Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga has bared his emotions following the club's grand final defeat, telling Johnathan Thurston the experience has been deeply painful.
"It hurts so much," Ponga said in a candid conversation with the rugby league legend after the Knights' heartbreaking loss in the season-decider.
Ponga spoke with Thurston in the aftermath of the defeat, reflecting on what the result meant to him personally and to the club. The Knights had pushed through the finals series to reach the grand final, making the loss all the more difficult to bear for Ponga and his teammates.
The raw emotion in Ponga's words captured the weight of the occasion for Newcastle, who fell agonisingly short of claiming the premiership.
