Kalyn Ponga could see the silver lining, despite a rampaging David Fifita casting a grey cloud over the Newcastle star's NRL return from injury.
Ponga looked dangerous with ball in hand in his first game of 2021 but Fifita's try-scoring hat-trick ensured a miserable comeback from off-season shoulder surgery for the Knights No.1 as Gold Coast racked up a thumping 42-16 victory on Saturday.
While gutted by his injury-ravaged side's third straight loss, Ponga could not help but get excited about his beloved Queensland's State of Origin prospects after witnessing Fifita's heroics.
"Davey is a special talent. I love playing with him for Queensland," Ponga said of his Maroons teammate.
"Physically he is built different. Those legs, man.
"Hopefully he can keep going and play well for Queensland."
Ponga may be forgiven for not wanting to come across the Titans stars again any time soon following Saturday's mauling but he kept his fingers crossed he would be reunited with them in the Maroons camp this year.
Ponga missed the 2020 Origin series, along with a string of big-name Maroons including Fifita (ankle), after undergoing a shoulder operation.
Titans fullback AJ Brimson made an impressive Origin debut as Ponga's replacement last year and appeared to be in direct competition with the Knights star for the Maroons No.1 jersey ahead of the 2021 opener on June 9.
But Ponga hopes he and Brimson will run out for Queensland together this year, with one used as a bench weapon.
"AJ is a good mate. He did an awesome job last year," Ponga said.
"I would love to be in the team with him."
Asked if it was hard to watch Queensland win the 2020 series without him, Ponga said: "It was pretty easy actually. If Queensland win I am happy."
Watching playbacks of his NRL return may be harder to stomach.
Ponga started the game by kicking the ball out on the full and was skittled by Fifita in defence but impressed with ball in hand, scoring a 68th-minute try.
"Defensively I probably wasn't happy with myself ... but the shoulder felt sweet," he said.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien had plenty of headaches after a mistake-riddled display in which lock Chris Randall (broken wrist) was added to their already eight-strong injury list, while enforcer Tyson Frizell was placed on report for a seventh-minute tackle that left Phillip Sami off the field with concussion.
But O'Brien liked what he saw from the returning Ponga.
"Probably other than Fifita he was best player on the field with the ball," he said.
"Looked like something was going to happen around him - that is the thing that's going to help me sleep tonight."
Australian Associated Press
