Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga has conceded he contemplated the “difficult” notion of strolling away from rugby league throughout his newest concussion remedy and restoration.
But vital testing by specialists on the University of Newcastle after which Vancouver in Canada allayed any fears with reassurance his mind perform was the identical as a “normal person” and he’s now able to return.
Ponga is ready to play for the Knights as early as Round 8, for what will probably be his a hundredth sport, having been stood down from the sport after struggling his fourth head knock in ten months in Round 2.
The blow despatched Ponga on a fact-finding mission which included the journey to Canada for testing on a machine not obtainable in Australia.
While leaving the sport crossed his thoughts, the outcomes of the testing gave him confidence of a return sooner slightly than later and he’s constructive about what’s to return.
“It was pretty difficult. To have that thought that you might have to stop playing was pretty weird,” Ponga stated on Friday.
“But I used to be attempting to be constructive and open-minded about every thing that was taking place. I‘m pretty good at doing that, to be honest.”
Newcastle chief medical officer Dr Jin Lee and a professor at the University of Newcastle determined it would be beneficial for Ponga to travel to Vancouver for the extra testing on his brain activity which produced the positive results.
“It was literally just a six-minute test,” Ponga said.
“At the end of that test, they had objective data on where my brain‘s at.
“There were some other tests we did as well, but I guess within a few hours I knew where my head was at and whether I can keep playing or what my expected return to play would be.
“The reassuring thing for me was they said that if I was just a normal person that didn‘t have the head knock history, they would say I’m fairly good.
“Going over to Canada and getting that readability, personally I discovered it so useful. I‘m so grateful that I got to go over there.”
Despite his run of head knocks, Ponga doesn’t plan on altering his tackling method to scale back the danger of one other blow.
“There‘s been a little bit more detail in it but I don’t think I have to revamp my tackle technique,” he stated.
“It‘s just about being a little bit smarter with my feet, my head and stuff like that.”
Ponga could yet have to spend more time with doctors as his career progresses, but is thinking about what could happen should he suffer another concussion.
“I guess for me the process would be to be tested again,” he said.
“I‘m just sort of worried about getting back on the field, getting my brain right. I’ll fear about that when that comes.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au