Spirits were already soaring in Newcastle ahead of the 2026 NRL season with a new coach and a swathe of new recruits led by international playmaker Dylan Brown.
Now superstar fullback and club captain Kalyn Ponga has provided even more reason to smile, giving a positive update on the Lisfranc foot injury that derailed his 2025 season in Round 17 against the Raiders—and ultimately saw the Knights confined to the NRL wooden spoon.
Speaking to the media during the Knights 2026 club day an upbeat Ponga was bullish about his chances of taking the field in Las Vegas for the Newcastle’s Round 1 clash with North Queensland at Allegiant Stadium on March 1, Australian time.
“The foot feels pretty good, things are rolling along well which is exciting and I’m keen to get back out there,” the 27-year-old said, explaining he and the club have taken an intentionally cautious approach with the recovery process on his left (kicking) foot.”
MORE: Bulldogs forward joins Perth Bears in huge recruitment win
“I think we did the right thing by backing off a little bit, we’d rather get it right now than have more troubles during the season and miss games,” he continued.
One game Ponga says he’s very keen not to miss the the historic trip to the USA in February.
“I’ve still got eight weeks until Vegas and every day I will do my best to tick every box and try to tick a few more,” he said.
“I’m very comfortable with where I’m at, I’m very confident of taking the field in Vegas, I’m doing everything I can to get it right.”
Ponga explained it has been a relief to finally discard the protective moon boot that he’d been wearing for months, and begin running again to build his fitness ahead of what he hopes will be a significantly improved 2026 NRL campaign.
“(I was doing) a lot of upper body weights and upper body conditioning (in the moon boot), but I’m running now and trying to get as fit as I can—I’m definitely happy I’m out of the boot,” he laughed.
“The way the rehab is coming along I am definitely hopeful of playing in a trial game (before Vegas).”
Ponga vs Walsh vs Tabuai-Fidow: State of Origin Showdown
Ponga also said he hasn’t given up hope of getting back into the Queensland number one jersey for State of Origin, despite the irresistible late season 2025 form of Broncos custodian Reece Walsh and incumbent Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who replaced him for Game 3 in 2025.
“It’s been awesome over the last three years with Reece. We’ve always wanted to fight for that position and whoever earns it, earns it,” Ponga said.
“I definitely want to be back and I definitely want that (fullback) jersey—I’ll be doing everything I can to get it.”