Latest news with #MalMeninga
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Knights boss Peter Parr admits Newcastle may struggle to keep Kalyn Ponga
Newcastle boss Peter Parr concedes the Knights face a battle to retain Queensland Origin star Kalyn Ponga in the face of a potential poaching raid from Mal Meninga's Perth Bears. Meninga will begin building his maiden Bears roster from November 1 and a prime target will be Ponga, who was born in Western Australia – making the Dally M winner the ideal poster boy for a Perth team. The Knights were rocked last week by reports that Ponga had engaged a third-party to explore options in rugby union amid fears he could embark on a code switch to one day represent the All Blacks. But Newcastle bosses believe a bigger threat exists in the NRL, with Ponga set to receive monster offers from the Perth and Papua New Guinea franchises ahead of their entry to the big league in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Ponga is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2027 and would require an early release from Newcastle to be the foundation face of a Perth team. Meninga told this masthead he will be chasing the biggest names in the game and Parr admits Perth – not New Zealand rugby – could be the real threat to keeping the Maroons fullback in Newcastle. 'There's no doubt with the introduction of the new teams that Kalyn would be a target, especially for a Perth team,' Parr said. 'He would be a great marquee signing for a new franchise, but I don't know what the future holds. 'The person who would have a major say in whether Kalyn left early would be me and that won't be happening. He is here for the next two years. 'We will do what we can to keep Kalyn at the club, but we're not naive enough to think that he won't be attractive to a start-up club like Perth or indeed any other NRL club.' As revealed by this masthead last month, Ponga has fielded interest from overseas rugby clubs in France and England, while he has repeatedly been linked with New Zealand rugby because of his Kiwi heritage. But the Knights believe the 27-year-old is reluctant to quit the NRL, which opens the door for Perth and PNG to blow Newcastle out of the water with offers in excess of $1.5 million a season. NRL players with links to Perth are rare and that makes Ponga, born in Port Hedland, the perfect promotional target for a Bears club that will be desperate for a big-name marquee signing. Even if the Knights refused to grant Ponga an early release, he would be available for the Perth Bears second season in 2028, by which time PNG will also enter the market armed with tax-free dollars. Parr says it's Newcastle's preference to secure Ponga to an extended deal, but accepts Meninga's Bears will be circling the Knights skipper, who could earn up to $2 million with a Perth team. 'Our preferred option is to keep Kalyn long-term but with the advent of new teams, I don't think anybody can predict what might happen with the player market,' he said. 'I can't speak for how Kalyn feels about rugby. 'In 2028, there will be a new broadcast deal in place and a new salary cap. 'Kalyn can't negotiate until November next year, so time is on the side of both us and Kalyn. 'Whenever Kalyn comes off contract, my expectation is he will be in demand, whether that's NRL clubs, new franchises in the NRL or rugby union. 'Someone with his talent will always attract attention.' Asked in March, on the eve of round 1, if he had shut the door on rugby, Ponga said: 'I don't know. 'I have things I want to achieve first in the NRL, like winning a premiership, and it will all depend on that. 'To be honest, I don't know if I could even pick the game up again. 'I haven't watched a union game in about 10 years. I played it as a junior and I enjoyed it, but it would be interesting to see if I could do it. 'I don't even know what position I would play. 'It'd be a massive adjustment, but it would be a great challenge.' Meninga said NRL stars such as Ponga and Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo, who has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026, are on his radar. 'We'll be talking to everyone available on the market with my recruitment guy and head of footy,' he said. 'That's part of my role – to get a good footy team together and be competitive from day one. 'I know that's a challenge, so you've got to talk to the best players. 'We'll make sure that we don't leave any stone unturned.' Peter Badel Chief Rugby League Writer Peter Badel is a six-time award winning journalist who began as a sports reporter in 1998. A best-selling author, 'Bomber' has covered five Australian cricket tours and has specialised in rugby league for more than two decades. NRL Cam Munster, Billy Slater and Cam Smith have a special piece in their career which Reece Walsh missed out on - an apprenticeship away from the forensic gaze of the NRL. NRL Jake Clifford has won the battle for scrumbase contracts at the Cowboys - and it is set to deliver a former Australian schoolboys playmaker to the Broncos.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knights boss makes admission about losing Kalyn Ponga amid links to Meninga's Bears
