Knights star Kalyn Pronga has broken his silence regarding the departure of former coach Nathan Brown and has admitted his flippant "strawberry thickshake" comment was disrespectful.
Ponga rejected any suggestions that Brown had lost the playing group in the build-up to his departure from the Knights, with the now-former coach leaving his post immediately after their disastrous performance against the Wests Tigers.
The Knights originally announced they would part ways with Brown come the conclusion of the season, but both parties split shortly after the 46-4 drubbing, with two weeks remaining in the year.
Rumours had grown throughout the season surrounding the club's playing group and its frustrations with Knights management, believing that there was unrest between Brown and the dressing room.
The Knights soon received a wave of criticism from fans and former players, including league immortal Andrew Johns who believed the club had "sabotaged" their own finals chances off the back of how they handled the coaching situation.
To add to the straining headlines for Newcastle, Ponga was soon criticised for his remarks towards Brown's departure which had been labelled as disrespectful by fans and experts.
โI can understand the way I came across,โ Ponga toldย Fox League.
โI spoke to Browny before that interview and he addressed the playing group and said donโt make it a big deal, heโs come to terms with it. He was pretty positive in the way he addressed us. He just said donโt make it a big thing in the media, weโve got a job to do.
โMe being me, I came out, made that comment probably at the wrong time in the wrong manner. Itโs just been taken a bit out of perspective.
โBrownyโs done a lot for me and after that interview, I spoke to him again and he sort of addressed me and said look kid, I understand our relationship. Heโs been awesome to myself, my family, my mum, dad, little sister. His family is also close to me.
โHe knew it wasnโt disrespectful, but that wasnโt the way it came across.โ
Ponga added that he had learnt from his mistakes following a forgetful week for the Knights.
โPersonally, itโs been a learning curve,โ Ponga said.
โI think when youโre questioned about your playing ability and the way you play, I can cop that. When youโre questioned about your integrity, who you are as a person, it doesnโt only affect you but also your parents.
โMy mum and dad were pretty disappointed. My mum razzed me a couple of times which is fair. They know what Iโm like as well and they know that whatever I say I never mean to be disrespectful to anyone. Thatโs just who I am. At the end of the day, they knew that.โ
The Knights' star man soon extinguished any speculation of rifts between Brown and the Knights playing group.
"Nathanโs been with the playing group from day dot,โ Ponga said.
โHeโs been part of the group through pre-season, through a lot and as all playing groups we had a chat to ourselves internally.
โHe never lost the group. That wasnโt the case at all.
โWe knew we had two weeks with him and that we had a job to do and that was sort of the way heโd been preaching it as well.
โWe were disappointed with the game. A lot of questions, not a lot of answers to that performance. We were disappointed and we just said stay close as a group as you want to, you donโt want to fall apart as a group.
โI havenโt been exposed to anything like this.โ
Anyone see that scripted interview/explanation ? … as sincere as a mother-in-law’s kiss.
NRL should put a media ban on some of these boofs, they’re not doing the game any favours.
โI can understand the way I came across,โ Ponga told Fox League
Only cause someone told you, you knucklehead
The problem with the players is that there are too many egos and very little teamwork
Seriously, the young man made a silly one off comment after being given bad directions. He is lambasted by all the keyboard warriors and journalists as they scream for him to issue an immediate apology. Once he does, he is again taken to task for it being “scripted”.
Seriously, lay off the guy. Of course he scripted his apology. The last time he spoke from his mind everyone lost theirs.
He is a 22 year old young man being treated as if he is a 250 game veteran entering his early 30’s. He will make mistakes and learn from them.
Get over it.
Oh gosh Beastie… only 22 years, earning well over 15 times the average guys wage… My mistake Beastie, he still has 8 years to grow up and stop carrying on like a spoilt brat.
Am I out of tune here…?
I donโt know why Ponga, Pierce and Klemmer arenโt being blamed for missing the 8. Surely they have to take some responsibility.