NRL Player Movements & Rumours

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Drama around Ponga. Seems like a lot of media trying to fill space. For $750k, come to the Broncos. But why would he with with a magnificent offer from Knights. Ponga is an enigma. Seems like a lot of baggage and a downhill runner. A million dollar player needs to make others look good. Ponga is a Milford clone. Stay away from shiny lights, short skirts, and nuclear waste. Player values are all out of whack. What Broncos did with Walsh, was draw a line in the sand.
 
I'd take Ponga for the right price, but only if he dumps his father as his manager.
 
As I see it Ponga has 4 options.

1. Sign with the dolphins for 2023
2. Sign with some other club for 2023 (unlikely)
3. Sign this new long term deal with the knights
4. Don't do anything and keep playing with the knights for 2023 but keep the get out clause for 2024 open which will give him a chance to have a look at redcliffes full roster and also see how they go in the first part of next season before having to decide on 2024.

If I were him I would take option 4 but I have no idea what he will do.
 
The Strapper said:
As I see it Ponga has 4 options.

1. Sign with the dolphins for 2023
2. Sign with some other club for 2023 (unlikely)
3. Sign this new long term deal with the knights
4. Don't do anything and keep playing with the knights for 2023 but keep the get out clause for 2024 open which will give him a chance to have a look at redcliffes full roster and also see how they go in the first part of next season before having to decide on 2024.

If I were him I would take option 4 but I have no idea what he will do.
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missing option 5 bounce out of league and go try for the all blacks
 
Xzei said:
missing option 5 bounce out of league and go try for the all blacks
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I don't see that as realistic option anymore.

If he was going to union I think he had to go this year as their world cup is next year (which would be the main reason he would switch) and they likely would have wanted him to have a full season in super rugby the year before to get accustomed to it before considering him for the world cup.
 
The Strapper said:
I don't see that as realistic option anymore.

If he was going to union I think he had to go this year as their world cup is next year (which would be the main reason he would switch) and they likely would have wanted him to have a full season in super rugby the year before to get accustomed to it before considering him for the world cup.
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he is 24 if the $$$ is right its always an option if not for this world cup then the next,wouldnt be unreasonable to think he would play rugby next year and slot into the allblacks side in september.
 
Xzei said:
he is 24 if the $$$ is right its always an option if not for this world cup then the next,wouldnt be unreasonable to think he would play rugby next year and slot into the allblacks side in september.
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Not ruling him out for the next world cup (2027) just think its a bit of a stretch for next year.

I suppose it's possible he could do it next year but if there is one side where you have to earn your stripes before getting a look in it's the All Blacks and that's for blokes born and raised on Rugby never mind code hoppers. Just can't realistically see it.
 
Kimlo said:


Barry Toohey saying extension for Ponga hasn't been pulled. He's usually the go to journo for Knights rumours, so I'd take his word over the other dud.
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Barry's a pretty reliable source when it comes to Knights. He's got quite a few people in the club that talk to him. If he says it hasn't been pulled, it hasn't been pulled.

In other news, Barnett has been released from the final year of his contract to take up a 3 year deal with the Warriors starting in 2023.

Seems to me it's connected to the Ponga contract situation. They are freeing up money and will give that money to Ponga.

I'm leaning towards Ponga staying after seeing that.
 
Wolfie said:
His father is pretty well known to be a bit of a problem.
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The guy actually wanted a job on the coaching staff. Knights told him no but gave him a job in the development department instead.

Knights aren't big fans of Ponga's father but they tolerate him to keep Ponga happy.
 
Anyone have any idea how RTS has been going in union? I literally haven’t paid any attention at all.
 
Super Freak said:
Barry's a pretty reliable source when it comes to Knights. He's got quite a few people in the club that talk to him. If he says it hasn't been pulled, it hasn't been pulled.

In other news, Barnett has been released from the final year of his contract to take up a 3 year deal with the Warriors starting in 2023.

Seems to me it's connected to the Ponga contract situation. They are freeing up money and will give that money to Ponga.

I'm leaning towards Ponga staying after seeing that.
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It would be quite extraordinary for the Knights to pull the offer, initially when I heard it on NRL360 I thought that there's no way they would do that, unless someone like Munster had already signed a deal with them.
 
Andre Ponga sounds a lot like the son from the Entourage movie..
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Dean Ritchie is doubling down on his story about the Knights withdrawing their extension offer for Ponga.

this time he has quotes ... from Jimmy Smith (radio commentator) and an unnamed source close to the club.

this article is basically saying that Andre is trying to mend fences with the Knights to save Kayln' extension offer

Jimmy Smith tells SEN Radio:

“The dissatisfaction with the influence that Kalyn’s father, Andre, has at Newcastle … it got to the point where the deal was pulled. It took some resurrection on behalf of Andre.

“From what I understand, Andre spent (Monday) time apologising to key figures within the club. He was involved in the women’s side and then there was speculation around him wanting to manage some of the players, which is a clear conflict of interest.

“The final straw was that they wanted to make the announcement on the Kalyn deal at a time when Andre felt it was appropriate as opposed to the Newcastle Knights.

“The deal gets pulled, it’s back on the table because of Andre’s actions on Monday. We will watch with interest, the deal to be announced very shortly. But it’s a case of the Knights pulling their foot down and saying: ‘Hey, we are in control of this club — not you (Andre)’.”

“Unfortunately, caught in the middle of all this is Kalyn, who just wants to play some footy. And based on what we saw on Sunday (against St George Illawarra), when he is able to do that and concentrate on his footy, he’s exceptional,” Smith said


Another source close to the club said

“The story was 100 per cent spot on. The offer was pulled. People are saying it’s not true but it was f...ing true.”
 
What's funny is that Ponga isn't playing well enough right now to warrant the salary he's asking for and to also tolerate an absolute fuckwit manager like Andre.

Would be funny if Andre's actions saw Ponga's contract get pulled and then his current form & value sees him get well below what he had sitting there from a very tolerant Newcastle admin
 
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