Brown tells critics to give Ponga a break

NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown says he couldn’t care less if people want to bag him. But it’s time to back off Kalyn Ponga.

And just because the young superstar supposedly didn’t show enough emotional hurt following last weekend’s loss to Parramatta doesn’t mean Ponga is not playing “brave” or giving “100 per cent”.

Ahead of Newcastle’s mustwin match against Ponga’s former club North Queensland today, Brown says it is time for Ponga’s critics to remember he is still only 21.

Brown says the players and coaching staff are under no illusions how important it is to break a six-match losing run at Mcdonald Jones Stadium today.

“This is our last throw at the stumps,” Brown said. “If we don’t win we will kiss the semifinals goodbye.”

No doubt another loss will also intensify pressure on Brown’s position given he is on a performance-based contract.

He says that is the least of his concerns right now: “Someone said the other day, ‘you copped a bit of a bagging, Brownie’. And I said; ‘ Well, so did Mal Meninga the other day. So if Mal Meninga can get bagged I think any of us can get bagged’.”

But all Brown is asking for Ponga is a fair go.

“I have been around as a player and a coach for a long time and I have seen some of the greatest competitors finish a game and they are obviously very, very disappointed and they don’t want to shake hands and talk to anyone.

“And I have also seen some of the great competitors just move on. But it doesn’t mean they don’t care.”