Voss: Could Ponga lead Knights win the comp without Brown?

After a dominant display against the Dolphins on Thursday night, Greg Alexander and Andrew Voss believe that the Newcastle Knights with Kalyn Ponga at the helm are capable of more than just finals contention.

The Knights, led by Ponga, defeated the Dolphins 26-12 at home with Newcastle scoring four tries within the first half which effectively sealed the match for them.

Ponga’s influence was critical to their win providing three try and line break assists as well as managing over 200 run metres as mentioned within our match report.

Both Voss and Alexander gave high praise to the star fullback.

“He is the complete package,” Alexander said on SEN1170 Breakfast.

“I’ve been saying that Kalyn Ponga is and rightly so and every now and then when I make that call about when I put Kalyn Ponga in terms of his ranking within the game.

“People say that he doesn’t do it regularly, he’s not consistent and that’s been true but again last night and he was very good for them last week if you watch the game closely against the Tigers, I don’t know if they win the game without Ponga.

“He was outstanding every time he touched the ball; not just his running game, his passing, his ability to set up his men.

“If they continue to get the output and the involvement of Kalyn Ponga like he has been for the last two rounds, they will win more games than they lose which means they will make the eight.”

While Alexander focused more on his specific performance, Voss spoke on the influence that Ponga has on the Knights and their ability to compete against the NRL’s best.

“If Dylan Brown is worth $1.3 million to Newcastle potentially $1.4 (million) with a ratchet clause with the increased salary cap and it will be $1.4 cause the salary cap will go up, then how much is Kalyn Ponga worth?” Voss pondered.

“I’ll give you a hypothetical right off the top of the program, let’s wind the clock 12 months.

“If Knights are playing Penrith and Dylan Brown is in and Kalyn Ponga is out, Knights no chance.

“If Kalyn Ponga is in and Dylan Brown out, I’m still giving Newcastle hope.

“He is maybe one of the best players in the competition.”

Voss was willing to go further than just finals with him being open to the possibility of the Knights going all the way in 2025, before adding Brown next year.

He added: “Massive hypothetical, what if they go on to win the comp without Dylan Brown?

“What if they get so good and they just develop and improve and Fletcher Sharpe wins the most improved player of the competition, and Ponga steers them there?”

Alexander was quick to quash any talk of their premiership chances, but he does believe the Knights are capable of making a preliminary final.

The Knights will take on the Titans next Saturday on the Gold Coast.

If they defeat the Titans, it will be the first time the Knights have gone 3-0 to start the season since 2015.