Options of potential disappointment for Dylan Brown have been raised after it emerged Newcastle may very well be set to lose celebrity fullback Kalyn Ponga following information he has engaged the providers of a New Zealand rugby union agent.
The revelation got here on 9’s 100% Footy and in The Sydney Morning Herald.
At 27, Ponga hasn’t gone near successful a premiership and studies recommend he believes he is losing his prime years on the membership.
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Ponga is contracted to the Knights till the top of 2027 on a $1.4 million a season deal. He’s the best paid participant within the recreation.
The fullback has not formally requested a launch at this stage, however Knights powerbrokers are reportedly prepared to contemplate a request if it comes by means of.
Kalyn Ponga may depart the Knights. Â Getty
If Ponga was to remain, it could imply Newcastle has $2.8m of its wage cap going in direction of two gamers with Brown set to reach subsequent 12 months additionally on enormous cash.
Talking on 100% Footy, Cameron Smith stated Ponga would have been a motivating issue for Brown to hitch the membership.
“I am certain he was an enormous cause why he’d need to transfer to Newcastle,” Smith stated.
“One would’ve been the cash, however two while you’re enjoying with among the finest skills within the recreation.”
Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown. Â Getty
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Phil Gould added: “I am certain that (enjoying with Ponga) would have been raised with Dylan once they tried to signal him.”
Fletcher Sharpe may transfer to fullback if Ponga left, opening the door for the Knights to pursue a halfback or five-eighth relying on the place they play Brown.
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Ponga, born in Australia to Kiwi mother and father, has beforehand described the potential to at some point play for the All Blacks as “the top … to place that jersey on can be fairly particular”.
The information round Newcastle’s No.1 comes after one other report that coach Adam O’Brien could be sacked at the end of the season.
Gould stated Ponga departing would damage the NRL, not simply the Knights.
“I believe it is an enormous loss for the sport to have a celebrity stroll out on the sport and go to rugby like that,” he stated.
“And an enormous loss for the Newcastle Knights. I do not know what that claims concerning the Knights in the intervening time. Kalyn’s clearly eager about his future if he is sad the place he’s in the intervening time and worrying that the most effective of his prime years are losing away with a crew struggling however from a recreation’s perspective I believe it could be actually disappointing if we misplaced considered one of our recreation’s superstars who was solely a Dally M medallist a few years in the past.”
