Newcastle General Manager of Football Danny Buderus has praised star fullback Kalyn Ponga’s phenomenal season, after overcoming a battle with concussion earlier this year.

Earlier this week, Ponga won the The Danny Buderus award for the club’s player of the year award for the third time.

He’s been instrumental in the club’s nine straight wins and Buderus was full of praise for the superstar fullback, who returns from a shoulder injury in tomorrow’s Elimination Final against the Raiders.

“Kalyn Ponga playing to his potential really helps the team,” Buderus said.

“He’s a tough kid mentally and physically and you can see where he’s taken his football at the moment.

“He wants to carry this team onto something, the thing he’s probably been wanting to do here is to play deep into finals footy and win a trophy one day.”

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Image Credit: NRL Imagery Gregg Porteous