Kalyn Ponga re-signs with the Knights

If we do pick up Scott Drinkwater, then yeah maybe you can put together an attack with two guys who both play a five-eighth/fullback role in attack interchangeably. But yeah what’s being described above, I’m really unconvinced that’s a good way to play given the players we have on hand.
 
Given Ponga is going to play his usual role in attack, being a half, and refuses to move to the halves and wants fullback, we are already in this frankentein thing.

If we were able to get Ponga playing fullback role only we would be limiting him. He needs the ball in his hands and be creating. We need him with the ball in his hands and creating. Not as the only player creating anything, but he is a key factor in our attack.

He should be playing from 5/8, and linking up with Clifford both sides of the field, and putting on whatever plays he likes. We should have a fullback sniffing around the ruck and following ponga/Cliff in support to put the finishing touches on the space they create.

As it has been, there is nobody taking over that support player role a fullback delivers. Drinkwater could be that player, hell Mann could even be that player tbh. But we need that player.
 
You need every crafty player with an attitude of every tackle/line break is an opportunity to create so follow!
 
Kurriboy said:
Given Ponga is going to play his usual role in attack, being a half, and refuses to move to the halves and wants fullback, we are already in this frankentein thing.

If we were able to get Ponga playing fullback role only we would be limiting him. He needs the ball in his hands and be creating. We need him with the ball in his hands and creating. Not as the only player creating anything, but he is a key factor in our attack.

He should be playing from 5/8, and linking up with Clifford both sides of the field, and putting on whatever plays he likes. We should have a fullback sniffing around the ruck and following ponga/Cliff in support to put the finishing touches on the space they create.

As it has been, there is nobody taking over that support player role a fullback delivers. Drinkwater could be that player, hell Mann could even be that player tbh. But we need that player.
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Not sure this is right ... Ponga refusing to move to the halves ... OBi said Quite a while back that Ponga was staying at F/B , thats his spot and thats where he's playing all the rest of this he should or will play here or there is just fans speculation nothing more .
Personally im glad that OBi and Ponga have said he's not moving to 5/8 because it didn't work before and imo wont work again . He is a much better player when he has room to move and im very happy he's staying put .
 
More speculation from Dean Ritchie on talking sports that despite reports talks are ongoing with Ponga and will be until he takes up his option for next 2 years which he has to by June.

Honestly can the club sign him until his 30 on a long term normal deal to put this crap to rest, I'd be comfortable with $800k base plus usual rep and finals bonuses to a max of $1.2 million.

Sick of the speculation year after year.
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
More speculation from Dean Ritchie on talking sports that despite reports talks are ongoing with Ponga and will be until he takes up his option for next 2 years which he has to by June.

Honestly can the club sign him until his 30 on a long term normal deal to put this crap to rest, I'd be comfortable with $800k base plus usual rep and finals bonuses to a max of $1.2 million.

Sick of the speculation year after year.
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Enjoy the circus that is Andre Ponga. Don’t say you weren’t warned by me when you signed him.

He is running the show not Kalyn.
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
More speculation from Dean Ritchie on talking sports that despite reports talks are ongoing with Ponga and will be until he takes up his option for next 2 years which he has to by June.

Honestly can the club sign him until his 30 on a long term normal deal to put this crap to rest, I'd be comfortable with $800k base plus usual rep and finals bonuses to a max of $1.2 million.

Sick of the speculation year after year.
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It was the same for Andrew Johns. Constant speculation around his playing future whenever a contract was running out.

I don't think KP would sign a long term contract without get out clauses.
 
cowboyman said:
Enjoy the circus that is Andre Ponga. Don’t say you weren’t warned by me when you signed him.

He is running the show not Kalyn.
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He’s worth it.

Unless he jumps ship, at which point I’ll flip on a dime and call him the most overrated fraud to ever lace on a boot.
 
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History of Ponga’s contract status;

June 16, 2020: Knights announce Ponga extends til end 24.

Since been claimed Player Option for 23 and 24 (possibly seperate Options).

Then claimed PO only applies if Knights win comp, apparently a get out clause,(?).

Then claimed Option needs to be exercised by June 22.

I don’t think we will win a comp before June. How can either of the two latter claims not contradict the other?
 
It just blatantly shows that multiple stories that have come out are either fake news or guesswork. Whether it's the best case or worst case scenario, I lost interest the moment multiple speculations started being reported, because we know at least half of it is bull simply for the fact that only one of the stories can be correct. It's best to not give it too much of your energy, time will reveal everything.
 
Who was the utter moron that included such ridiculous clauses in the first place? I mean, what a sh*tshow this has turned into. Just give him a contract for “x” amount of years and be done with it. Sick of hearing the different conspiracies the media come out with every other week.
 
Matty23 said:
Who was the utter moron that included such ridiculous clauses in the first place? I mean, what a sh*tshow this has turned into. Just give him a contract for “x” amount of years and be done with it. Sick of hearing the different conspiracies the media come out with every other week.
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I mean it could easily be squashed by Ponga saying he is here for 2023/24 instead of saying he is only focusing on this year.

Pretty obvious his old man Andre is talking to Redcliffe behind the scenes getting max value for him. No doubt will be using the Knights options as leverage as well as the threat of a swap to union.

Poor Kalyn will always be controlled by his old man. Used us to get into the limelight and then quickly discarded the player manager to be that person himself. Pretty sad really.
 
Whoever negotiated Ponga's second contract on the knights side is a clown. The original deal (which was incredibly generous for an 18 year old kid) was:

2018: 600k/750k (incentives)
2019: 600k/750k (incentives)
2020: 600k/750k (incentives)
2021: 600k/750k (incentives)

The new deal is apparently:

2021: 1.1m
2022: 1.1m
2023: 1.1m (player option)
2024: 1.1m (player option)

So in effect this genius gave Ponga an extra $1.45m to lock him in for 2022 only.
 
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Matty23 said:
Who was the utter moron that included such ridiculous clauses in the first place? I mean, what a sh*tshow this has turned into. Just give him a contract for “x” amount of years and be done with it. Sick of hearing the different conspiracies the media come out with every other week.
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This.

Knights came out saying he is signed til end 2024. Speculation that he can negotiate elsewhere just 16 months later is disgraceful.
 
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