LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
NRL fans were not holding back as they took aim at Andrew Johns for his commentary blunder surrounding Kalyn Ponga's hip injury.
The Newcastle Knights great, known for his on-field heroics, missed the mark this time when he repeatedly urged for Ponga to be substituted during the Knights' clash with the Roosters in Newcastle.
Ponga, known for his explosive starts, unfortunately injured his hip while trying to halt a try by Daniel Tupou.
Despite showing signs of discomfort and gingerly moving around the field, Ponga soldiered on until half-time, grabbing at his hip in pain.
Johns, in his role as a commentator for Channel 9, was adamant that Ponga was not fit to continue and should be taken off the field.
However, Ponga returned for the second half after receiving treatment and appeared to be moving more freely.
Johns was left flabbergasted when Ponga continued to play through the pain, questioning why someone hadn't intervened to make the call to pull him from the game.
The debate raged on among fans and pundits as to whether Ponga should have been allowed to continue.
In the end, Ponga's determination and resilience saw him battle through the discomfort, proving that sometimes in sport, it's not just about physical ability, but mental toughness as well.