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'I’m itching to play some footy': Ponga in best-ever shape ahead of 2025 season
Charles Goodsir • February 13th, 2025 1:10 pm
Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga insists he is in the best state of mind to start a season in his entire career as the Knights look to qualify in three straight finals series for the first time since 2003.
Ponga attracted plenty of headlines during the off-season after he made himself unavailable for Australia in the Pacific Championship in October 2024.
Thanks to an uninterrupted pre-season which began on November 21 2024, the 26-year-old confirmed he’s in the best possible condition to begin the campaign.
“I definitely am (in great shape),” Ponga told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I enjoy the role I play both on the field and off the field. I feel comfortable and especially when I’m back home in Newcastle.
“Physically, I’m feeling better and hope that I can keep getting better but the mental side is still important.
“I’ve worked on it a lot over the past two years due to mistakes and lessons (in the past).
“I’m definitely in a good space (and) I’m over pre-season. I’m keen to get into it and I can’t wait.
“I’m itching to play some footy. I’m more than ready.”
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After a stunning 2023 campaign which featured a 10-game winning streak, Newcastle were largely inconsistent in 2024 and despite narrowly finishing eighth, were eliminated in the first week of finals.
Newcastle had the second worst attack in the competition only ahead of the bottom placed Wests Tigers. Coach Adam O’Brien struggled to find a successful halves combination but Ponga believes youngster Fletcher Sharpe has shown promise over the off-season when training at five-eighth.
“He’s definitely got the work ethic and football IQ,” Ponga said of his teammate Sharpe.
“Fletch is a natural footy player and he’s normally a fullback but he’s a pretty handy fullback as well.
“He is someone you want close to the footy because of what he can do with it. It will take some time for him to learn and I’m prepared to be patient with it.
“You want the footy in his hands because he makes things happen and he’s just a natural footy player.”
Newcastle travel to Campbelltown in Round 1 to take on the Tigers on March 7.
