Unbreakable
International Rep
Contributor
- May 21, 2013
- 19,691
- 20,912
I REALLY wish people would copy paste the article.. how hard is it.
I REALLY wish people would copy paste the article.. how hard is it.
We have been linked to Ponga who has rejected the Cowboys offer.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...r/news-story/1b3eb3166b23461939ec6064c6558a4e
Kahu seems like a long-term centre/winger to me, hasn't got the speed to be a Fullback. Boyd probably only has 1-2 seasons left at Fullback. It'd be a great investment to sign Ponga imo.
THE Cowboys are in danger of losing rugby league’s most talented teenager after Kalyn Ponga formally rejected their contract offer to go on the open market.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Ponga will negotiate with rival clubs from November this year with the Broncos a major attraction.
Ponga is a gifted fullback who has the footwork of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck combined with a playmaking ability that could see him eventually become a half.
Ponga just turned 18 but is considered a future representative star who could play for the Kangaroos or Wallabies after a standout union career with David Pocock’s high school Churchie.
Ponga is enjoying life in Townsville with the Cowboys and would like to stay but with Lachlan Coote re-signing for two years and Johnathan Thurston to re-sign for at least another year, his NRL pathway is blocked.
The Cowboys offered Ponga an upgraded deal for next year and a two-year extension that would have kept him until the end of 2019.
However, the teenager isn’t ready to make a decision on his future.
Kalyn’s father Andre confirmed they had knocked the Cowboys’ contract back.
“We’ve decided to turn down an offer that has been on the table for a few weeks,” Andre told The Sunday Mail.
“The offer was much appreciated, but we want to assess all opportunities.
“I can understand why the Cowboys kept Lachlan but it probably hinders Kalyn’s pathway.
“Lachlan is an exceptional player and has taught Kalyn a lot but he wants to see an NRL pathway.
“Kalyn is happy playing for the Cowboys and he has a good balance in his life (but) we would be silly not to look at what’s out there. He has to look after himself and his family.”
Ponga does not have a manager and his Kiwi family are currently interviewing agents to find the right one, wanting a manager who cares more about their son’s morals than a salary bump.
The Cowboys will fight hard to keep Ponga and are expected to make another offer late this year.
Cowboys’ insiders don’t want to make the same mistake as Canterbury, who inexplicably let a young Johnathan Thurston slip the net in 2004.
“Kalyn is developing nicely and we would like him to stay at the club if that’s at all possible,” Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said.
“His family have been going through a process of selecting a manager and once that process is completed, we will take up talks with whoever the agent is.”
The Cowboys had been disappointed with Ponga’s form in the under-20s this year but he has starred in their past two games.
Ponga was hoping to graduate to the Intrust Super Cup this season but it is understood the Cowboys do not think he is ready for that level of football.
“We have put the manager thing on hold for a couple of months while Kalyn works out his football,” Andre said.
“He is going OK but it is probably better for him to just focus on football and look at the contract stuff at the end of the year.”
The Broncos were the first NRL club to sign Ponga when he was just 14-years-old.
The Cowboys then poached him but with Wayne Bennett back, Brisbane is again a serious option for Ponga.
Bennett has already coached Ponga, teaching him at Queensland Academy of Sport junior camps.
“I think very highly of Wayne and he’d be a great coach for Kalyn,” Andre said.
“If the Broncos are interested, we would certainly look at them with Wayne Bennett back at the club.”
back on the PC so here is the article
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...r/news-story/1b3eb3166b23461939ec6064c6558a4e
But we got the news 2day!An article in the paper 2moro..a must read.
Oh my god! How did you manage to get this article before tomorrow morning? Do you also have cousins in the media?
Sounds like he is two years away from NRL at the minimum. I don't know how long WB has left in the game, perhaps years, I cannot guess but I hope he gets to look after this lad. The Cows will move heaven and hell to keep him but the tone of the article seems to be that the Broncos are over the line if they can get the money near enough.
I'm excited guys, who's it going to be regarding, take your bets.
Greg Inglis - $1.04
Valentine Holmes - $2.50
Brenko Lee - $101
Sounds like he is two years away from NRL at the minimum. I don't know how long WB has left in the game, perhaps years, I cannot guess but I hope he gets to look after this lad. The Cows will move heaven and hell to keep him but the tone of the article seems to be that the Broncos are over the line if they can get the money near enough.
I'll take the underdog.