Newcastle will be sweating on the fitness of Kalyn Ponga after the Knights’ talisman was injured during his side’s 22-20 loss to the Sydney Roosters.

The fullback started on fire before disaster struck as he struggled through with a hip injury that could result in some time on the sidelines for the skipper.

Kalyn Ponga injury news: Newcastle Knights captain reveals latest on hip issue

Ponga was at his elusive best in the opening exchanges as the Knights raced into an 8-0 lead against a beleaguered Roosters outfit, who were injury-plagued and still seemingly licking their wounds from last week’s defeat to the Dogs.

The No.1 played a major part in the positive start before things started to turn sour for him when he got up gingerly after attempting to stop Daniel Tupou from scoring in the corner.

From the resulting kick-off, Ponga then reeled away after booting the ball and clutched at his hip, sending shockwaves through the Knights’ camp.

Ponga remained out on the field but was clearly incapacitated from around the 17th minute onwards, as he failed to have a run or kick for the rest of the half.

“They can’t lose him, he has been everything to them to start this year,” Mick Ennis said on Fox League.

“He doesn’t look comfortable at all, real concerns here for Newcastle.”

Along with two other teammates, Ponga was caught at marker close to his own line when he was slow to get up off the ground, with Brandon Smith taking full advantage by jumping out of dummy-half and going over untouched.

Newcastle had conceded 16 unanswered points while their skipper toiled away, before they finally struck back on the stroke of half time thanks to a bustling run from Kai Pearce-Paul.

Ponga’s first run since he was injured came five minutes into the second half when he threatened to slice through the Roosters’ kick chase line only to be stopped at the last second.

These nears misses continued for Ponga and the Knights throughout the remainder of the match as the skipper was unable to guide them home.

“A few needles at half time definitely helped,” Ponga told Nine post-match.

“Hopefully, it’s not too bad. I think I just banged my hip.

“I was never going to come off myself.

“I got a needle at half time and just wanted to see how it was and I was all sweet in the second half.”