Ponga possible Cowboys stand- in
Newcastle- bound excitement machine Kalyn Ponga could find himself back in the NRL today to play the Warriors if North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein fails to shrug off a calf injury.
Winterstein played just 40 minutes on the wing in last Sunday’s defeat of South Sydney, and despite training yesterday was listed as doubtful by coach Paul Green.
Guarded when asked of Winterstein’s potential
The drawn- out saga around his contract registration and intense speculation about his playing future tested the patience of fans through the pre- season and lingering worries over his mental health and a recurring hamstring injury further delayed his club debut.
Despite being less than fully fit he impressed in his first two games with wins over the Titans and Eels easing the pressure, but he spent the next month playing on one leg.
Foran’s name remained in the headlines as he wrestled with the de- replacement, Green said Kiwi- born Ponga, Javid Bowen or Kyle Laybutt were all in the frame.
The coach said his experienced winger would be given “every chance” to play, due to the Cowboys’ long list of injuries.
“He’s an experienced guy and we need as much experience as possible,” Green said. “He trained and did some strides in running, but I’d say he’s doubtful at this stage.”
Green listed the trio when asked who was likely to replace Winterstein. When asked if one was more likely than the other the coach replied: “Probably, yeah.” cision of whether to extend his contract and criticism of his commitment continued both before and after his move to Canterbury was eventually confirmed in early May.
More frustration followed with a thigh injury suffered in the round 14 win on the Gold Coast keeping him out of the win over the Bulldogs a fortnight later.
He carried the injury into the Sea Eagles’ encounter in Perth, but the problem was exacerbated when a tackle from Manly prop Brenton Lawrence left him with a hip injury.
Ponga will move to Newcastle next season, and despite starring at every opportunity has not lined up for the Cowboys since round nine.
Reserve grader Mason Lino will take injured Warrior Shaun Johnson’s place in the side, in what will be the 23- year- old’s first NRL match since September 2015 and is bound to face Titans pressure.
“It’s not a matter of targeting them,” Green said of the young Warrior. “But if we pressure their ball players, it’s a new combination, and the more we pressure them the harder it is to find rhythm.”
That knock, together with a niggling back problem, continued to dog him in last week’s loss to the Panthers, but Kearney is confident he will rise to the challenge against the in- form Cowboys.
With time running out on his Warriors career, the onus is on him to provide some spark and ease the pressure on replacement No 7 Mason Lino.
“He’s a competitor. He doesn’t like losing either He knows his mate [ Johnson] is down, so I’m sure we’ll see Kieran at his best this week.”