Newcastle Knights confirm Kalyn Ponga signing

You do realise Mt Isa and Mackay are part of North Queensland? He was probably starting to walk when he was in MT Isa and they only play junior League and touch comps. No union. How do you know he never played rugby league befrore he went to Palmerston North? He has lived about 12 of his 18 years in North Queensland. He played his first junior U13 rep Rugby League for Mackay and attended school on a rugby league schoolarship links with Cowboys. He made Australian U15 rugby league wilst playing in NQ. He played rugby union in Brisbane because Churchie Grammer play UNION. LOL He represented at Rugby LEAGUE Schoolboys whilst at Ignatius Park NQ., Played first NRL with NQ Cowboys. J.Thurston is of Maori desent according to your Wiki search information. PS. Brad Thorn moved to AUS. at 8, played Queensland Juniors, Broncos, Queensland and Aust rugby league. Then went on to play for NZ rugby. Tamou moved to AUS at 13 picked for junior Kiwis, Played NZ maori, NZ 4N squad then played NSW? Uate moved to Aus. at 15 Rule changed by NswRL to stop Kasino playing for Queensland similar to Tamou. Now that Jarrod Hayne has played Rugby sevens for FIJI will NswRL say NO WAY to SOS?LOL.

The rules for being considered a Junior for a particular Club are loose. We have 16 Clubs in the NRL but literary 1000s of Regions across Australia and the World who play Rugby League so the ARLC came up with a set of blueprints/RULES to determine where you belong to play... Mostly for Origin. As NOT everyone was born in either NSW or QLD so the Rules are WHERE did you FIRST PLAY your football as a U13s player? In the 80s when Origin was first played it used to be where did you play your first Senior Football (which State) then it changed to U18s then quickly reduced to U16s. NOW, it is U13s. There was also "the Residents Rule" which was scraped in the NRL but I think it still exists in International Rules, not sure. Nathan Friend played 1 origin for Qld in 2001 but played for NZ 2006-2012. Kalyn Ponga is in a unique situation where he was born in Australia but in Western Australia. (30 March 1998) He moved to Mt Isa but didn't play any League there. He moved to Palmerston North in NZ 1n 2006 as an Eight Year Old and played his FIRST EVER game of Rugby League! He lived there until the age of 12. Kayln returned to Australia in 2011 and lived in Mackay, he was signed to a scholarship with the Central Queensland NRL bid side. In 2012, he was selected for the Australian Schoolboys under-15 side, becoming just the second 14-year old to make the side. In 2013, Ponga, then a scholarship holder with the Brisbane Broncos, moved to Brisbane. In 2015, Ponga moved to Townsville as a 17-year old In August 2015, he made his NYC debut for the Cowboys In January 2016, Ponga was selected in the QAS under-20's Origin squad. In 2016 Ponga, eligible for both Australia and New Zealand, was selected for the Junior Kangaroos and Junior Kiwis but opted not to play. In the NRL official 2016 Season Guide he is listed as a Souths Mackay Junior. As he was born 30th of March it is possible that he played his First Match there before his 13th Birthday? SO He is NOT a North Queensland Junior. The U13s Qualifying Rule was put in place to stop players Born overseas, mostly in NZ for playing in Origin then swapping to play for NZ. James Tamou, Brad Thorn for example. Thorn born in NZ played for Queensland and Australia, then went to Rugby and played with the ALL BLACKS. He came back to the Broncos and the cane toads tried to select him for Origin. The ARL said NO WAY! BUT... as I wrote above he is in a unique situation where he was born in Australia

I'm not sure how it relates to Kalyn not being a North Queensland junior. The Cowboys don't have a junior team as such but actively run clinics across the region including Mt Isa, and Mackay. I'm not surprised the Broncos along with everyone else had a word in his ear. However Churchie is an elite private school in Brisbane that are prodominatly Rugby Union aligned? He was hardly there before returning to NQ. Ignatuis Park are Cowboys aligned with Aidan Guerra, Valentin Holmes, Nene McDonald, Anthony Mitchell (now teaching there) along with Ponga, Hess, Taumalolo, Morgan, Kyle Feldt, Justin O'neill all being seniors and products of the system in recent years. We can't keep ever kid but we can surely say they learnt to play and love rugby league in North Queensland.

