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Live sport on SN this weekendWill Ponga be fit for Vegas opener?
Nicholas Quinlan • January 18th, 2026 4:58 pm
Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook has confirmed that star fullback Kalyn Ponga will likely be fit for the side’s opening match of the 2026 season in Las Vegas.
2025 was certainly a frustrating year for the Knights, who parted ways with former coach Adam O’Brien after finishing with the wooden spoon.
It was also a frustrating year for Ponga, whose injury issues would once again affect his availability on the field, with his season ending early as a result of a Lisfranc injury during their Round 17 clash against Canberra.
And during the pre-season, the Queensland representative has been placed on a modified program as he recovers.
But with all this, Holbrook is confident that the Newcastle captain will be all guns blazing for their Round 1 clash against North Queensland.
“I am, yeah,” he stated on SEN 1170’s Boys of Summer.
“He came back from his Lisfranc (injury), and he did the first week of training, and he was flying.
“But unfortunately, he was getting pain in his foot and toes, that sort of bone bruising.
“And if you keep running on bone bruising, it can lead to fractures, and once it gets to that, you’re in big trouble.
“So, we had to back him right off, put in a boot for weeks, which is obviously frustrating for any player, let alone any athlete like himself.
“He’s out of the boot now. It’s a slow progression, but from all reports on our end, he’ll be 100% ready to go in Round 1.”
The former Gold Coast coach also expressed a desire to see him play in one of their trial games.
But a decision on that will likely come in the next few weeks.
“Would I love him to play a trial (game), absolutely,” Holbrook continued.
“Will he? I’m not too sure.
“I’ll wait and see over the next four or five weeks whether he plays a trial or not.
“I’m okay either way.”
The Knights play the Cowboys to begin their NRL seasons on March 1 in Las Vegas.
While in their pre-season trials, Newcastle faces St George Illawarra on February 7 before playing the Bulldogs a week later.
