KNIGHTS CAPTAIN KALYN PONGA DELIVERS POWERFUL SPEECH AND STUNNING PERFORMANCE IN HISTORIC WIN OVER BULLDOGS
in a night that will be remembered for years to come, newcastle knights captain kalyn ponga delivered not only one of the finest individual performances of his career, but also a passionate, powerful speech that lit a fire under his teammates — leading to a record-breaking 66-0 demolition of the canterbury-bankstown bulldogs at accor stadium.
the knights were already looking sharp in the lead-up, but it was ponga’s words in the pre-game huddle and again at halftime that reportedly set the tone for a ruthless and focused display. witnesses close to the team shared that the usually composed skipper raised his voice with conviction, calling on the team to “show who we are, play with pride, and punish any doubts they have about us.” his message resonated deeply.
and ponga backed up his words with action.
he had a hand in nearly everything during the match. the captain finished with three try assists, nine tackle breaks, and a perfect 11-from-11 record with the boot, equaling the club record set by immortal andrew johns. every touch of the ball seemed to spark momentum for the knights, and his composure and creativity carved open a stunned bulldogs defense repeatedly throughout the game.
the win was not just emphatic — it was historic. the 66-point margin was the largest in newcastle’s history, a feat that had players and fans alike celebrating long after the final whistle. bradman best notched his first career hat-trick, finishing with 219 run metres, while dom young and dane gagai added to the scoreboard in an all-out attacking blitz.
behind the scenes, what struck many observers was the intensity and leadership shown by ponga. knights head coach adam o’brien later revealed that ponga had taken it upon himself to speak to each player individually during the warm-ups. “he wasn’t just hyping them up — he was focused, personal, and clear,” o’brien said. “he knows what each of those boys needs, and he gave it to them. that’s leadership.”
fans at accor stadium, even those cheering for the bulldogs, were left in awe of the knights’ cohesion and spirit. while canterbury struggled to keep up, the knights played with an intensity and unity rarely seen this season — a testament to their captain’s influence.
in the post-match press conference, ponga was humble about the historic result but firm in his belief that the knights had more to give. “this is what happens when we trust the process and play for each other,” he said. “tonight was special, but we’re building towards something bigger.”
while the scoreboard told the story of dominance, the real impact of the night might just be the emergence of ponga as not only a superstar talent but a truly inspirational captain — one capable of rallying his troops, delivering on his words, and leading the knights into a bright future.
