Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga has reportedly been offered a four-year $4.5 million NRL contract extension that includes an option to play at the Rugby World Cup.
Newcastle have made a four-year $4.5 million contract upgrade offer to Kalyn Ponga that will reportedly leave the door open for him to play in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Ponga, who has previously expressed a desire to play for the All Blacks, is off contract at the Knights at the end of next year and a free agent from November 1.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Knights have tabled the huge deal that would include an option in Ponga’s favour for 2023.
That would in turn allow the 21-year-old to try his hand at the 15-man game if he desires, in a bid to push for a place at rugby’s global showpiece in France.
“We have obviously put a deal forward that we believe is in the best interest of the club, but also in the best interest of him,” Knights CEO Phil Gardner said.
“He could play for the All Blacks, the Wallabies, or he may end up going to Japan or Europe.
“We genuinely want the best for the young man and while ever he wants to play rugby league we want him to play here at Newcastle.”
Ponga has played 49 NRL games since his debut for North Queensland in 2016, but is already one of the game’s most marketable stars.
The star fullback spent a number of his formative years in New Zealand and has previously spoken of his respect for the All Blacks, saying in 2018, “If I was to go back to rugby union I’d probably want to strive for that black jumper, it’s the pinnacle.”
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Dream on..... It takes more than just skills to be an All Black. He needs to put in the hard years development before thinking so far ahead. Good player... but he's a big fish in the small league ocean so no comparison.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Just media hype again. No guarantee he'll walk into the AB's.
Jacko
Guest
Ponga was U 13 golf champ so if he has kept it up he would probably pocket a fair few 20k wins
bop
Roar Rookie
he has no show of making the all blacks if he thinks he will just rock up the year of the world cup learn a new game in that short time. sbw went to france then to nz before he made it.
Albo
Roar Rookie
True. Pearce must realise that he needs to encourage and bring a match winner like Ponga more into the matches to benefit his struggling Knights team ?
mushi
Roar Guru
If we're stretching the bow of bail outs to fast fiscal stimulus then there isn't an industry on the planet that wasn't bailed out
matth
Roar Guru
Maybe having a dominant half like Pearce stifles the kid a little?
matth
Roar Guru
New coach whose come from the Bellamy/ Robinson finishing school, may get Ponga playing at full capacity.
Simoc
Guest
Maybe you're confused Bazza. Crowds flock to games and TV sets to watch stars play. Not your 9 to 5 sloggers. The workers are crucial but they don't pay the bills or attract the crowds.
Simoc
Guest
Not that I know of. But Port Hedland is. Des Headland was an AFL footballer, his sister a star netball player.
Simoc
Guest
They did it by dumping money into our bank accounts instead, knowing that the money would be quickly spent. It worked a treat.
Simoc
Guest
Well I suggest a Newcastle boss who can hit a golf ball, challenge Ponga to an 18 hole game, and put up say $20k on each hole as a sweetener. This method is long in the tooth and used so often as to be called old hat, by one club that has a habit of winning.
KenW
Guest
I suggest we organise one of those challenges where we all try to exist on just $12,500 a week so that we can truly understand the hardships. Anyone want to sponsor me?
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I don't understand how these $$ figures become public. What happened to good old fashioned confidentiality?
mushi
Roar Guru
Sorry mate, a bottom 1% day and I find it’s more productive to channel rage to anonomyous people on the internet than eviscerate my subordinates for their stupidity. So unreserved apology as I didn’t have to be a phallus. A more constructive answer. No the four pillars was ~15 years earlier. What it was intended to do was ensure competition and lower systemic contagion (ie not need bail outs) . It did do the second but only because it completely failed at the first. Our banks did not get bailed out, because it was unnecessary. Our “prime” mortgage books made more than Us sub prime books. There was no reason we’d be exposed because they had better returns for less risk. Also we probably couldn’t bail out our banks. Australia has massive household debt, the four pillars and liquid asset rules ensures they’re pretty much one down all down and under our state/federal system the commonwealth just would not have the capacity to bail 4 out. So if people are saying we bailed out the banks I’d ask how we did the impossible
Allblackfan
Guest
He would need at least 2 years to adapt and even that would still be a gamble. Ask SBW.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sorry I should have used the word protection, keep them safe from failing.
mushi
Roar Guru
More fiscal policy :silly:
mushi
Roar Guru
Nope not if you know what any of those words mean. The four pillars was intended to deliver competition and less exposure to offshore markets
mushi
Roar Guru
Apologies if I'm putting words in your mouth. You opened with saying the line about killer instinct etc in response to criticism of his apparent attitude and then your next comments said had never been tested and you'd take X over him because of attitude. It does reads like you are suggesting he doesn't have that will to win. If that's not the intention cool.