Kalyn Ponga turned on the ultimate masterclass to inspire undefeated Newcastle to an emphatic 26-12 home win over a shoddy Dolphins outfit.
The Knights talisman was brilliant on the left, sensational on the right and on fire at the back. He was everywhere in one of his most influential displays.
Newcastle will face a nervous wait over second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul, who was sin-binned and put on report for a shoulder to the head of Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti in the 69th minute.
The Dolphins, who flew to Newcastle on Monday night after ex-tropical cyclone Alfred flooded their Redcliffe training field, will be glad to get back home to normality after two away losses to start the season.
The Knights signed Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown on a 10-year mega-deal from 2026 during the week. Brown would have liked the foregleam of his next move and the prospect of playing alongside Ponga.
Ponga played often at first receiver to have a hand in all of his side’s four first-half tries.
Starting No.7 Jack Cogger was also solid to showcase how he was not daunted by the Brown signing.
Ponga the maestro was the link man for the opening try to winger James Schiller, with an overhead pass by Pearce-Paul the clincher.
The Knights skipper sent Schiller over for his second, then fired the final pass for centre Bradman Best to crash over to give the razzle-dazzle Knights a 14-0 lead after 21 minutes.
Ponga then turned on a move that Knights legend Andrew Johns said in Channel Nine commentary “only a couple of players in the world” could have conjured.
He moved to the outside of Dolphins centre Jake Averillo while a pass from Cogger was in mid-air and sent centre Dane Gagai in to make it 20-0.
“I’m so happy I was here to watch that,” Johns said of Ponga’s genius.
The exquisite craft of Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa provided prop Mark Nicholls with the visitors’ only points of the first half.
Queensland coach Billy Slater was also licking his lips over the Ponga display.
“It was 10 out of 10 for Kalyn in that first half for me,” Slater said at the break.
Brown’s likely halves partner next year, electrifying No.6 Fletcher Sharpe, sliced through to set up second-rower Dylan Lucas after halftime.
The Saifiti twins, playing against each other for the first time in their lives, locked horns with the first hit-up of the game. Daniel ran straight into opposite prop Jacob. It was a moment to savour.
Jacob led a dominant Knights pack with vim before suffering a cork to the quad.
The Dolphins played dumb footy, conceding three penalties for incorrect play-the-balls.
Katoa, who scored with a late show-and-go, was the shining light for the Dolphins.
AAP
