Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is still in a moon boot six months after surgery on a foot injury, but the star fullback insists he will be right to play in Round 1 in Las Vegas.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Ponga is still wearing a protective moon boot six months after foot surgery on a Lisfranc rupture and won’t get on the field until January at the earliest.

However, Ponga denied the injury and recovery would prevent him from playing in the 2026 season opener.

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“It’s going good,” Ponga told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“It looks worse than what it is. It’s just locking me down for now, but I’ll be right for Vegas in Round 1, which is the main thing.

“Hopefully two more weeks, three more weeks, and I’ll be back on my feet.”

Ponga is on a modified training program as he bids to be fit for the pre-season trials against the Dragons and Bulldogs in February.

“The club has continued to take a measured approach, given the nature of the injury,” the Knights said in a statement.

“As part of his management plan, he will use a protective boot at times, to assist with foot soreness and ensure his ongoing recovery is optimised.”

The 27-year-old has reached 20 games in a season just once since 2019 and has played just 29 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and concussions.

Ponga is off-contract in 2027 amid speculation he could join the Roosters, but he is focused on getting back to join new recruit Dylan Brown and new coach Justin Holbrook in their rebuild.

“I think everyone can feel the energy,” Ponga said.

“New faces, both in the staff and players. That brings so much excitement, and I’m just excited to get back on the paddock with all the boys and rip in and hopefully bring some good times next year for all our fans.”

LOMAX MAKES SHOCK SPORT SWITCH IN CAMEO APPEARANCE

Since his Eels exit, there has been a stack of speculation over what sport Zac Lomax will take up next professionally — but on the weekend, he had a crack at lower-grades cricket.

Apparently Lomax is pretty handy with the willow, having made an impressive outing for the Kiama Cavaliers fourth grade side.

With some free time up his sleeve after being granted a stunning release from the Eels last month, Lomax hit a half-century for Kiama on Saturday, reaching the milestone in a 34 balls.

He also took three wickets in what was his club debut.

It’s not clear what Lomax’s next career move will be.

According to Code Sports, he has been linked to Super Rugby clubs the ACT Brumbies and the Western Force, with Lomax reportedly keen to make himself available for Wallabies selection in the 2027 World Cup.

He’s also received plenty of interest from rugby clubs overseas.

Lomax reportedly angled for a release from the Eels in order to sign with rebel union comp R360 but the start date of the Saudi-backed league was postponed from late 2026 to 2028, leaving potential R360 athletes in limbo.

There are NRL teams that have gauged Lomax’s interest of playing rugby league next year but sources close to the outside back say Lomax is keen to try something new.

The 26-year-old has also weighed up a stint in combat sports having been seen training in a UFC gym in recent weeks.

STORM TO GIVE FA’ALOGO FIRST CRACK AT FULLBACK

Young gun Sua Fa’alogo will finally get a proper crack at fullback in 2026 as the Storm prepares to turn to its most exciting local product to fill Ryan Papenhuyzen’s massive boots after his shock call to walk away from the NRL.

Fa’alogo, 22, has shown glimpses of his electrifying potential over the past couple of seasons but was only ever able to play his preferred position when Papenhuyzen was out injured.

But he’s set to win the race for the No.1 jersey next year with teammate Nick Meaney happy to remain at centre, while highly touted youngster Hugo Peel will be given time to develop in the Storm’s new NSW Cup team.

Fa’alogo and some of his teammates only resumed training last Thursday, with the livewire fullback running his best ever yoyo test as he and Meaney battled it out for top spot.

“There’s no doubt that he’ll get first crack, and then it’s up to Sua to take it,” Storm director of football Frank Ponissi told the NewsWire.

“You can tell that he’s come back and knows that with ‘Paps’ not here, he’s a genuine chance to be the fullback.

“Before that, realistically in the back of his mind he would have been thinking that with Paps fit, he’d always be No.2. Now he has got a genuine opportunity.”

The softly spoken speedster has played 22 NRL games for Melbourne, with all seven of his appearances last season coming on the wing, including his final match in round 17 where he suffered a grade 3 hamstring tear.

Fa’alogo played seven matches at fullback in 2024 and cracked 100 running metres every time, but the next step in his evolution is to work on his ball-playing skills and defence.

He looked hungry at a major training session on Saturday where he barked orders from the back in defensive drills, while he also got plenty of feedback from the coaching staff.

“Nothing has been confirmed yet, but just talking to the coaches, I know I have to work hard first and take my opportunity,” he said.

“I have to work hard for that jersey. You have to work first and then hopefully get the opportunity. It would be so good to put that jersey on.

“It was good to get some games under my belt last year, but unfortunately injuries kicked in and I couldn’t do much about it.”

