‘Wouldn't return calls': All Blacks twist in Ponga exit saga amid Roosters rumblings
Reports emerged on Monday that Ponga wanted out of his Knights contract, which runs through until the end of the 2027 season.
It was reported a New Zealand rugby union agent was shopping Ponga around to international rugby clubs.
Journalist Dean Ritchie says there are growing concerns at the Knights that Ponga will soon depart the club with France and Japan the most likely destinations.
'Certainly the suggestions out of Newcastle today were that the fears are increasing that Kalyn Ponga won't be there next year,' Ritchie said on NRL 360.
'Some Newcastle officials desperately tried to find this mysterious New Zealand manager today. They found out his identity but they couldn't find him.
'He wouldn't return calls.
'Certainly there's a growing speculation that he will end up in French rugby or Japanese rugby but I am told quite categorically that he will not at all be interested in playing for the All Blacks.
'I think Kalyn Ponga wants a change. I think he wants to head overseas, and I think somewhere in France would suit Kalyn.'
Ritchie believed the Knights would only grant Ponga a release on the condition that he was going to rugby union, and not to another NRL club like the Roosters, with whom he has been linked.
'I think they would release him to go to rugby, if that's Kalyn's wish, given the service that he's given to Newcastle and the Newcastle community, but I don't think there would be any release to go to the Roosters,' Ritchie said.
When asked whether the Knights were getting value for money for Ponga, journalist Paul Crawley gave an honest response.
'No, they're not,' Crawley said.
'We all know what a great player Kalyn is when he's at his very best, but value for money.
'He hasn't aimed up for what his talent and what his pay grade suggests.'
Ritchie agreed with Crawley.
'He's clearly an elite player but $1.4 million, I don't think he's given them consistent value for money,' Ritchie said.
'He has the odd game here or there where he looks like one of the all-time great players but consistently, over a sustained period, they just don't get the value.'
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