Newcastle Knights’ superstar duo Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown are both set to spend extended stints on the sidelines.
The pair, close to $3 million of playing talent, succumbed to injuries during the side’s memorable 36-18 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park on Sunday 15 March.
After turning it on at the start of an impressive first half, Ponga limped off with a hamstring tear in the 28th minute before Brown followed soon after with medial damage to his knee.
The gifted No. 1 tried to stay on the field for one more play.
However, he yielded to the pain.
Now, scans confirmed on Monday 16 March he has a high-grade hamstring strain.
Dependent on his response to rehab, Ponga is expected to miss up to six-to-eight weeks.
Brown suffered his injury about the 35-minute mark while sending Fletcher Hunt over for Newcastle’s fourth try.
He went down clutching his knee and finished the day in a brace.
Scans established a grade 2 MCL strain, meaning a month-long blow for the high-profile recruit.
Meanwhile, Cessnock product Brodie Jones underwent successful foot surgery last week.
He’s expected to return in approximately eight weeks.
It’s not all doom and gloom at Newcastle, who is undefeated following the opening two rounds of the season.
The versatile Fletcher Sharpe will play after he endured a PCL injury against the North Queensland Cowboys in Las Vegas.
He can either step into the fullback role or move into the halves to partner Sandon Smith.
“[Sunday] was a tough, physical contest and the boys showed real grit to come away with a great win at 4 Pines Park,” director of football Chris James said.
“Injuries are part of our game… and the character our group showed to fight through adversity says everything about the culture we are building.
“Fletcher (Sharpe) will be named in the team for round three on Tuesday.”
The Knights are home for the first time in 2026 when they tackle the unbeaten Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday 21 March from 3pm.
For more sports stories:
- Hoban double keeps Jets in the ALW finals hunt
- Knights lock in local prospect Toby Winter until 2029
- Jets’ ‘breathing room’ vanishes after ALM loss to Auckland
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