Prop forward Josh King is excited to see what Fa’alogo does at fullback in 2026 when he’ll get to play alongside the best three spine members any emerging talent could ever ask for.

“I think we’ve seen glimpses of what Sua can do, and he’s a firecracker,” King said.

“He adds so much to our attack in terms of his speed and agility, but he’s still quite young and is still learning the intricacies of being a fullback.

“There are things he has to learn in defence with how the line works, but he’s got time to do that.

“He had his apprenticeship under Paps for a few years and he was a great mentor for him, so I’m really confident that Sua can come into this team.

“If you look at Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, who are really experienced spine players, you can only imagine the things Sua will achieve off the back of them.”

— Martin Gabor, Newswire

THE 30-YEAR PARALLEL IN BEARS STAR’S WESTERN SWITCH

Bears recruit Liam Henry is hoping to emulate former Panthers great Mark Geyer and bring his own flavour of football to the western state.

Geyer, a Test and NSW Origin enforcer, was recruited as the Western Reds’ marquee signing in 1995 for their debut Australian Rugby League campaign.

Interestingly, 30 years later another Panthers gun in Henry was signed on as a high-profile Perth Bears recruit, being handed a four-year deal by head coach Mal Meninga.

Henry played an instrumental role in Penrith’s 2024 premiership, as did Geyer in 1991 — and the gun prop is hoping to make a mark in Perth.

“I know Mark pretty well, because obviously I’ve played a lot of footy with his son Mavrik,” Henry said to the SMH.

“He’s a good man and he was obviously a great player.

“Him coming from Penrith and going to the Western Reds, I guess I’m doing the same thing, and it’s an opportunity I’m really looking forward to.”

At 24, Henry is approaching the prime of his career and the opportunity to be apart of being at a club “starting from scratch” was too enticing to refuse.

“We (Henry and his wife Sophie) had a look around for two or three days, met everyone at the club and checked out the facilities and the city, and we liked what we saw,” Henry said.

“Obviously it will be a bit of a challenge and there’ll be a settling-in period, because it is a fair way from home.

“But the chance to help build a club, starting from scratch, it doesn’t come around every day and I’m excited to be a part of it.

“I know what they want to build... Obviously the signings will come as time goes on, and that’s going to be exciting too, finding out who I’m going to be playing with.”

FRIZELL’S HONEST ADMISSION

2026 could be the last season for Knights star Tyson Frizell, with the veteran forward stating he hasn’t made a decision on his playing future.

Frizell is under contract until the end of next season after signing a one-year extension earlier this year.

At the moment, Frizell is loving his footy and isn’t ruling out continuing his career after the 2026 season as he wants to play on “as long as he can”.

“I’m not too sure yet (if 2026 is his last season). We’ll have to see how we get through. If it is, well so be it,” Frizell told The Newcastle Herald

“I’m enjoying my footy and love coming to work every day. I don’t really see it as work, but you say it is. But we’ll see how we go.

“I’m feeling good. Same as always, you enjoy this time of the year. It is definitely tough, but it’s what your season is built on.

“I’ll get through the year and hopefully towards the back end, maybe the middle of the year, make a decision on what happens.”

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a decorated career so far.

He’s played in 281 NRL games, has represented Australia 14 times and pulled on the Blues jersey in the Origin arena on 16 occasions.

If he can get through next season unscathed, he’s every chance of reaching 300 games.

EELS RECRUIT’S STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION

The Eels have unveiled their new-look halves pairing with recruit Jonah Pezet and star half Mitch Moses taking the field together at the club’s all-in training session.

150 players in the Eels’ system, from Harold Matthews (u16s) to first grade trained at Parramatta HQ on Saturday.

The player most onlookers had their eyes on though was Pezet, who signed a unique one-year bridge deal with the Eels for next season en route to a long-term contract with the Broncos from 2027.

Pezet has quickly made his presence felt according to his new teammates, with the 22-year-old set to start next season in the No. 6 jersey to form a lethal halves partnership with one of the game’s best halfbacks in Moses.

Pezet trained down the left edge with Moses directing traffic on the right side.

Fullback Isaiah Iongi, who recently put pen-to-paper on his own long-term deal, has been impressed by what he’s seen from the former Storm playmaker.

“He’s been doing really well in our team. He’s a loud talker, which, you know, we all like. So yeah, he’s fitting really well,” Iongi told Code Sports.

“It’ll be good I reckon, both (Moses and Pezet) of them talking off the back of each other.

“They’ve got a good system over there (at the Storm), so obviously he’s got a good connection with Rylesy. If he gets the opportunity to be part of the team, he’ll do a good job.

“For us this season, it’s just the start, getting to know each other’s connections and strengths. For this upcoming season, we’ll start strong.”