Newcastle Knights’ Kalyn Ponga set for major switch

Newcastle Knights’ Kalyn Ponga could be set for a major switch.

The Knights’s recruitment and underperforming halves have been slammed as Newcastle fell to bottom of the NRL ladder following a horror run of form.

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield believes there needs to be a switch in the halves with Ponga the man to do it.

“In three of their last five games they haven’t scored a try and I think it is a footy side lacking direction for these reasons,” Rothfield said.

“They let Mitchell Pearce go at the end of last season and look, he was unhappy there. So it was probably the right thing. You don’t want an unhappy veteran like Mitchell hanging around. But he wasn’t properly replaced.

“They also lost Jayden Brailed their skipper and a very good dummyhalf (to injury) who is a leader, so that is half your spine gone.

“The new halves have not worked out. I think they have got to give consideration now in desperation to get Ponga closer to the action.

“I spoke to Adam O’Brien today and I think it is being discussed.

“This Ponga switch he doesn’t want to do it because he has got Milford in Round 11 to play five-eighth. So he doesn’t want to move Ponga for two weeks.

“They are a side that has absolutely no direction because Clune isn’t working and he is playing crook anyway and Clifford got hooked.”