Yes, the Knights need to get good players around him. They have been blooding youngsters these past 2 seasons so they will get better. Recruited Rory Kostjasyn, Jamie Buhrer, Josh Starling, Brenden Elliot are all fine players. Pauli Pauli will be good also. They have a few older heads in Mickey Paea and Ken Sio but losing Robbie Rochow (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jeremy Smith (retired), Kade Snowden (retired) Will be massive losses. I think you guys have big problems in the halves.

I didn't say that he was a Kiwi I said that he is of Maori Descent. There is a difference! It is true that his father would have chosen where he will play, NOT Kalyn himself as MONEY issues are always at the fore with Polynesian Peoples. As in the Israel Folau situation, he was told by his mother to go to AFL for the cash. Kalyn Ponga hasn't chosen the Kiwis or the Maroons as yet but he is more than likely to stick with the Cane Toads. He was invited to the Kiwi Camp last year but declined!

I'm not sure you can claim he's a Kiwi, being born in Australia? His father has obviously chased the big dollars in the mining/construction industry and always stated the money will be the major factor on where he plays. Ponga has spent a majority of his life in NQ, Mt Isa, Mackay, Townsville. The Cowboys have invested a lot of time into his rugby league education. Ignatius Park college work closely with the Cowboys coaching staff to bring talent up to professional standard NRL players. I don't think the Cowboys should have extended both Coote and Thurston deals but i'm happy to wish the kid good luck.

Excellent post SS. Hopefully, the Knights can put a team in front of him.

I believe the knights base deal is about the same and he can earn up to $3 million if he plays for Australia

Cowboys offered up to 2million over 4years. A good deal but nothing compared to what the Knights offered.

WOW, everyone is giving it to King Cowboy and I don't blame any of you. I am 100% Neutral in this argument as the Johnathon Thurston issue has also been mentioned. FACTS: 1) Ponga is NOT a North Queensland Cowboy Junior. 2) He is of Maori decent and was born in Port Hedland, WA 3) As a kid, he lived in Mt Isa, then moved to Palmerston North, NZ and back to Mackay. 4) He was discovered by the Brisbane Broncos and was offered a scholarship and played with the Easts Tigers in Brisbane. 5 In December 2013 he signed with the Cowboys and turned down 6 professional clubs including AFL and Rugby Yawnion. This kid has a History of moving around and living in different regions. SO in effect, he is NOT a Cowboys Junior and he owes them NOTHING! By the way... the Cowboys chose to keep Lachlan Coote on a $500k contract and only Kalyn Ponga $150k SO in effect, the Cowboys could have kept him if they really wanted to.

King Cowboy, you have NO IDEA! How the hell can you expect an 18-year old to NOT accept such a lucrative offer? This offer will make this kid a millionaire and set him up financially for life. How much did the Cowboys offer him? $150k is what has been reported. Financially he made the correct choice. On a purely playing perspective, he probably didn't as I doubt the Knights will be returning to Finals football anytime soon. BUT for $3M who wouldn't take the cash and run?

Chris N, Stockwell doesn't play because Browny wants him gone, he is on too much coin apparently.

Think the safiti boys could develop into some of the best props in the game, korbin was terrible last year, browny didn't seem to like Stockwell and didn't play first grade at all was ok in 2015

As a Newcastle fan how do you rate Korbin, Stockwell and the Saifitis?

Barnett only played 5 games or so as a Knight,lost them all..but in those games he stamped himself as the KEY player in that pack..as good as Tapine has the potential to be,at this stage of onfield performances,the Knights have lost nothing with this 'swap'..wouldnt have cost anywhere near $350k to boot..a 40 min.bench player,prone to a brain snap, for an 80 minute no nonsense 'Gallen mould' leader..doubt coach Brown has regrets...hopefully,he'll kick right on next year.

Haha...wish I could claim it but no, it's not me VH. I was looking for an avatar and looked up images for "having a barry" and that came up.

TB, is that you in your pic? Never actually looked at it until today. WTAF

How do you feel about Milford Tim? Do you still cheer for him when he plays? Are you happy for his and the Broncos success?

Barnett wanted out of Canberra. Had actively sought a release. He was/is a good player. Tapine was identified as a key talent - which he has already justified - and the deal was done. Lets not forget that the Knights declined to match the Raiders offer for Tapine - and then released him...

Hang on KC, Scotty Prince is a friend of mine! A superb LEL ambassador too.