Kalyn Ponga discussion

If this is true about Ponga age 27 not just talk...There's the door keep walking.

were already got our No 1 for 2026..Now we have 1 million + to go shopping for

a top 3 Half back in the comp......MAKE unhappy players happy ...​

Just Keep Walking​

 
danknights said:
This aged well.......all in the media now. Let's see how true all this really is by the end of the year
Click to expand...
I may have brain damage. I literally never had the thought that he’d go over and play rugby when I saw your post. Even though the money in Euro rugby is pretty similar to the NRL lmao. I went through the mental Rolodex “okay, Super League, soccer, cricket… yep that’s everything, so this rumour makes no sense.”
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I may have brain damage. I literally never had the thought that he’d go over and play rugby when I saw your post. Even though the money in Euro rugby is pretty similar to the NRL lmao. I went through the mental Rolodex “okay, Super League, soccer, cricket… yep that’s everything, so this rumour makes no sense.”
Click to expand...
I just can’t understand NZ rugby union as a destination. Minimal money, low stakes games in front of lacklustre crowds … the draw of that ABs jersey must be really big for him, but even the ABs aren’t what they once were.

And even after all that, I’d have thought he’d take one look at RTS’ miserable experience and think: no way!
 
Is there a good strike rate for guys who go play rugby for Bath Waterboys or the Doncaster Pedos or whatever in England making the All Blacks?
 
We have imploded.
Hit rock bottom.
We are paying $14m for a dud.
The next decade we will be in purgatory.
AIB is collateral damage for **** poor management and unbelievable recruitment.
Are these guys watching the same competition as the rest of us.
Ponga was going anyway as soon as Brown was announced. He should be insulted to hear the they paid the same for a hack as he was getting paid.
Personally I don’t blame him leaving, the management has lost the plot at the Knights
It’s embarrassing to be a supporter at the moment. Get rid of a few more than AOB.
We need a good does of laxettes through the club management
 
jamesgould said:
I just can’t understand NZ rugby union as a destination. Minimal money, low stakes games in front of lacklustre crowds … the draw of that ABs jersey must be really big for him, but even the ABs aren’t what they once were.

And even after all that, I’d have thought he’d take one look at RTS’ miserable experience and think: no way!
Click to expand...
There's a break away comp being formed in Europe...LIKE what happened to Golf recently and Super League.

AI Overview

A potential breakaway league, tentatively named R360, is being proposed in European rugby, aiming to offer lucrative contracts and a more glamorous, franchise-based competition. This new league is causing tension with existing structures like the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship, as it could attract top players and potentially impact the established pathways for developing talent.
 
jamesgould said:
I just can’t understand NZ rugby union as a destination. Minimal money, low stakes games in front of lacklustre crowds … the draw of that ABs jersey must be really big for him, but even the ABs aren’t what they once were.

And even after all that, I’d have thought he’d take one look at RTS’ miserable experience and think: no way!
Click to expand...
I hear what you are saying James but the heritage and lure of a NZ jersey does seem strong. Even the backing out of playing for the Kangaroos suggests his allegiance lies with NZ.

What would be the chance of him picking up the Euros playing in France and getting a shot with the ABs? Or is it similar to England and they have to be playing in the Premiership to be considered for the national team?
 
Thieves Like Us said:
I hear what you are saying James but the heritage and lure of a NZ jersey does seem strong. Even the backing out of playing for the Kangaroos suggests his allegiance lies with NZ.

What would be the chance of him picking up the Euros playing in France and getting a shot with the ABs? Or is it similar to England and they have to be playing in the Premiership to be considered for the national team?
Click to expand...
Yeah you have to be an NZ Rugby contracted player, playing in NZ, to be eligible for the All Blacks.
 
Thieves Like Us said:
Wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen for either party.

New coach (hopefully), Sharpe playing (and killing it) in his natural position with Brown at 6 and a quality half (not Cogger).

Meanwhile, Ponga gets out of the fish bowl and makes a play for an AB jersey before the next RWC.
Click to expand...
i see 2 possible problems if Ponga did leave at the end of the season

1 - due to Sharpes injury, he may take a while to recover and start training again. I've heard Sharpe could be months away from getting back to training, which may affect his preseason

2 - there needs to be a quality half available to spend Ponga's money on
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tim
As a pro level athlete you only get a couple of years at your peak and in all honesty would you really want to spend your best years playing for the Knights. I met Kalyn once and he comes across as a really nice person and if I was in his shoes I would be looking elsewhere.
 
Don’t know anything about Union really but isn’t even realistic for a 27 year old to make a successful switch and make into the All Blacks?
 
Given the smoke about this rebel comp this may be a money motivated thing.

I legit suspect the offer from Newcastle to stay after 2027 is not where they want it to be and I support the club in any lowball offer. Kalyn reignited my love for this sport in a big way, but the club has to come first and he’s incredibly injury prone + I’m not a doctor but I’ve heard doing both lisfrancs is, uhhhh… not good. Let’s leave it at that.

Clock may actually be ticking to make all the money he wants because he’s looking like a guy who’ll be done in his early 30’s, not his mid 30’s. Let’s say there’s a discussion of him being one of the faces of this breakaway rebel league and silly money is being thrown at him…
 
Newygirl said:
Don’t know anything about Union really but isn’t even realistic for a 27 year old to make a successful switch and make into the All Blacks?
Click to expand...

If he goes next year it’s completely unrealistic. If he goes at the end of his next contract it’s impossible.

Given how much playing for the All Blacks apparently means to him I’d let him go with some kind of clause that he can’t come back and play for another NRL club until after his contract would have ended. It’d be hard to swallow if he tried it for 6 months, realised he couldn’t make the ABs and then was at another NRL club before the end of 2026.

If he does actually have an agent out there trying to find him a contract behind the Knights back that’s really poor form by Ponga.
 
mozza said:
If I had a dollar for every time someone said Ponga wanted to leave over the last 5 years I’d have more cash than him and Dylbags combined.
Click to expand...
Feels different this time insofar as it being the first time where the majority of Knights fans almost want it to happen. And if it’s ever going to happen, it makes sense for it to be the end of this season noting how plod we will be, KP fast losing brand power at a mediocre club and Dybagz and Sharpe being in the spine next year.
 
mozza said:
If I had a dollar for every time someone said Ponga wanted to leave over the last 5 years I’d have more cash than him and Dylbags combined.
Click to expand...
There have always been rumours circulating around Ponga last few years but this year he has not looked happy on the field and his demeanour during press conferences has been interesting, especially the eye rolling. Perhaps I am imagining it but I feel this year is different for him. I feel his passion is somewhere else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top