The Knights are being accused of treating skipper Kalyn Ponga as a protected species in the wake of the star’s pub toilet scandal – with teammates facing harsher sanctions for what is seen by many as less serious offences.
Ponga and teammate Kurt Mann – who are both currently sidelined with injury – were kicked out of the same toilet cubicle at the Delany Hotel in Newcastle’s CBD on Saturday evening.
It was the same night the Knights were getting belted 28-10 by the Broncos, with the club languishing at 14th on the ladder after a diabolical season.
Ponga’s father Andre was immediately on the front foot when video emerged on Monday of Kalyn and Mann being kicked out of the same cubicle.
Kalyn Ponga has found himself in the spotlight, with the team accused of treating him like a ‘protected species’
Ponga is seen (far left) being asked to leave a pub toilet cubicle by security alongside teammate Kurt Mann (out of picture)
Since then, however, there have been so many mixed messages from the Ponga camp, Newcastle and even the pub, that it is hard to keep track on what the current version is.
‘He made an exciting house purchase Saturday and celebrated with a few mates drinking. Sick in the toilet and his mate went in to help him,’ Andre Ponga told the Daily Telegraph on Monday.
That explanation has been heavily scrutinised, with some onlookers questioning why the pair decided to take their drinks into the cubicle if Ponga was feeling unwell.
Kalyn Ponga (left) and Kurt Man (right) celebrate a try in the Knights’ round 15 loss against the Raiders
Mann is seen exiting the toilet cubicle first after being kicked out by hotel security
It’s now been claimed, Ponga was not in fact drunk, and was only at the pub for less than 30 minutes – something which has been told to the club, who are still completing an investigation.
So what is the REAL story?
We may never really know, but what is without question is both Mann and Ponga were out drinking while injured – a huge no-no at elite sporting clubs given alcohol impairs healing.
Ponga has been put on ice for the rest of the year after suffering his third concussion in six weeks in July, while Mann is recovering from a quad injury.
Kalyn Ponga (right) out having a good time with Knights teammates Tyson Frizell (centre) and Connor Watson (left)
Tigers star David Nofoaluma was dropped from first-grade after drinking while sidelined with concussion earlier this year – though the Knights have been at pains to point out they gave Ponga no specific instruction to abstain from alcohol.
Top rugby league pundit James Hooper reported Mann may face a fine for drinking while injured, but not Ponga; and he lashed the club’s double standards.
‘Is Ponga a protected species in Newcastle? Because that’s how it looks,’ Hooper wrote on Fox Sports.
‘Knights utility Mann is expected to be fined for drinking while being sidelined with a soft tissue injury but the early suggestion out of Newcastle is Ponga may escape any sort of punishment.’
Bradman Best (left, pictured with partner Amy Wood at last year’s Dally M Medal) has been dropped by the club for being late to the team bus
The Knights axed backline stars Bradman Best and Enari Tuala for being late to the team’s bus on Sunday morning after the Broncos loss.
The pair will now play reserve grade for being SIX minutes late.
Hooper wrote that it would be ‘a bit rich’ dropping Best and Tuala, but then ‘allowing Ponga to get a free pass’.
Kalyn Ponga has produced some stunning performances for Queensland but has been unable to consistently replicate the form at club level
The fact Ponga is the skipper of the club, and signed a monster $1.2million, five-year contract in April, has of course placed extra pressure on both the club and Ponga.
The superstar fullback is as good as any in the competition on his day, but struggles to string together consistent form at club level despite a phenomenal performance for the Maroons this year.
He’s earned the reputation of being somewhat injury-prone; though of course the concussion issues are out of his control.
It’s not giving Newcastle much value for money, and the club’s culture appears to be at it’s lowest ebb in years.
Kalyn Ponga won’t play for the rest of the season after suffering a series of concussions
Results on the field aren’t going much better, either.
The Knights now have three games left to finish the season on a high, and salvage what is left of their reputation, with coach Adam O’Brien’s job likely on the line.
They’ll face the Raiders at home this Sunday afternoon, before taking on the Titans and Sharks over the last two rounds of the season.