since Canberra in 2010. But Ponga says he never doubted Newcastle's status as a finals contender.

The Knights' Late-Season Surge

"We've seemed to put it together at the right time over the last three, four, five weeks (but) it's not a coincidence." he added. "I think we've just stuck at what we thought was happening, what we were doing right and it's sort of just coming along." Newcastle lost by one point against the Cowboys in Townsville in their only previous clash this season, but go into Saturday night's clash on a three-game winning streak.

A Guide to the NRL Elimination Final Between North Queensland and Newcastle

When: Saturday, 7.50pm AEST
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

The Form

North Queensland (home-and-away season: fifth, 15 wins, 9 losses): Winners in seven of their past nine matches.
Newcastle (home-and-away season: eighth, 12 wins, 12 losses): Winners in five of their past nine matches.

Head-to-Head

Overall: Played: 45. Cowboys 23 wins, 22 losses.
In finals: Never played each other in a final.
Last time: Round 2, 2024: Cowboys 21 d Knights 20 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Key Players

Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys). The creative heart of the Cowboys, Drinkwater pulls the trigger on the dynamic attacking aspects of the side's play. While flamboyant and charismatic in his style, the 27-year-old fullback is also a selfless player who makes those around him look better. This is highlighted by his 36 line-break assists in the regular season, the best in the NRL and the equal most by a Cowboy alongside Johnathan Thurston in 2015. Also has 29 try assists. Drinkwater lives by the sword but rarely dies by it.
Kalyn Ponga (Knights). When Ponga fires at No.1 the Knights can beat anyone. Last week the maestro created the two tries to get his side into the finals with a 14-6 win over the Dolphins. It was still an uneven display by Ponga, and if the 26-year-old can have a nine-out-of-10 display against his former club, the Knights will be right in it.
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys). While not the most devastating wrecking ball in the competition as he was in years gone by, the veteran forward is still the spiritual leader of the side. There has been plenty of quality and intent in his work this year. When the 31-year-old lock is on the field the opposition shudder and his teammates grow an extra leg.
Dane Gagai (Knights). Newcastle have lost their strike left centre Bradman Best to injury in a massive blow, but they still have Queensland legend Gagai in the other centre position to bring the passion, skill and big-game experience in a sudden-death contest. Gagai was at the Knights when they struggled at the bottom of the ladder, and returned because he believes in the uncompromising and proud backbone of a club forged on steel and grit.