Kalyn Ponga out for three months as Queensland Origin return dashed after Newcastle Knight’s 36-12 loss to Canterbury

Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga’s woes have become Queensland’s too with the Knights skipper ruled out for as long as three months with a foot injury.

Scans revealed Ponga has suffered a Lisfranc injury and could be out for between two to three months depending on if he requires surgery.

He limped off in Newcastle’s 36-12 loss to Canterbury.

Ponga, who had hoped to return to the State of Origin fray for Queensland this year, has battled through a hip injury this season and was in obvious pain when returning for the second half.

He eventually limped off for good and stepped into a moon boot after Bulldogs utility Bailey Hayward raced from nowhere to plant an in-goal grubber under the Newcastle co-captain’s nose.

Ponga’s loss came as Canberra confirmed Jamal Fogarty would miss up to three months with a biceps injury.

While Newcastle did not specify a timeline for Ponga’s return, the club’s football boss, Peter Parr, said it would be “months rather than weeks” until the No.1 was back on the field.

“Kalyn had scans on Monday morning confirming he has a Lisfranc injury,” Parr said.

“The next steps will include seeing a surgeon and setting up an injury management program.”

Then-Canterbury prop Luke Thompson and Parramatta forward Wiremu Greig suffered a similar injury last year.

Thompson missed 20 weeks of NRL action, while Greig was back within nine - indicating the uncertainty facing Ponga and the Knights as they plot a path back to full fitness.

The loss of Ponga comes with Newcastle struggling to rediscover the electrifying form which catapulted them into last year’s finals series.

Rookie David Armstrong played in NSW Cup at fullback last week, while coach Adam O’Brien also has experienced campaigner Dane Gagai as an option to fill the No.1 jersey.

Ponga’s injury is also a major setback for Queensland coach Billy Slater as he looks to maintain the Maroons’ Origin stranglehold.

Ponga sat out last year’s series following repeated concussion issues, but his form at the back end of last season - which led to him being awarded the Dally M Medal - had created a welcome headache for Slater.

The Maroons coach had been mulling how to fit Ponga and electric Brisbane No.1 Reece Walsh into the same Queensland side, but that now appears a moot point.

Fogarty, who had enjoyed a stellar start to the season, is set to miss three months after rupturing his biceps in the first half of his side’s loss to Brisbane on Saturday.

The halfback’s absence is likely to be destabilising to Ricky Stuart’s side, who will likely turn to Kaeo Weeks to fill the void.

It was horror afternoon for the Knights with Bulldog Bronson Xerri scored his first try since 2019 in his comeback from a four-year drug ban and Ponga, already battling a hip injury, limped off and will have scans on a potentially serious ligament injury in his foot.

Drama came after the siren too, with the NRL set to investigate an incident in the tunnel where Jack Hetherington appeared to shape up to Reed Mahoney after the pair were sin-binned in a niggly final few minutes.

The result improved the new-look Bulldogs to 3-4 while the Knights - fifth after the regular season last year - fell to 2-5 after another late selection call failed to spark them.

“Me, players, staff, everyone; we’re hugely disappointed,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said.

“I didn’t forsee any of this ... didn’t see it coming. We’re playing like a frustrated footy team.”

Josh Addo-Carr flew expertly to score in the right corner and seal the contest with more than 20 minutes left as the Bulldogs prevailed despite losing forward Chris Patolo (knee) early in the first half.

Newcastle made a late personnel move by demoting five-eighth Jack Cogger to the NSW Cup and bringing Tyson Gamble back into the starting side to partner halfback Jackson Hastings.

Their fourth halves change in seven games - that pair began the season together - amounted to little though, as the Knights’ kicking game was easily trumped by the boot of Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton.

Dylan Lucas scored for Newcastle off a flat Gamble pass but Greg Marzhew knocked on from the restart and Xerri, back in the NRL this year after a positive test for testosterone in November 2019, had the instant reply.

Key off-season signing Stephen Crichton added some flourish to the occasion when he completed a wonderful team try down the right flank.

“We’re learning along the way and today was a culmination of a big seven weeks for us,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said.

Tempers flared in the final minutes, with Hetherington eventually sin-binned and Mahoney joining him after he cheekily waved the Knights forward goodbye.

“It was the longest last four minutes of any game I’ve seen,” Ciraldo said.

“I don’t think it’s (the tunnel exchange) too serious; Jack’s a good fella.”