Knights in crisis: Ponga prepares to walk away, club set to move on from O'Brien
The Ponga camp have indicated to relevant parties that they would be willing to request a release at the end of the season if there is a suitable option available to them.
Knights sources told this masthead there is a willingness from some quarters of the club to explore the prospect of releasing Ponga from the final two years of his monster deal.
Such a move would allow the Knights to move young gun Fletcher Sharpe into his preferred fullback position and save 12-13 per cent of their salary cap to try and balance their roster.
With Dylan Brown joining the Knights next season on a record $13 million, 10-year deal, Newcastle would be able to hit the market in search of a halfback despite the lack of quality options currently available.
Ponga's name has been thrown up to European rugby clubs as well as the organisers of the lucrative breakaway R360 competition being mooted to start next year. There's also the appeal of a Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Kalyn's father Andre, who represents his son in negotiations, did not respond to this masthead's attempts to contact him.
The New Zealand-based rugby union agent the Ponga camp has engaged also did not respond to messages and calls on Monday.
The Knights have been privately bracing for the potential of Ponga seeking a release for some months.
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Ponga has previously indicated his desire to represent the All Blacks and was originally given a clause in his Knights contract that would enable him to pursue the possibility of switching codes.
In a 2018 TV interview, Ponga said: 'I think it's [The All Blacks] the pinnacle. Well, they are. They're the best sporting organisation in the world ... so to put that jersey on would be pretty special.'
The Knights removed that clause from his deal when he agreed to a lengthy and lucrative extension of his contract through until the end of 2027.
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The Age
44 minutes ago
- The Age
If Ponga wants to leave the Knights, is it time they show him the door?
Ponga's exit would give the Knights $1.4 million to spend on other key positions, including the organising halfback they so desperately want. On the flipside, the Ponga camp has realised the prospect of leading Newcastle to a premiership in the near future appears a pipedream. The club is entering what appears to be a rebuilding phase with changes in administration, coaching and the playing squad. Ponga is the captain of the club but is ready to put himself first by exploring whether the grass could be greener on the other side. Ponga is a player of enormous talent and he has been the face of the club since he joined the Knights from North Queensland in 2018. He has long held a desire to play for the All Blacks in rugby union. He has told people that his next move is not about money. Even if it was, it would be difficult – if not impossible – for Ponga to leave Newcastle at the end of the season and find another NRL team with the funds and salary cap space to make that happen. The Knights are also unlikely to let their star player walk into another NRL team. It's why a move to rugby union appears a more likely scenario with Newcastle previously showing a willingness to allow Ponga to chase his rugby dreams with a get-out clause in his last deal. It seems Ponga has two options if he wants to depart Newcastle at the end of the season: sign a contract with a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise in the hope of giving himself time to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, or spend 18 months in either Japanese or French rugby before returning to the NRL when cashed-up expansion teams enter the competition in 2027 (Perth) and 2028 (Papua New Guinea). Newcastle, meanwhile, are at a crossroads as a football club. They've failed to take advantage of a thriving junior nursery for the best part of two decades. They are struggling to attract top players to the club without paying more than they should, and the team is struggling to inspire a footy-mad region. Coach Adam O'Brien is likely to pay the price for that at the end of this campaign, with the club already manoeuvring to change the coaching staff during the off-season. To be fair to O'Brien, his team has been decimated by injury yet again with Sharpe, Ponga and now Dylan Lucas all on the sidelines through injury. O'Brien has a decent record, leading the Knights to finals football on four occasions in the past five seasons. However, it looks like they will miss the top eight this season and patience is running out. Assistant coach Blake Green, who shares the same player agent (Isaac Moses) as O'Brien, has strong support internally. The club is impressed with his football nous, his man management and his connection with the players. Loading The negative for Green is his inexperience, and the fact he has overseen the team's struggling attack all season. Those who are pushing for his elevation into the head coaching role say he's just implementing the plans of the head coach and can't be blamed for the team's attacking woes. There is also a strong push from some sections of the club for Josh Hannay, the Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach who has a long-standing relationship with CEO-in-waiting Peter Parr from their time together at the Cowboys.
Sydney Morning Herald
44 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
If Ponga wants to leave the Knights, is it time they show him the door?
Ponga's exit would give the Knights $1.4 million to spend on other key positions, including the organising halfback they so desperately want. On the flipside, the Ponga camp has realised the prospect of leading Newcastle to a premiership in the near future appears a pipedream. The club is entering what appears to be a rebuilding phase with changes in administration, coaching and the playing squad. Ponga is the captain of the club but is ready to put himself first by exploring whether the grass could be greener on the other side. Ponga is a player of enormous talent and he has been the face of the club since he joined the Knights from North Queensland in 2018. He has long held a desire to play for the All Blacks in rugby union. He has told people that his next move is not about money. Even if it was, it would be difficult – if not impossible – for Ponga to leave Newcastle at the end of the season and find another NRL team with the funds and salary cap space to make that happen. The Knights are also unlikely to let their star player walk into another NRL team. It's why a move to rugby union appears a more likely scenario with Newcastle previously showing a willingness to allow Ponga to chase his rugby dreams with a get-out clause in his last deal. It seems Ponga has two options if he wants to depart Newcastle at the end of the season: sign a contract with a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise in the hope of giving himself time to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, or spend 18 months in either Japanese or French rugby before returning to the NRL when cashed-up expansion teams enter the competition in 2027 (Perth) and 2028 (Papua New Guinea). Newcastle, meanwhile, are at a crossroads as a football club. They've failed to take advantage of a thriving junior nursery for the best part of two decades. They are struggling to attract top players to the club without paying more than they should, and the team is struggling to inspire a footy-mad region. Coach Adam O'Brien is likely to pay the price for that at the end of this campaign, with the club already manoeuvring to change the coaching staff during the off-season. To be fair to O'Brien, his team has been decimated by injury yet again with Sharpe, Ponga and now Dylan Lucas all on the sidelines through injury. O'Brien has a decent record, leading the Knights to finals football on four occasions in the past five seasons. However, it looks like they will miss the top eight this season and patience is running out. Assistant coach Blake Green, who shares the same player agent (Isaac Moses) as O'Brien, has strong support internally. The club is impressed with his football nous, his man management and his connection with the players. Loading The negative for Green is his inexperience, and the fact he has overseen the team's struggling attack all season. Those who are pushing for his elevation into the head coaching role say he's just implementing the plans of the head coach and can't be blamed for the team's attacking woes. There is also a strong push from some sections of the club for Josh Hannay, the Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach who has a long-standing relationship with CEO-in-waiting Peter Parr from their time together at the Cowboys.
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- 9 News
Trump threatens Russia and boosts weapons for Ukraine
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