Gould perplexed by Ponga tactic amid big warning

League icon Phil Gould believes the Knights are failing to utilise Kalyn Ponga properly after the fullback’s impressive performance against the Rabbitohs.
Ponga was the star for the Knights, finishing with two line breaks, a try assist and six tackle breaks.
However, according to Gould the fullback was missing in action for a significant period, leaving him scratching his head.
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Kalyn Ponga during his side’s clash against the Rabbitohs.  Getty
“Every time he touches it something happens,” he said on Nine’s Saturday Night Footy.
“There was just a number of set of sixes in that first half where the ball went in his direction and he never got it.
“The dummy half ran or the forwards just hit it up or the dummy half went the other way and when he does get the ball, things happen for him. I don’t know, maybe they’re trying to use him as a decoy, maybe they get him to first receiver so it compresses the defence.”
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League legend Brad Fittler echoed Gould’s observation.
“I reckon for 20 minutes they went away from him and I’m sure they didn’t deliberately do it but they did … you can see in the background he’s hitting the ground, he’s throwing his hands in the air,” he said.
The Knights have continued to tinker with their halves this season with Jackson Hastings, Jack Cogger, Phoenix Crossland, Will Pryce and Tyson Gamble all rotating through halfback and five-eighth.
Gould suggested maybe Ponga intimidates the halves with his ability before asking Knights legend Andrew Johns how he’d utilise him.
“There’s a stage where it looks to me they’re setting up all the time, let’s get here for this and if they don’t get to a certain area then they get back to this area,” he said.
“But you see when he gets the ball in space, you can’t defend him.
“I’d be getting him on long shifts where the spaces are bigger out wide, opening up the field and get him the ball in space, getting him opposite big forwards, little inside balls, change of angles but you could manipulate the defensive line with him around.”
“Someone in the halves … has to push him around and tell him where to be and obligate him,” Gould added.
“I guess those young fellas trying to look after their own position, they can’t tell Kalyn Ponga what to do or they don’t know how to dictate to him or get the ball to him. It’s not easy but they’re a much better football team when Kalyn Ponga’s got the ball.
“He’s a superstar, he could dominate the rugby league for the next four or five years … everything he’s done up to this time is just practice.”