Knights coach Adam O'Brien says Kalyn Ponga can't work any harder than he already is on the training paddock as he attempts to rectify an alarming drop in his goal-kicking strike-rate this season ahead of tomorrow's clash with the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Ponga is kicking at just 67.5 percent in 2020, significantly down on the 83 percent success rate he finished with last season.
In nine games this year, he has landed just 27 goals from 40 attempts. His wayward radar saw him kick two from five against South Sydney last weekend which could have proved costly in the wash-up after the Bunnies staged a late fightback to almost steal the game.
Ponga has been working hard on his kicking at training with assistant coach David Furner, who was Canberra's first string goal-kicker for a number of years during his playing days.
Getting a specialist kicking coach in to assist the fullback has been impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the bubble restrictions in place.
"He's definitely putting the work in and if he takes his form at training into games, it won't be an issue,"O'Brien said.
"He's been kicking them from everywhere during the week and has been putting a lot of work in with Furnsy [Furner] so it's nothing to do with not practicing enough.
"I'm sure he'll work it out."
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With the club's best goal-kicker, Mason Lino, not featuring in the squad at all this season, the Knights goal-kicking options are limited. Tex Hoy substituted for Ponga earlier in the season when the fullback was under suspension but is no longer in the 17.
Mitch Barnett, who returned from injury in the win over Souths last weekend, was handed the duties in two games last season, kicking three from five attempts, but is not considered a first-stringer.
Meanwhile, O'Brien will make a final decision on whether Barnett starts or comes off the bench against the Bulldogs after today's final captain's run session at the stadium.
Barnett was outstanding in his first game back from a four month injury lay-off when he came off the bench at the halfway mark of the first half against Souths, making an immediate impact in both attack and defence.
"I'll weigh up what best suits the balance of the squad for this game before coming up with a call on it,"O'Brien said.
The Knights go into the game as a red hot favourite with their opponents sitting on the bottom of the ladder after just one win this season. But Newcastle will be wary of a Bulldogs side who will be out to impress their newly appointed coach for the next three years, Trent Barrett.
The Dogs re-signed dangerman Raymond Faitala-Mariner yesterday but have a host of players off contract at the end of the season who will be looking to attract Barrett's attention during the back half of the season in a bid to land a new contract.
The Dogs also have an imposing record against the Knights, winning seven of their past eight games.
