Newcastle are reportedly set to offer Kalyn Ponga the most lucrative deal in NRL history in a bid to shut down links to the Roosters as Phil Rothfield explains a key reason behind the Dylan Brown deal. The Knights have been at the centre of attention in recent weeks after splashing out to sign Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown on a staggering 10-year deal, worth $13 million, in a move that has divided the league.
Brown’s deal has naturally prompted questions over Ponga’s future with many suggesting the club can’t afford to keep the superstar. Ponga is currently on around $1.4 million a season with his deal to end in 2027.
Noise continues around Ponga’s next move with rugby union showing interest in the fullback, while links to the Roosters grow in momentum. The Roosters have plenty of room in their salary cap as it stands and James Tedesco will be 33 years old by the time next season starts.
But it appears the Knights are already acting on securing the services of arguably the best fullback in the game with Code Sports reporting the club could offer Ponga $2 million a season to stay until 2030. The Knights have gambled on the NRL to hand clubs a huge boost in the salary cap heading forward as the governing body negotiates a new TV deal.
This could see Brown’s $1.3 million a season deal appear less eye-opening in a few years with playmakers fetching such money. And Knights recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan has claimed they will start negotiations with the fullback in the coming weeks. This comes after O’Sullivan took a dig at all the reports linking Ponga to rival clubs.
“It doesn’t worry me one iota,” recruitment maestro O’Sullivan told Code Sports. “I know how much he loves Newcastle. I know he’s happy and playing the best footy of his career. I’ll go to Kalyn and his dad at some stage — probably in the next couple of weeks — and see if they want to sit down.”
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