Newcastle has sensationally withdrawn its three-year contract extension for Kalyn Ponga, freeing the Knights superstar to become the Dolphins’ first marquee signing.
And the shock decision would allow Newcastle to launch a massive long-term deal for Storm champion Cameron Munster.
The Daily Telegraph understands the club and Ponga had agreed to a new five-year contract before the deal was pulled last Friday.
Sources close to
Ponga and the club claim his father, Andre, wanted authority over when the new deal would be announced publicly, not the club.
Certain factions inside Newcastle are unsettled at the influence Andre seems to now have at the club.
While some elements at the club still want to keep Ponga, senior Knights management was becoming increasingly fed-up with Andre’s announcement delay and the money being outlayed for a player struggling to find form.
Last week, the club met with Ponga and the deal – and third party deals - were essentially accepted by both parties before its spectacular collapse.
Newcastle wanted to publicly reveal their Ponga coup last week – the club needed to release a feel-good story - but Andre wanted the announcement delayed.
Ponga, 24, has until round ten to trigger an option for the remaining two years of his existing Knights contract.
Newcastle offered Ponga a three-year extension, a deal which would have secured the champion fullback for another five years. The new deal would have seen Ponga earn $1.1m to $1.2m a year.
The question remains whether Newcastle’s stance is part of contract argy-bargy and the deal can be rekindled or whether the contract is now dead in the water.
Ponga can now ignore the contract clauses his way for 2023 and 2024 and leave Newcastle after this season.
The
Dolphins have been circling Ponga for some time and have been desperate to secure a marquee player who is a Queenslander.
Munster comes off contract at Melbourne after next season.
The Storm have offered Munster a new deal worth about $750,000 a year but his manager, Braith Anasta, believes his client is worth $1m a season player.
And few would argue at Munster’s value after his remarkable individual performance for Melbourne against Cronulla on Saturday night.
Aside from Redcliffe, it would appear no other club has the money – nor desire – to shell out more than $1m a year for Ponga. Maybe Wests Tigers could show an interest.
It is known that Newcastle has a special back-up plan to replace Ponga, which is believed to be Munster.
Ponga could still trigger his 2023 and 2024 contract clauses and remain at Newcastle but that scenario would not appear unlikely.
The Maroons star has claimed he wanted to remain at Newcastle to win a premiership. That though would appear unlikely to happen by joining Redcliffe.
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