Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says Newcastle will reap long-term benefits if NRL prodigy Kalyn Ponga sees out his North Queensland contract in 2017.
The Knights are still hopeful of Ponga being released from the final year of his Cowboys deal after confirming they had signed the teenager on a lucrative four-year contract from 2018.
But Meninga believes Ponga, 18, would gain the development he needed to cope with the intense Newcastle spotlight with another year under Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote at North Queensland.
“Kalyn has another year to go with the Cowboys and I think he will really benefit from that,” Meninga told Queensland Former Origin Greats website.
“Having another 12 months where he is just a part of a successful machine under (Cowboys coach) Paul Green … will help his development a lot before he is the one in the spotlight at Newcastle.
“All the publicity, all the hype, and all the talk about the size of his contract means that he will be under pressure to deliver straight away in Newcastle, and that is a lot of pressure for a teenaged kid to handle.”
Meninga admitted he was surprised Ponga had signed with a rebuilding Newcastle after Melbourne were reportedly also vying with North Queensland for his services.
The national coach said the Knights now had to repay the faith by ensuring they helped Ponga cope with the intense spotlight once he arrived at Newcastle.
“That is why Newcastle are under pressure here as well … how they handle his development as a player,” Meninga said.
“It is going to be a juggling act for the Knights but they have to get it right.
“They need to think of Kalyn’s long-term development and try to protect him as much as they can from the pressure and expectations that are going to be on him.
“I think his transition to a first grade player would have been much easier at a club like the Cowboys or Melbourne.”
Ponga signed the lucrative Knights deal after playing just two NRL games for the Cowboys.
Rob
Guest
If Bennett was in charge of the Cowboys he would play U20 of the bench.LOL. I don't think Green will be that vindictive. Without being judgemental of his Dads intentions, it's unfortunatly looking like he's seeing his son as a person that can make alot of coin and that's what he believes it's all about. Considering he has lived around the construction/ minning industry, the mentallity is all about getting the most money. His father has commented he was disapointed Kalyn didn't continue playing golf because that's where the biggest money is? SBW went down the same path. It's a personal choice that they are intilted to make. They don't get a lot of respect from fans after they finish playing and their advertising potential will be less.
Rob
Guest
He's taking the piss 3hats!
Mike from tari
Guest
The old man wants to get into the money now not wait a full season, what he said in the paper that the Cowboys haven't looked after his welfare since May this year would have to be poppycock, the Cowboys would not have played him in the NRL if they weren't looking after him, now those 2 games showcased him to everyone, Daddy should be happy. He should play out his contract, probably be in the Q Cup.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Mulls cant do much else, and knows a thing or 2 about blowing potential
Stu
Guest
Bit of give and take. He should stay with the Cowboys until just before June 30 - then if he wants to go and the cows don't need him - let him go. He can only get better under JT - who's he got at the Knights to mentor him?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I don't think it's a legitimate threat as of yet. He could go and there's nothing the cowboys can do to stop him but lots of players in the past have run drills and tryouts for NFL teams. Willie Mason ran three separate tryouts with the jets I believe way back when and hardly got a mention in the media. We'll just have to wait and see. Only certainty is that money won't be the issue so it'll come down to wanting a new challenge. If Holmes were to miss out on the FB spot next year I can see him going.
steve
Guest
Will be most interesting to what plays out with Taumalolo should and NFL offer be forthcoming.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Yeah. When the team announces the signing it means the cooling off period has expired I'm pretty sure. I think it's 10 days.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Isn't the cooling off period over on that deal yet? DCE rule
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Teams often play hardball early before reluctantly giving in. Milford is one of the very few I can recall off the top of my head a team flat out hasn't allowed an early release, but the raiders still had the June 30 deadline in their favour and reportedly nearly got him to flip. As a Brisbane fan I wish we had have hoarded a couple of our younger guys we let go in Taylor and Greinke but those are the breaks. I agree that they're going to be needing props. Losing both Tamou and Hannant is devastating. Hannant especially. Tamou was always hot and cold but Hannant was a firecracker off the bench. If injury strikes the front row (and with Scott it's more a matter of when) the cowboys will start to look bare up front. Can't call a pack with the likes of Scott and Taumalolo weak though.
Dayer
Guest
NO NO NO ...
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Of course he would want to go. He gets $250k more if he goes in 2017. But I wouldn't think the Cowboys would let him go for nothing, especially consider how much they were pinning on his future, and how the Cowboys need props, Knights have a few good up and comers!
Joe
Roar Rookie
I really hope he does end up at the Knights for 2017 just to see how he goes in first grade as I think he is a very talented player. Also the fact that the Knights likely need him way more than the Cowboys do. From the noises his Dad is making it sounds like he wants to go to so it just seems sensible for all parties to let him go.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Wow about the 6 egg rolls?
Chris n
Guest
They won't get any of our young talent they might get Stockwell at best as he doesn't seem to be part of brownys plans.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I believe the scenarios are different. In Segeys case he's flat out reneging on a deal to go to Cronulla. In Pongas case he's already gone it's just a matter of whether the cowboys want to hold him in reserve grade for a year possibly out of spite or try and gouge the knights out of their young talent. If they can get something out of it then good on them but I'd be very surprised if Ponga didn't end up at Newcastle for 2017.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Tough one. I am concerned about players breaking contracts because they can get a better deal elsewhere. In the case of Segeyaro who now wants to leave Leeds who gave him a lifeline when no one else wanted to and even signed and extension but now wants to renege and cite homesickness because a spot has opened up at the Sharks. In this case I can fully understand Leeds doing everything possible to make sure they recoup all costs associated with taking a punt on him. In Ponga's case though, a tad hypocritically I think the Cowboys would be better suited to letting him go. It is obvious he won't be with them long term as they had hoped so might as well let him go and give another bloke who will stay long term a chance at playing first grade and also experience playing alongside the best in Thurston. I don't see an upside with them keeping him for 2017 as he will likely be playing reserve grade only making the starting team through injuries. I think its best they let him go.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I would take at least the Saifitis. DimSims would be an added bonus and complete out Sims Trifecta, probably not something to be proud of, but still.
The eye
Guest
Thurston helping Ponga be a better player would be akin to Menzies selling pig iron to the Japanese prior to WW2..
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I can see the knights being silly enough to do it. I hope they don't though.