Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga has addressed the media for the first time about his well-documented toilet cubicle incident last year, saying he was sick from food poisoning.
Ponga was videoed being ushered out of a toilet cubicle by a security guard with teammate Kurt Mann in a Newcastle pub in August.
When asked what he was doing in the cubicle, he today replied: "I was sick … [Kurt Mann] was there to help."
Ponga said "food that I had earlier" was the reason he was sick.
Shortly after the video surfaced, Ponga's father, who is also his manager, told News Corp his son had been out drinking to celebrate buying a new house.
"[Ponga] made an exciting house purchase Saturday and celebrated with a few mates drinking," he said.
"His mate went in [the toilet] to help him."
The incident sparked an investigation, including the NRL integrity unit making both players do a drug test, however, the results remain confidential.
'I was in the wrong'
Both players were off due to injuries that night; Ponga with a concussion.
He agreed it was not a good look as captain to be out at a pub while his team was getting beaten by the Brisbane Broncos.
"I shouldn't have been out or anything like that in the first place," he said.
"I do support the boys and they know that I support them at all times ... but yeah, I was in the wrong."
Ponga said he did not realise the impact of drinking after suffering a concussion.
"To be honest, I didn't know the effects that alcohol can have on a concussion," he said.
"Obviously it's not great for a concussion."
He said he had recovered well from the injury.
A better leader in 2023
Ponga said he had "learnt a lot" from the incident and hoped to become a better leader.
"Last year's incident just really put at the forefront that [leadership] is something I definitely need to keep working on and I'm comfortable in saying that I'm happy to do that," he said.
"I'm prepared to put in the work.
"I'm looking forward to 2023, I just want to set new standards, be a better leader for this team."
Ponga will move to five-eighth this season, joining new signing Jackson Hastings in the halves.
"I'm excited to build that combination, I think [Hastings is] perfect for what this team needs," he said.
Lachlan Miller, previously from the Cronulla Sharks, will take the full back position.