Knights boss Peter Parr admits Newcastle might struggle to keep hold of Kalyn Ponga long-term and says he will 'no doubt' be a target of Mal Meninga's Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027. Ponga is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2027 and recently broke his silence to commit his immediate future to the club, amid widespread reports the Origin star was considering a switch to rugby union. The sidelined Newcastle skipper said he is 'excited' by what the future looks like at the Knights, with the likes of Eels playmaker Dylan Brown arriving next year on a lucrative 10-year deal. "Committed to the end of 2027. Excited about the vision of the club. Appreciate those that support me," Ponga posted on social media. The Knights captain still has two years still to run on a deal worth $1.4 million per season but there was growing speculation he could leave before the end of his contract to chase opportunities in rugby union. But Newcastle's boss believes cashed-up NRL rivals pose a bigger threat to their hopes of hanging onto Ponga, and says he's the type of marquee player that Meninga's Bears and the PNG side - who will enter the competition in 2028 - will try and poach. 'There's no doubt with the introduction of the new teams that Kalyn would be a target, especially for a Perth team,' Parr told News Corp. 'He would be a great marquee signing for a new franchise, but I don't know what the future holds. The person who would have a major say in whether Kalyn left early would be me and that won't be happening. He is here for the next two years." As Parr alluded to, Newcastle would have to release Ponga from the final year of his deal in 2027 in order for him to join the Bears when they come into the NRL that year. While the Knights seem unwilling to entertain that idea, it would leave Perth and PNG primed to make a big-money play for Ponga from 2028 onwards. NRL rivals could tempt Kalyn Ponga with lucrative offers Ponga was born in WA and would be the type of high-profile star that Meninga could build his Perth side around. And while Parr says extending Ponga long-term would be the 'preferred option' of the Knights, the reality is the Bears and PNG could effectively blow the Knights out of the water with contract offers in excess of $1.5 million a season. RELATED: Viewers make same complaint about ref calls as Panthers roll Tigers Fans same thing about Walsh as teammate issue adds to Broncos woes Munster 'open' to move to rival club as big claim made about Storm's call PNG will also be armed with the advantage of tax-free dollars to help lure some of the game's biggest stars to the club. And a new broadcast deal in 2028 will also see an increase in the NRL salary cap, meaning it would not be unrealistic for the likes of Ponga to earn up to $2 million per season with one of the new franchises. Mal Meninga targeting big names as Perth marquee players Meninga has already made it clear he will be chasing the NRL's best players for the Bears, as he begins building his maiden Perth roster from November 1. Maroons Origin stars Cameron Munster and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui have already been identified as priority marquee signings for Meninga, as well as Cronulla's Blayke Brailey, who has emerged as the NRL's most in-form hooker this season. Veteran league reporter Paul Kent claimed Storm five-eighth Munster was 'open' to a move to Perth and that Melbourne bosses would entertain the idea of granting him an early release - but only if he wanted to join the Bears. "Cameron Munster is more than open to moving to Perth," Kent said on his podcast, Kenty Blitz. "I'm led to believe the Storm have spoken to him about that. Essentially they've settled on the position that they will release him from his contract, but only to join Perth. Not to any other club in the NRL."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Munster 'open' to switch to rival club as huge claim made about Storm move
Storm playmaker Cameron Munster is reportedly 'open' to a switch to the Perth Bears and it's understood Melbourne would not stand in his way if he wanted an early release to join the NRL's newest franchise. That's according to veteran league reporter Paul Kent, who claims Storm officials have spoken to the Maroons captain about his links to Mal Meninga's Bears. It emerged this week that Munster was one of three stars that Meninga has identified as his first potential marquee signings for Perth, who enter the NRL in 2027. Fellow Queensland Origin star Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey are the other players Meninga is reportedly targeting to build the new club around. Munster is contracted to the Storm until the end of the 2027 season and is settled with his family in Melbourne, where he has been based since debuting for the Storm in 2014. The Queensland captain - who was outstanding for his state in their Origin series victory - has won two premierships and played in more than 200 games across his 12 seasons with Melbourne. But Kent says the Storm are aware of the interest from the Perth Bears and have spoken to Munster about the possibility of him joining Meninga's side. And he claims Melbourne officials would be willing to grant the star five-eighth an early release from the final year of his contract in 2027 - but only for a move to the Bears and not any of their other NRL rivals. RELATED: Fans same thing about Walsh as teammate issue adds to Broncos woes Jahrome Hughes forced to miss funeral for Storm teammate's father Unused camera angle that shows NRL world fooled by optical illusion 'Here's one for you, they've already made approaches to Cameron Munster,' Paul Kent said about Perth on his podcast, Kenty Blitz. 'Now obviously he's a big name at Melbourne and look it's very, very early days, let me stress that. 'But Cameron Munster is more than open to moving to Perth. The club, I'm led to believe, the Storm have spoken to him about that. Essentially they've settled on the position that they will release him from his contract, but only to join Perth. Not to any other club in the NRL." Mega-money Perth deal could tempt Cam Munster Munster is currently on around $1 million per season at the Storm, but would be expected to get a significant upgrade on that deal if he were to join Perth. Considering the tremendous service he's given the Storm over more than a decade and the fact it would set Munster and his family up for the future, it makes sense that the 30-year-old would have Melbourne's blessing if he wanted to leave. 'But if the offer comes from Perth, and the Perth suggestion is, depending on what happens with the salary cap in the new broadcast deal... you'd be looking at a minimum $1.5 million a year upwards to $2 million a year," Kent continued. "So he's going to be looking at that kind of money." WATCH: Paul Kent says the Perth Bears have already spoken to Cam Munster. He says Munster is keen, and the Storm would release him to Perth only.