LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
NRL champion Scott Sattler has suggested that the Newcastle Knights might be better off releasing Kalyn Ponga after reports emerged of his potential transition to rugby union.
Ponga has reportedly signed with a New Zealand-based rugby union agent, raising concerns that he may have played his last game for the Knights.
Amid a tumultuous week for the Knights, it was announced that head coach Adam O'Brien would be leaving the club at the end of the season, with the Knights prepared to pay him out $1.2 million.
Additionally, it was disclosed that superstar fullback Ponga, who is under contract with the Knights until 2027 for $1.4 million per season, has expressed a desire to play rugby union for the All Blacks, influenced by his Maori heritage.
While Ponga and his management have not yet approached the Knights regarding an early release, there is reportedly some openness within the club about letting him go if he wishes to depart.
Brent Read from the Daily Telegraph revealed that Ponga's management has actively 'shopped' him to European rugby clubs, indicating interest in his transfer.
Read stated, "A New Zealand-based rugby union agent has been shopping Kalyn around Europe," and noted that he has been in contact with Ponga's camp.
However, he mentioned that he did not receive a clear response, adding, "But what I've gleaned from their text messages is if he's being shopped around Europe, it's being done without them giving the agent the green light." This implies that Ponga's name has surfaced in discussions regarding a new breakaway rugby competition in Europe.
Overall, the situation around Kalyn Ponga is fluid, with significant developments on the horizon for both the player and the Knights as they navigate this potential shift in his career trajectory.