Andrew Johns calls out Kalyn Ponga act amid fullback trend taking over NRL: 'Don't like that'
The actions of the Newcastle Knights fullback caught the club legend's eye during the Dolphins game.
Andrew Johns has expressed his dislike at a growing trend in the NRL surrounding Kalyn Ponga and the game's top fullbacks. Ponga has been in blistering form over the last month, leading the Newcastle Knights into the NRL finals for the second year running.
The Knights head to Townsville to take on the Cowboys in an elimination final on Saturday night, and Ponga will be central to Newcastle's hopes of progressing. But something caught Johns' eye on Sunday as Ponga starred for the Knights as they beat the Dolphins.
The Newcastle legend noticed Ponga was taking a lot of hit-ups on the fourth tackle of sets, which has become a trendy tactic for the game's top fullbacks. By taking a hit-up on the fourth tackle, agile and nimble fullbacks can draw a quick play-the-ball and give their kickers more time on the fifth play.
Fullbacks aren't typically part of the kick chase either, so it allows teams to get an extra player into the defensive line to chase if the fullback is the person playing the ball. The Panthers are best known for utilising the tactic with fullback Dylan Edwards, and their three-straight premierships show they know what they're doing.
But the sight of Ponga charging into the Dolphins forwards on Sunday left Johns feeling uneasy. "I don't like that," the Knights legend said on Channel 9 when Ponga took one hit-up on the fourth. "I know it’s to get all the forwards in the kick chase, but I don’t like him doing hit-ups."
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Co-commentator Phil Gould said the tactic is a dead giveaway that a team is going to kick rather than run the ball on the fifth. "I just think it’s a real signal that you’re going to kick and that you’re not going to run the ball," he said. "If Kalyn Ponga is taking that hit-up you don’t have to worry about him running the ball on the last play. They kick so deep into the corner anyway. Does it really matter if one forward is at the play-the-ball?"
Knights can't afford to lose Kalyn Ponga to injury again
Ponga has spent large parts of the last two seasons on the sideline with injuries, and Johns is undoubtedly wary of the star fullback copping a knock by taking extra runs. The Knights legend would much rather see Ponga saved for attacking situations rather than doing the grunt work.
Ponga suffered concussion issues in 2023 and missed the majority of the first half of the season, before returning with a bang to help the Knights finish fifth and charge into the finals. In 2024 it was a foot injury that saw him miss about three months, but once again he's fit and firing at just the right time.
The Knights only spent two weeks inside the top eight before Round 27, and will head to Townsville as big underdogs against a red-hot Cowboys side. "They will start favourites, being in Townsville. No one had us in the eight to start the year, there might have been one or two of you," Knights coach Adam O'Brien said on Sunday. "Everyone will keep us as the underdog. We like it that way. We've been using (our underdog status) all year, we're the ugly ducklings."
