Kalyn Ponga has recommitted to the project Justin Holbrook is building in Newcastle, signing a huge contract extension that keeps him with the Knights until at least 2030 — with two club-sided options built into the deal.
There had been some fears around the Hunter that Ponga would leave at the end of his current deal, wrapping up 2027, with heavy interest from the Sydney Roosters and the All Blacks in rugby.
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Trent Robinson and the Roosters had circled Ponga as a perfect replacement for the aging James Tedesco and had been very keen to make him one of the highest-paid men in the NRL.
Ponga believes in the Knights project, though, especially after the club proved they meant business in the premiership hunt by signing Dylan Brown.
“To lock that in and know I’m still going to be part of the Knights’ journey, I’m extremely grateful,” he said after re-signing.
“Where we are now, the people within it, the direction of the club, the players that are coming through, I know I want to be here. Justin [Holbrook] has created an environment that everyone wants to be a part of, come in every day and learn and train and get better. He’s obviously a big part of it all as well.”
Ponga made his hopes for his Knights’ future very clear: “I want to win a premiership here, and I want to do it so badly. I’ve now got the opportunity to keep chasing that dream, and that’s what I see in the near future.”
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Holbrook also celebrated the re-signing, declaring Ponga was the man to help Newcastle build towards another premiership. “Kalyn is an elite player and an elite person. Re-signing him is massive,” he said. “His leadership within this group is exceptional. He sets the standard every single day, in training, in games, in the way he carries himself, and the players in this squad look to him.”
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Ponga joined the Knights in 2018 and has gone on to play 139 games in the red and blue, scoring 732 points. He’s played in 10 State of Origin matches for Queensland, and three times appeared for the Māori All Stars.
The Knights are sitting on eight points with a 4–3 record so far in the 2026 NRL season.
