Kalyn Ponga inspires Newcastle to Las Vegas NRL win over North Queensland

• Knights beat Cowboys 28-18 in season-opener at Allegiant Stadium

• Fullback dominates after Fletcher Sharpe suffers knee injury

Newcastle’s new-look halves pairing has lasted just 25 minutes, but Kalyn Ponga remained the Knights’ most important man in a 28-18 win over North Queensland in Las Vegas.

After a season of talk around their halves, Newcastle five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe limped from the field with a knee injury in the opening half at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT).