LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Newcastle fullback's lack of effort during the Cowboys' match-sealing try has raised eyebrows, with Reece Walsh and Latrell Mitchell escaping criticism for similar actions.
While Kalyn Ponga put in a stellar performance against the Cowboys, a crucial mistake by Dane Gagai led to a missed opportunity for the Knights to secure a win.
Despite North Queensland holding a 22-16 lead with only 80 seconds remaining, Ponga seemingly made no attempt to stop Tom Dearden from scoring the try that sealed the game.
While it was a long shot for Ponga to prevent the try, his lack of effort in the crucial moment was disappointing.
If Ponga had made a desperate last-ditch attempt to knock the ball out of Dearden's grasp, it could have given the Knights a chance to turn the game around.
However, Ponga's decision to step aside and let Dearden score has left fans questioning his commitment, especially considering his status as a $1.4 million marquee player.
Hopefully, Ponga can learn from this experience and show more determination in future games.