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Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga was brilliant with 212 running metres and a 95-metre try, but the Knights lost the NRL grand final 19-18 to the Sydney Roosters.
Kalyn Ponga was exhausted physically and emotionally after Newcastle's 19-18 NRL grand final defeat to the Sydney Roosters on Sunday evening. The Knights captain produced many of the match's most dazzling moments but could not lift his side to their first premiership since 2001.
Ponga Reflects On Grand Final Loss
The fullback said the loss hurt deeply. It hurts. It hurts so much, Ponga told Channel Nine, his voice wavering. I know we did them proud, but the ultimate goal is to win a comp.
Can't thank them enough for their support. We'll be back. Ponga was a one-man freak show on the night despite the result. He finished with 212 running metres, a 95-metre length-of-the-field try and a miracle try-saving tackle that denied Mark Nawaqanitawase in the first half.
His pink headgear was impossible to miss. Newcastle raced to a 12-0 lead in front of 80,814 fans, most of whom were backing the Knights. The stadium roared as the Novocastrians started strongly and entered the half-time break with a six-point lead. But the relentless Roosters stayed patient and pegged them back.
The Roosters enjoyed 57% of possession and led by seven late in the match. Newcastle found a way back, scoring a late try to give them one last shot, but they could not conjure one more of their trademark long-range tries despite the urging of their fans. Ponga admitted the second-half errors proved costly.
Roosters Overcome Newcastle Second-Half Errors
Yeah, just in the second half that we made so many errors and they obviously made the most of them and the amount of pressure they put on us, you know, they were too good in the end, he said. Despite the defeat, Ponga said he was super proud of the team.
Wooden spoon last year, if you had have said we were playing in the grand final at the start of the season, I would have said you were kidding, he said. This coaching staff, the players, they work so hard to get us in this position. Our fans are so loyal and they deserved a win tonight, but we just weren't good enough.
Roosters captain James Tedesco was full of praise for his opposing fullback, who has finally entered the conversation this year as the best player in rugby league. If you stop Kalyn, you go a long way to winning the game, Tedesco said. Our boys on the edge did a great job defending him. I mean, they just keep asking questions, he's so hard to handle, our boys did a great job.
Ponga also praised his opponents and thanked the Newcastle community. Firstly, I'd just like to thank the NRL and all the sponsors for making this year even bigger and better than previous before, I congratulate the Roosters, he continued. I'll just say thank you to our boys, to our club, to our fans. Want to ride.
This one was obviously so proud to be here, proud to represent you people. We're still chasing that premiership to the Roosters. Congratulations class outfit deserving of tonight. Yeah enjoy it boys.
Newcastle Falls Short Of Premiership Glory
The result came at the end of a week the city of Newcastle experienced incredible highs, but with Sunday's defeat the Knights fell just short of a maiden title in more than two decades. As he still chases his maiden title, Ponga thanked the Newcastle community for their support over the past 12 months. The Knights had a stellar opening half but were unable to hold onto their lead.
While their dream of winning their first premiership since 2001 came to an unfortunate ending, Ponga was proud of the way his side competed after finishing with the wooden spoon last year. The Roosters proved too clinical and overpowered the gallant Knights in the second half.
Newcastle could not hold on despite the brilliance of their captain, who was responsible for many of the match's most dazzling moments as a constant menace with ball in hand on both sides of the field. Ponga, who was interviewed by Jonathan Thurston after the match, admitted the club will return to the grand stage very soon. The Knights captain was shattered after the one-point loss but praised his teammates and the club's loyal supporters.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Ponga's performance confirmed his standing among the game's elite. He saved a four-pointer when pressuring Nawaqanitawase's aerial put-down in the first half before running away for a length-of-the-field try that was the undoubted highlight of a thrilling encounter.
FOXSportsAUS 
GuardianAus:Gallant Knights’ NRL grand final loss ‘hurts so much’, says standout Kalyn PongaThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Kalyn Ponga Newcastle Knights Sydney Roosters NRL Grand Final James Tedesco
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