Kalyn Ponga will need a course of painkilling injections in his shoulder to return during the finals after scans revealed the Newcastle captain won’t miss the rest of the season.
Ponga, who was taken off in the final quarter of the Knights’ comprehensive win over the Sharks on Sunday after a crunching Jesse Ramien tackle, will miss Newcastle’s final regular season match against the Dragons.
But coach Adam O’Brien remains hopeful he will return for an elimination final in Newcastle the following week, despite initial fears he had also suffered a broken collarbone.
“Scans today have confirmed nib Newcastle Knights captain Kalyn Ponga has a high-grade AC shoulder injury,” the Knights said in a statement.
“Ponga will not be considered for selection for round 27, [and] medical and performance staff have commenced treatment with a view to returning for week one of the finals series.”
The NRL’s match review committee deemed Ramien’s hit to be legal.
Kalyn Ponga leaves the field against the Sharks.Credit: Getty
Ponga’s teammate Bradman Best said he was hopeful the 25-year-old would be fit to return during the finals as the Knights ride an eight-game winning streak into September.
“I think it’s decent, it’s a good injury,” Best said on Sunday night. “We’ll get him on ice and hopefully it’s not too bad. I’m thinking of him.”
Ponga’s injury capped a brutal weekend for some of the NRL’s biggest stars with Penrith’s Jarome Luai (shoulder), Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes (knee), the Roosters’ Joseph Manu (hamstring) and the Warriors’ Luke Metcalf (hamstring) all failing to finish matches.
Meanwhile, Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh will challenge his three-week shoulder charge ban at the judiciary on Tuesday night.
Horsburgh was not penalised for his 79th minute tackle on Brisbane’s Corey Jensen on Saturday night, in which he rushed out of the line and hit Jensen in a heavy front-on collision.
Prior incidents have upped Horsburgh’s potential suspension for a grade one charge up from what would have been $1500 fine for an early guilty plea with a clean record.
The Maroons front-rower will miss four games if Canberra’s judiciary challenge is unsuccessful, which would require the Raiders to make this year’s grand final for him to play again.
The Roosters have until 12pm on Monday to submit Jared Waerea-Hargreaves pleas to separate three-game suspensions for headbutting and dangerous contact.
More to come
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