Kalyn Ponga out of State of Origin decider as Knights confirm lengthy injury stint

Queensland star Kalyn Ponga is out of the State of Origin decider with Reece Walsh set for a return to the Maroons for the game in Sydney on July 9.

Newcastle released a statement on Saturday morning, confirming Ponga faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines, after he was seen in a moon boot following the 22-18 loss to Canberra.

He left the field in the 60th minute and had scans with the club confirming a Lisfranc injury.

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Newcastle said Ponga would begin rehabilitation, "with the view to returning to play in the back end of the season". Newcastle officials had feared the worst post-match.

"Kalyn's tough. He doesn't come off for much," coach Adam O'Brien said.

"You have to drag him off the field with a tow truck normally, so it's probably not a good sign."

Ponga's injury opens the door for Walsh to return for game three amid his own form reversal.

The Maroons could shift Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback, after the Dolphins fullback played centre and wing in the first two games.

Billy Slater was hoping to take the same team in the final Origin game but he will have to do it without Ponga.

Nine's cameras captured the 27-year-old sharing a hug with his mum in the sheds.

"Mum's there. So, that's probably not a good sign," Slater told Nine's post-game coverage.

Despite the Knights' James Schiller scoring a second-half double against his former club, his effort was in vain for Newcastle.

The Green Machine marched up the field with ease while the Knights were poor with no answer for Canberra's slick offloading game.

The Knights were held scoreless in the opening half as the Raiders scored two of their three first-half tries from second-phase play.

Five-eighth Kaeo Weekes starred for the visitors, finishing the match with a try, 264 run metres and three line breaks.

The Raiders opened the scoring through Simi Sasagi, who was replacing Origin star Hudson Young on the left edge, in the 15th minute.

Ethan Strange put in a chip kick, with Sasagi flying for the ball to land the first four-pointer of the match.

The Raiders then backed up with Zac Hosking putting Weekes through a hole before Strange finished off some polished ball movement.

Newcastle great Andrew Johns called for coach Adam O'Brien to make changes at half time.

"They've got to tweak their attack because this just isn't working," he told Nine's coverage.

"They cannot continue to be doing this style of attack when there is no real run threat and the defence is under no stress.

"They play at a dummy half, play more of a power game and have support around the ruck. But at the moment, the set plays are just eating it up [for] Canberra."

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The Raiders lead the Knights 16-0 at the break.

The Knights hit the scoreboard in the 49th minute through Schiller.

The winger received a pin-point pass from Ponga before going over.

An error from Jackson Hastings proved costly with Jed Stuart benefiting to score his second try in as many games.

Despite the Knights looking ordinary throughout the match, Jermaine McEwen scored before Schiller added his second to come within four points of the Raiders with six minutes remaining.

Following the Panthers' 8-6 win over the Bulldogs on Thursday night, the Raiders only needed to defeat the Knights to become the new competition leaders.

The Raiders draw level with the Bulldogs on competition points but will have the advantage on points difference.

The minor premiership now beckons with six of their last eight games against bottom teams.