Superstar Ponga stays put in Newcastle as Wayne Bennett strikes out again
Kalyn Ponga has put an end to fevered speculation about his NRL future, announcing that he will remain with Newcastle on a new five-year contract.
Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga has singed a lucrative contract extension with the Newcastle Knights, snubbing Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins. (AAP photo).
The deal, announced on Wednesday, removes any threat of the 24-year-old linking up with the Wayne Bennett-led Dolphins when they enter the NRL next year.
Ponga was one of the Dolphins’ primary targets and the 17th club is now expected to heavily chase under-contract Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Ponga had until June 1 to inform Knights management of his decision to exercise an option in his contract to stay at the club in 2023.
The player options in the final two years (2023, 2024) of his four-year deal, which he signed in 2020, yielded all the negotiating power to the Queensland State of Origin representative.
The clauses allowed Ponga the chance to walk out on the club at short notice to switch codes to rugby union or link with another club such as the Dolphins.
Bennett recently met the Knights fullback in an attempt to lure him to the club for their inaugural NRL campaign.
But the new Knights deal eliminates those clauses and the chance for Ponga to switch clubs until the end of the 2027 season.
