KNIGHTS coach Adam O'Brien expects skipper Kalyn Ponga to respond to a week of intense scrutiny by showing his true colours in Thursday night's showdown with Manly at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Ponga has been in the spotlight after his underwhelming showing in last week's 18-0 loss to Cronulla, followed by revelations that he attended a lunch the next day with master coach Wayne Bennett and other Dolphins officials, who are hoping to lure him north as a marquee signing for their 2023 foundation season.
Ponga's performance against the Sharks left the media and fans querying if he was fully fit, having missed the previous two games with a knee injury, or distracted by his much-publicised contractual situation.
O'Brien was confident neither theory would be an issue on Thursday in a game the Knights are hungry to win after back-to-back defeats.
O'Brien said Ponga "wasn't Robinson Crusoe" against the Sharks and would be motivated to play well, regardless of the criticism he has attracted.
"I think he'll naturally want to do that anyway ... he sets himself really high standards and I'm confident that him and the rest of his teammates will perform tomorrow night," O'Brien said.
O'Brien indicated Ponga, whose knee was heavily strapped last week after returning from a medial-ligament strain, was not 100 per cent fit against Cronulla.
"He had a little knock during the game and was a little bit sore afterwards, but this week is probably the best he's been," he said.
The coach said he had no update on the negotiations between Newcastle officials and Ponga's father Andre, who acts as his agent.
"Ideally I would love to stand here and give you the answer that he is staying and is going to be part of the future," he said.
"I'm still confident that can happen.
"But the honest truth is we're not there yet.
"It would concern me if I felt his preparation and training standards had dropped, and they haven't.
"If anything, they're getting stronger and stronger and stronger.
"That's probably the radar that I have out for it, that guys are preparing well, and I haven't seen any distraction."
Ponga is contracted to Newcastle for the next two seasons but has get-out clauses in his favour.
The Knights are reportedly prepared to extend his tenure in a deal worth more than $1 million a season.
O'Brien said he was content to let the 24-year-old make "a really educated decision on his future with all the facts on the table".
Meanwhile, O'Brien was confident back-rower Tyson Frizell would be fit to take on the Sea Eagles.
Frizell limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury against the Sharks, but Newcastle's medical staff have since diagnosed a nerve problem.
"He hasn't done a lot this week," O'Brien said. "We'll see how he goes tonight and we'll make our final decision."
