A bit of TLC has helped Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga overcome Queensland's horror State of Origin II loss ahead of Saturday's NRL clash with Brisbane.
Maroons No.1 Ponga was nursing a corked thigh in the wake of the six-tries-to-one thrashing from NSW in Perth but it was the scoreboard that hurt the most.
Enter Knights teammate Connor Watson.
While a proud NSW supporter, Watson ditched his allegiances to welcome flatmate Ponga back with open arms upon his return from Western Australia.
"He's good like that. He's my mate," Ponga said.
"He gives me a hug and what not when I get home, if I'm feeling down.
"He goes light on me (after a disappointing Origin loss)."
Ponga said he was now ready to bounce back against the battling Broncos thanks to a little help from other friends.
"I just get around my mates. I love being around my mates and just focus on the next thing at hand, pretty much - that's what I do," he said.
Ponga is set to overcome injury along with Queensland teammate, Knights forward Tim Glasby (elbow), and run out against Brisbane.
"I feel good now. I trained (on Thursday) and had my first run since the (Origin) game and I'm being looked after by the physios," Ponga said.
"I should be right by the game. Obviously it's still a bit sore but I'm ticking all the boxes."
Maroons bench forward Glasby backed himself to play in a bid to retain his Queensland spot before selectors name their game three squad next week.
"It was quite stiff and sore after the game but it's come good over the last few days and structurally it's pretty sound, so they're happy for me to get out there as long as I'm comfortable," he said.
The availability of Ponga and Glasby will be a shot in the arm for a Knights side hoping to hit back from a last round loss to Melbourne which snapped a six-game winning run.
