Andrew Johns, the legendary halfback, didn't hold back in his assessment of the Knights' performance, labeling it as 'terrible' and urging the team to lift their game.
It was a reality check for Ponga, who had been riding high after his Dally M win and stellar performance in the finals last year.
But as they say in the world of Rugby League, one game doesn't define a season.
The Knights will need to regroup and bounce back quickly if they want to live up to the high expectations placed on them this year.