(Kenty Blitz) — NRLCentral (@centralNRL) July 25, 2025 Maroons teammate Fa'asuamaleaui also has links to Meninga, who signed him at the Gold Coast and coached him at the Kangaroos. The Titans skipper is on a long-term deal at the Gold Coast worth around $1.2 million per year but has clauses in his contract that enable him to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1, which works in favour of Meninga's Bears. The Bears would also probably have to table Tino a massive deal worth upwards of $1.4 per season to prise him away from the Gold Coast. But the rep forward could be open to a new opportunity, having recently asked the Titans to outline the club's vision for the future after their struggles in 2025 that look set to cost Des Hasler his coaching job. Cronulla hooker Brailey, who has emerged as the NRL's most in-form No.9, is the third big-name star being linked to Perth. Brailey still has one more year left on his current deal with the Sharks but will be free to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1 if he hasn't agreed an extension before then. NRL reporter James Hooper said this week the Sharks had made a 'grave error' in not locking Brailey down already. It's understood contract talks between Brailey and the Sharks have hit an impasse, with the player's representatives wanting a five-year extension and Cronulla reportedly only offering him three years on top of his current deal.
The Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Mal Meninga believes Kangaroos can succeed without star trio
Former national coach Mal Meninga says there are other potential Kangaroos players 'just as good' as Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow if the trio choose to represent Samoa over Australia. Star forwards Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui and the electrifying Tabuai-Fidow are all understood to be leaning towards turning down the chance to play for the Kangaroos in the upcoming three-Test series against England to instead represent Samoa in the Pacific Championships. With Meninga having stood down as Kangaroos coach after being appointed to lead the Perth Bears, Kevin Walters is Australia's new coach and has indicated he will speak to Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow about their representative intentions. And while Meninga said it was 'important' for Walters to speak to the three players, he suggested that the new Kangaroos mentor shouldn't plead for them to play for Australia but simply ask if they wanted to or not. 'That's my belief,' Meninga told SENQ Breakfast. 'We're not going to deny that if those players aren't available, we still haven't got some great players to take their spots. 'They (Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow) are all great players but there are other players who are just as good. 'We've just got to see what their view is first because if you understand their view, then you understand what you need to do to move forward. 'All those traditions that Pacific Island teams have is alluring to players, so we've got to provide a similar type of environment around what is an Aussie and who do we represent and what do we celebrate. 'We do it a fair bit in the First Nations space, but we also celebrate other cultures as well throughout the (Kangaroo) program. 'We work really hard on that because we know that really appeals to players going back to play for the Pacific nations.' Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. NewsWire A police officer aged in his 30s who died suddenly in front of his children has been farewelled at an emotional funeral. National Breaking News A group of women who were subjected to invasive medical examinations after a newborn baby was dumped in a bin at Doha Airport have had a fresh court win.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ex-Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga confident Australia can overcome potential loss of Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Former national coach Mal Meninga says there are other potential Kangaroos players 'just as good' as Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow if the trio choose to represent Samoa over Australia. Star forwards Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui and the electrifying Tabuai-Fidow are all understood to be leaning towards turning down the chance to play for the Kangaroos in the upcoming three-Test series against England to instead represent Samoa in the Pacific Championships. With Meninga having stood down as Kangaroos coach after being appointed to lead the Perth Bears, Kevin Walters is Australia's new coach and has indicated he will speak to Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow about their representative intentions. And while Meninga said it was 'important' for Walters to speak to the three players, he suggested that the new Kangaroos mentor shouldn't plead for them to play for Australia but simply ask if they wanted to or not. 'That's my belief,' Meninga told SENQ Breakfast. 'We're not going to deny that if those players aren't available, we still haven't got some great players to take their spots. 'They (Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow) are all great players but there are other players who are just as good. 'We've just got to see what their view is first because if you understand their view, then you understand what you need to do to move forward. 'All those traditions that Pacific Island teams have is alluring to players, so we've got to provide a similar type of environment around what is an Aussie and who do we represent and what do we celebrate. 'We do it a fair bit in the First Nations space, but we also celebrate other cultures as well throughout the (Kangaroo) program. 'We work really hard on that because we know that really appeals to players going back to play for the Pacific nations.'
