‘Would like that back’: Ponga’s heartbreak after costly blunder

An emotional Kalyn Ponga has reacted to a crucial moment in Newcastle’s brutal 26-16 elimination final loss against the Cowboys.
The superstar Knights captain was at his best on Saturday night, setting up his side’s first try of the night and wreaking havoc for opposition defenders over the 80 minutes.
But it was one missed opportunity with the game on the line that will haunt the Novacastrians, who were bundled out by a gallant North Queensland outfit.
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In the 69th minute with the scores locked, Ponga split open the Cowboys’ defence and looked certain to set up a try with teammates in support.
Instead of going inside to Tyson Gamble, who would have scored under the sticks, the fullback threw a pass to Dane Gagai and the veteran centre couldn’t reel it in.
Dane Gagai drops the ball in open space. Nine
Less than five minutes later, Reuben Cotter put the hosts ahead, before Tom Dearden put the icing on the cake to send the Townsville fans into raptures.
Speaking to Nine post-game, Ponga was asked if the Knights let the game slip and his response shows how much the State of Origin standout cares about the club.
“Yeah, we definitely did [let it slip],” he told Nine.
“It’s not just one pass that we missed out by, there were some moments in the game. I said to the boys behind the tryline, we’ve got to be proud of ourselves. I know it blew out at the end, but we were in every single moment right until the death there.
“We just didn’t come away with it. Everyone was counting us out, but we’ve fought hard over the last six weeks to get into this position and we had a moment there, not to win the game but to put ourselves in front.
“It’s hard when you lose. I would have liked that pass back for sure … it’s hard.”
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While there might be some criticism that comes his way due to the error – whether he was entirely to blame or not – there was no denying Ponga’s effort and influence on his team’s performance, especially with strike centre Bradman Best out injured.
The 26-year-old finished with two linebreaks, two try assists, seven tackle breaks and 19 runs for 188 metres in a dominant individual performance.
Kalyn Ponga was a man on a mission against the Cowboys.  Getty
In fact, according to club legend Andrew Johns, the Knights would have stood no chance of defeating the Cowboys if it wasn’t for the million-dollar man.
“They would like to have that one over,” he said.
“As soon as Kalyn got in the clear, he was thinking Gagai. I don’t think he would have heard Tyson Gamble on the inside.
“You’ve got to understand though with Kalyn that if he’s not out there tonight, they don’t get within 30 of the Cowboys.
“It’s hard to describe how good he is.”
North Queensland will now travel down to Sydney to take on the Sharks in week two of the finals, while the Knights look towards the 2025 season.