I wouldn’t have won Dally M without head knock: Ponga
Newcastle Knights clubmates Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton take out the men's and women's Dally M awards. Photo: Getty
Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga says he’s had “the worst year and the best year all in one” after winning the NRL Dally M medal in a sensational night for his club.
The Knights fullback capped a remarkable turnaround in 2023, overcoming a career-threatening concussion to edge out hot favourite Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors) by one point at Wednesday night’s ceremony.
Ponga was part of a Newcastle double with clubmate Tamika Upton named the NRL women’s player of the year.
Ponga admitted he would probably not have won the Dally M if not for being knocked out against Wests Tigers in March.
The 25-year-old’s season at one stage looked likely to take an entirely different course and he even considered retirement at one point.
He was concussed for the fourth time in 10 months in a front-on tackle against the Tigers in round two, sitting out five matches.
Ponga had advanced neurological assessments on his brain before being cleared to return.
On receiving his medal, Ponga said he felt while on that trip that he had let people down, and needed to make it up to Newcastle.
“This was probably the worst year and the best year all in one,” Ponga said.
“It is actually pretty crazy. The conversations I had with my parents were quite real. Once I knew I was fine, I felt like I let a lot of people down.
“I wasn’t playing my part, and I wasn’t doing my job. I knew I had a lot more in me.
“I felt pretty guilty. It was a build up of the year before and not playing because of a concussion.
“I just wanted to come back and make people proud and do my job and be the player I know I can be.”
Ponga admitted that while away from the game he feared he would not be able to fit back into a Newcastle team that had found form without him early in the year.
But while he wished he had not suffered the head knock, the Queensland star is unsure he could have found the form he did without it or shifted to fullback from five-eighth.
“I’m probably still being stubborn and trying to play No.6 [without the head knock], so I’m probably not winning Dally M to be honest,” Ponga said.
“The knock probably put me back to fullback admittedly.
“I don’t condone head knocks at all, it’s obviously a bad part of the game. But it made me reassess.”
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Warriors halfback Johnson was widely tipped to take home the prize after steering the Warriors into the top four in their first year back in New Zealand since 2019.
But Ponga, who was part of a Newcastle side that surged into the finals with nine straight wins, pipped Johnson at the post at Royal Randwick on Wednesday night.
Ponga did not enter the top 10 in voting until after round 22, and only snatched the lead from Johnson in the penultimate round.
Both he and Johnson were rested in the final week of the season, while North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater polled third but was ruled ineligible due to suspension.
There was some solace for the Warriors with Andrew Webster named coach of the year after an impressive maiden campaign.
NRL grand finalists Brisbane had four players in the NRL team of the year, while their opponents Penrith had to make do with just two spots.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva claimed the best rookie prize after a sterling effort on the flank for Ivan Cleary’s Panthers side.
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As well as Ponga’s crowning night, Upton was awarded the NRLW Dally M Medal.
She will play in Sunday’s grand final against the Titans, whose mentor Karyn Murphy was hailed as the game’s best coach.
“This is definitely not an individual award,” Upton said.
“I think from the moment I stepped foot (in Newcastle), I’ve been supported by everyone involved and that spreads to my teammates.
“For my family and friends back home who have always supported me, I can feel the love so thank you.”
Honour roll (men)
Player of the year: Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle)
Rookie: Sunia Turuva (Penrith)
Captain: Adam Reynolds (Brisbane)
Coach: Andrew Webster (Warriors)
NRL team of the year: Kalyn Ponga, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Herbie Farnworth, Stephen Crichton, Jamayne Isaako, Ezra Mam, Shaun Johnson, Payne Haas, Harry Grant, Addin Fonua-Blake, Liam Martin, David Fifita, Patrick Carrigan.
Honour roll (women)
Player of the year: Tamika Upton (Newcastle)
Rookie: Annessa Biddle (Cronulla)
Captain: Simaima Taufa (Canberra)
Coach: Karyn Murphy (Gold Coast)
NRLW team of the year: Tamika Upton, Jakiya Whitfield, Isabelle Kelly, Mele Hufanga, Julia Robinson, Tarryn Aiken, Ali Brigginshaw, Shannon Mato, Destiny Brill, Sarah Togatuki, Yasmin Clydesdale, Olivia Kernick, Simaima Taufa.
