Kalyn Ponga concussion updates: When will Newcastle Knights star return to NRL?
Newcastle Knights talisman Kalyn Ponga gearing up for a return to the NRL field after recovering from yet another head knock.
He originally provided a positive update after undergoing concussion testing in Canada.
The Newcastle five-eighth is currently sidelined after a head knock in a match against Wests Tigers in early March.
14/04/23 – Kalyn Ponga likely to remain at five-eighth
Ahead of a potential return for Newcastle, Ponga has opened up on the difficult situation he found himself in after suffering another sickening head knock, while also confirming he would likely remain at five-eighth.
“It was pretty difficult,” he told AAP. “To have that thought that you might have to stop playing was pretty weird.
“But I was trying to be positive and open-minded about everything that was happening. I’m pretty good at doing that, to be honest.”
Ponga revealed his immediate future boiled down to a six-minute test he conducted in Canada where he was told it would be safe for him to continue playing.
“At the end of that test, they had objective data on where my brain‘s at,” he said.
“The reassuring thing for me was they said that if I was just a normal person that didn’t have the head knock history, they would say I’m pretty good.
“Going over to Canada and getting that clarity, personally I found it so beneficial. I’m so grateful that I got to go over there.”
10/04/23 – Kalyn Ponga feared retirement was a possibility
After suffering four concussions in the past 10 months there was genuine concern for Ponga’s career.
With it now confirmed that Ponga will return to action in a few weeks he has revealed his relief about the whole situation.
“I’m good. Four weeks ago there was talk about retirement,” Ponga said.
“To go over to Canada and get clarity about what I am doing and what I can do, it’s reassuring for me. I should be back in not too long.
“We got the best result I could over there. That was the result I got, that you are able to go back and play. Your brain is in a healthy position to do so, [which is] really reassuring and positive news.
“I just want to get back on the field, doing what I love with the boys.”
With Ponga now medically cleared the Knights will have their Origin star follow a roadmap on his journey back to playing footy.
“There’s everything from footy contact to the type of tackles that we think that he’ll experience,” Knights coach O’Brien said.
“There’s a whole lot of thought that has gone into it all, and we’ve actually started some of it, but rather than me going and handing it all over to everyone, we’ll just go about it over the next few weeks and we’ll work out whether he’s right to go, and if he’s not, we’ll go another week.”
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