Knights star Kalyn Ponga was the best afield in his side’s heart-breaking elimination final loss to the Cowboys, but there’ll be one moment he’ll likely replay over and over again in the coming weeks.
With the game in the balance at 16 all in the 70th minute, Ponga broke the line and into raced into clear air with several Knights unmarked and in support.
Ponga threw a pass which was low to centre Dane Gagai, who dropped it. Had Gagai caught the ball, it would have been a certain try and given the Knights a likely six point lead.
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The Cowboys capitalised on the lucky break, scoring two tries to run out 28-16 winners and book a semi-final against Cronulla next Friday.
A dejected Ponga spoke to Channel Nine’s Darren Lockyer post-game, saying he “would like that pass back for sure”.
“Yeah, we definitely did [let it slip],” he told Lockyer.
“It’s not just one pass that we missed out by, there were some moments in the game. I said to the boys behind the tryline, we’ve got to be proud of ourselves.
I know it blew out at the end, but we were in every single moment right until the death there.
“We just didn’t come away with it. Everyone was counting us out, but we’ve fought hard over the last six weeks to get into this position and we had a moment there, not to win the game but to put ourselves in front.
“It’s hard when you lose. I would have liked that pass back for sure … it’s hard.”
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Ponga was again asked about the missed play in the Knights’ press conference and whether the pass was “just a little too low”
“That’s exactly what happened, yeah. Would’ve liked that moment back for sure,” the star fullback answered.
Despite that pass, Ponga proved why he is the game’s premier fullback in a dazzling display against his former side.
He finished the game with two try assists, two linebreaks, two offloads, nine tackle busts and 171 running metres.
Source Agencies
