Adversity will shape Ponga as a leader

KALYN Ponga has responded to criticism of his captaincy and outlined why Newcastle’s current struggles will potentially shape him into a premiership-winning skipper at the Knights.

Ponga will attempt to lead the Knights to back-to-back wins for the second time this season when they host the resurgent Brisbane Broncos at Mcdonald Jones Stadium on Thursday night.

While the Knights got back in the winner’s circle with a 16-6 triumph over the Bulldogs last week, 2022 has been the toughest season of Ponga’s 91game career.

It started positively when he was handed the Newcastle captaincy and the Knights won their first two games but a knee injury was compounded by seven straight losses as the Knights sunk to last place on the ladder.

Ponga, 24, was also at the centre of a contract circus that ended with a five-year, $6m deal with the Knights.

Now, however, the Queensland Origin star is focused on leading the Knights out of their current slump.

“It’s OK, it is what it is,” Ponga said of the criticism. “I have been made captain and we’ve gone on this run we have, which hasn’t been the best.

“It has been (brutal). Losing isn’t the nicest feeling and being the captain of a losing side definitely isn’t the nicest feeling. It has been tough but we are not far off. We have lost some close games and the effort has been there. We’ve had some injuries.

“The beauty about this period is that I will get so much out of it. I will learn so much out of this … It’s a massive challenge for me but it is good and what I look forward to.”