Ponga to shoulder heavy burden

NEWCASTLE superstar Kalyn Ponga has told of the “crazy” mental toll his shoulder injury had on him during last year’s finals loss to South Sydney.

Ponga pushed through the pain of a dodgy shoulder as the Knights lost to the Rabbitohs.

“It’s pretty crazy what an injury can do to you mentally,” Ponga said about his shoulder injury, which required surgery.

“It took a bit of confidence out of me.”

Twelve months on, Ponga is fully fit a n d p u m p e d about the Knights’ final prospects before Sunday’s elimination final against Parramatta.

He believes they are better placed this season due to the hard work behind the scenes.

“That’s why I’m so excited,” he said. “I don’t think we have played to our full potential yet or anywhere near it.

“I remember being in this position last year and I think the mood is a lot better and the boys are a lot more excited.

“I think the belief and the confidence are higher than last year and that is because of the hard work we’ve put in over the last eight weeks to get here.

“I’d like to think that we’ll be a lot better. We need to be better.”

The Knights are the worst attacking team in the finals, scoring 428 points in the regular season.