It's the sad reality that for all of Kalyn Ponga's brilliance on the field when at the peak of his powers over the past eight years, there'll be plenty of Knights fans who won't shed any tears if he does ride off into the European rugby sunset at the end of this season.
Ponga's latest rumoured rugby exit, despite having two years left on his contract, has been quietly bubbling away behind the scenes for more than a month.
But such is the constant sideshow surrounding the Newcastle captain and his contract status, few knew whether to take the latest rumours seriously.
Certainly, Knights officials haven't been.
It's only now, following revelations a New Zealand agent, Kent Hale from Halo Sport, has been allegedly spruiking Ponga's name to overseas rugby interests, that the Knights are clambering to find out if there is real substance to the rumours.
For their part, many fans are just tired of all the speculation. They are completely over his constant links to moves to rugby or the Sydney Roosters.
Because of all the talk, there's been this real sense, whether perceived or otherwise, that Ponga has never been fully invested in Newcastle since his arrival in 2018. That he could take or leave the town and its footy club. That only the huge money has kept him here.
Harsh, maybe, but it's the perception.
It started when he signed a new deal back in 2020 involving his father/agent Andre that included rugby exit clauses and options in his favour for the final two years.
Then there was the drawn out contract saga in 2022 before he finally agreed to a five year extension through to the end of 2027 with the clauses taken out but at a cost of $1.4 million a season, easily the biggest deal in the NRL at the time.
The huge money, coupled with his injury history (he's missed an average of nine games a season for the past five years) and the emergence of local Fletcher Sharpe as an outstanding fullback option has left its mark on many fans.
They are now largely indifferent to whether Ponga stays or goes.
Up for a fight
If he is indeed a dead man walking, rest assured Adam O'Brien won't be going down without a fight.
That's the word from those close to the embattled Knights coach, who say he has no intention of falling on his sword in the wake of claims he will be removed as coach at the end of the season.
O'Brien met with Knights chief executive Phil Gardner on Tuesday and while neither are commenting, the suggestion is there was no exit strategy talked about and it's simply business as usual.
Intrigingly O'Brien still has allies on the Wests board who will ultimately make the call on his future after recommendations
from Gardner and head of football Peter Parr.
Deal or no deal
Despite media reports suggesting otherwise, we are hearing veteran centre Dane Gagai remains a chance of walking out on the club and signing with an NRL rival. The same goes for middle forward Tyson Frizell, who has made it clear he is open to all offers as well. Both have new reduced deals on the table from the Knights but are yet to accept them.
Parr on course for top job
Knights head of football Peter Parr has moved a step closer to taking over as the club's new CEO after agreeing to a new multi-year contract to replace outgoing club supremo Phil Gardner.
It's now a fait accompli that Parr will take over from Gardner in November after signing off on the financial terms and length of deal last week. Chris James, who has been at the club since January, will become the new head of football.
Storm pinch another one
Melbourne Storm took more than just the two competition points during their hit-and-run mission in Newcastle last weekend.
They also pinched one of the Knights most promising junior stars. We can reveal 17-year-old Cooper Votano, whose older brother Connor is the Knights' NSW Cup fullback, has turned his back on the Knights to link with the Storm from next season.
Votano played five-eighth in the Knights' Harold Matts grand final side earlier this season and won Steve Simpson's coach's award.
It's understood Storm back-up half and former Knights junior Jonah Pezet helped sell the idea of the move to Votano and his parents during negotiations.
Where that leaves Connor Votano's future is up in the air.
The NSW under-19s fullback is contracted for a further 12 months but will be free to negotiate elsewhere from November 1 if the Knights fail to tie him up long term.
