Pack leader David Klemmer says Kalyn Ponga is a victim of his own brilliance and teammates must rally around to protect him from the sort of battering he took at the hands of the Sharks last weekend.
Klemmer is adamant rival sides are targeting the dynamic young fullback, at times illegally, in a bid to intimidate him and put him off his game because he is such an attacking threat. And he fears the treatment he is copping could turn ugly and lead to a serious injury if not called out.
The Knights prop stopped short of advocating a violent response in retaliation from teammates to future attacks on the fullback but said Ponga can be assured "we've got his back".
"I've got no doubt rival teams are coming at him with high stuff," Klemmer told the Newcastle Herald.
"You've only got to have a look at his face this week but he's also has a couple of head-knocks during the season as well.
"They want to get their hands on him and rough him up and try and intimidate him out of running the ball because he is so dangerous when he does.
"The worry is one of those swinging arms from players coming at him hard could do some real damage.
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"As a team, I reckon we could be a bit better at supporting and protecting him by running in and getting around him when something happens and pulling blokes away from him. We've got to make a bit of stand and support and protect him more.
"I'm not talking about running in throwing punches or anything like that. But we need to show rival players and the referees as well that we are not going to just accept the sort of treatment he's been copping.
"We don't want anything disgusting happening to him. On the weekend, I thought it was real ordinary the shoulder charge he copped and the Sharks had a crack at him every chance they could. He was pretty banged up and battered afterwards.
"We have to make sure we look after him. We don't want that to keep happening with him getting hit in the head and missing footy games because of it."
Klemmer believes resting Ponga for Saturday night's clash against defending premiers Sydney Roosters is a smart move from coach Adam O'Brien and will put the onus on the rest of the squad to lift in his absence.
Youngster Tex Hoy has been promoted for only his second starting game in the NRL.
"Kalyn runs 10 kms a game and has been getting bashed so he definitely needs a bit of a break,"Klemmer said.
"For us as a footy side, we can't just rely on Kalyn so it will be a good test.
"He's a freak of a player but if something happens to him, we've got to be able to cope with that. He had that suspension earlier in the season and for the game against Penrith, we didn't have him.
"Tex is a quality young player who has plenty of confidence so we have to band together and get the win and I'm real confident we can. We have to find something extra as a group without Kalyn."
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