KALYN Ponga’s $3.6 million deal has sparked a player backlash, with Maroons star Dane Gagai among several Knights stars furious over Newcastle’s big-money buy.
The Courier-Mail can reveal a faction of Knights players, including Origin ace Gagai, are seething after Newcastle made Ponga the richest teen in NRL history.
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown is refusing to confirm Ponga’s signing but the deal is done and now the Knights mentor must explain the record investment to his upset players.
Ponga, who has played two NRL games, will pocket more than $1 million in his first two seasons in Newcastle. The 18-year-old will arrive as one of the highest-paid players in Knights history and will earn more than Gagai, who is currently on about $500,000 a season.
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Several Knights players rang their agents expressing anger and wanting upgrades after learning of the club’s mega five-year offer to Ponga.
Gagai, in particular, is entitled to be livid. The 25-year-old is Newcastle’s brightest star, having scored five tries in four Origin games, including a hat-trick in Queensland’s 26-16 defeat of NSW in Game Two last season.
Since joining Newcastle in 2012, Gagai has played 105 games and showed his loyalty last year when he rejected Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to sign a new deal with the embattled Knights.
Newcastle’s brightest prospects, 20-year-old twins Daniel and Jacob Saifiti, have also been stunned by the Ponga deal after agreeing to less lucrative extensions in May.
Brown declined to comment when contacted but former Maroons lock Scott Sattler warned Ponga will face envy and brutal expectations in Newcastle.
“It’s a difficult deal for anyone to knock back but it puts enormous pressure on the kid,” Sattler said.
“If Kalyn Ponga doesn’t handle it, he could become a washed-up 21-year-old.
“I hope that doesn’t happen, but on that salary he will be expected to win games regularly for the Knights and it’s only natural that more senior players will be jealous of what he earns.
“Physically, I think he can handle the NRL but emotionally, I’m not sure he is ready to deliver the consistency expected of a player on that sort of contract.
“A player like Johnathan Thurston has developed the emotional intelligence to play to such a high level but Ponga still has so much to learn in the game.”
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer says it is critical Brown and Knights hierarchy provide support networks for the teenager in Newcastle.
“It’s important Kalyn has the right people around him at Newcastle,” he said. “Newcastle might be in a different club in 12 months but whether you are 18 or 30 years old, a $700,000 salary comes with a lot of pressure.
“Kalyn will need help to ensure he is a good investment.’’
