UPDATED: Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga will reportedly miss three months of football due to a foot injury.
The gun fullback will need surgery on a Lisfranc injury suffered against the Bulldogs on Sunday, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
It means Ponga is next to no chance of featuring in this year’s State of Origin series for Queensland.
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He sat out last year’s series, too, following a number of concussions.
Ponga consistently limped his way through the first half on Sunday, and could only play 11 minutes after the break.
The fullback had a limited impact, running only seven times for 44 metres.
Ponga suffered a hip injury against the Roosters last week and clearly looked as if he wasn’t 100 per cent – a fact that was ripped by Penrith great Mark Geyer on radio on Monday.
Post-game, coach Adam O’Brien confirmed it wasn’t a good prognosis for the Knights and Ponga.
“It’s nothing to do with the hip pointer, it’s in the foot, a ligament in the foot. As far as I know it’s pretty rare so not great signs for us,” he said post-match.
Newcastle struggled in the first half, with the Bulldogs leading 18-6 at the break after tries to Sam Hughes, Jacob Kiraz and Bronson Xerri. Dylan Lucas was the try-scorer for the Knights.
During the break, footage captured Ponga limping around the dressing room and when he returned to the field.
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“What do you do if you’re Adam O’Brien? Clearly, he can’t run,” Steve Roach said on Fox League.
“He’s a passenger at the moment.”
Eight minutes into the second half, Ponga suffered an embarrassing moment when he tried to usher a Reed Mahoney grubber dead.
Bulldogs youngster Bailey Hayward proved too determined, getting past Ponga to put the ball down before it went dead.
The fullback completed one more run before he finally left the field.
After Ponga’s departure, the Bulldogs continued their rout, scoring another two tries.
Canterbury could have a few problems from the game, too, with prop Chris Patolo leaving the field inside three minutes with an MCL injury.
Drew Hutchison was also placed on report for tripping Kai Pearce-Paul in the first half.
Jaeman Salmon was also placed on report late for a high tackle while Reed Mahoney and Knights forward Jack Hetherington were sin-binned for a feisty exchange in the final stages.
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