Few will give the Knights much hope of advancing past week one of the finals, assuming they get there. But if their captain is fit and in this form, anything is possible.
Premiership-winning former Newcastle coach Michael Hagan sat in the stands at McDonald Jones Stadium last Sunday watching Kalyn Ponga and thought one thing: Andrew Johns.
There was a luncheon on Friday that featured local league royalty, including Hagan, who coached the club to its 2001 premiership, as well as Kurt Gidley, Paul Harragon, Danny Buderus, Mark Sargent and Mark Hughes. Johns missed the event, but will be in town on Sunday. “He’s been more giving when it comes to the community. You only had to see the amount of kids surrounding him after full-time last week.”
Gidley always admired champion Knights Harragon, Tony Butterfield, Sam Stewart, Steve Simpson, Buderus and Billy Peden when it came to leadership. He liked the fact Ponga was able to lean on Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai and the Saifiti brothers.“I felt some empathy for Kalyn because everyone wanted to comment on his career and his health,” Gidley says.
“He’s always had an element of class about him, but now he’s got consistency in his footy, and he’s a handful,” Fitzgibbon says. “He was going to play in the centres against Penrith, then Ronnie [Mulitalo] got hurt the day before the game, and Connor ended up on the wing,” Fitzgibbon said.“To go from centre to wing to fullback, and the fact he’s also capable of playing that utility role ... Connor is someone who cares about his footy, works hard and tries to get better each day.”
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