Ponga stays a Knight: Star’s epic contract saga to end with mega Newy deal

Barring any eleventh-hour raids from rival NRL clubs or even rugby union, Kalyn Ponga is set to pledge himself to the Newcastle Knights by signing a monster new deal with the club, to the tune of around $1,200,000 a season.

Newcastle’s Knight in shining armour is expected to put pen to paper this week.

The Sporting Base understands Ponga, still just 24, had a final meeting with Wayne Bennett last Saturday. In the meeting, Kalyn and father-come-agent Andre sounded out Redcliffe’s final offer. It wasn’t enough, however, to sway the star — according to sources close to the Queenslander, he’ll be signing a monster contract extension with the Knights instead.

Monster is the only word for it too. Media sources are reporting Ponga could be looking at a major bump, up to around $1,100,000 to $1,200,000 a season to pull on the iconic Hunter red-and-blue. This deal would tally up to nearly $6m over five years.

The new contract will override Ponga’s old deal with the Knights, which was originally set to end in late 2024. The 24-year-old had two years in his favour boiled into that original agreement too.

Ponga was far from his explosive self against the Sharks last round and was basically a passenger as his Knights were held to nil last Friday. Cronulla, on the other hand, ran in three tries and clocked up an 18-0 margin to continue their red-hot start to the 2022 NRL season.

Newcastle’s fullback admitted his side was “clunky” from the get-go.

“Wasn’t too happy [with the loss] … but it’s good to be back. I’m happy to be back,” Ponga said. “I’d like to win though. From the start, we were a bit off, a bit clunky.

“And then,” he added, “in the second half when we opened up a bit it felt like we got back in our rhythm a little bit. And then with 12 men on the field, it made it hard again. But yeah, on to the next week.”

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