Monday Buzz: Kalyn Ponga’s form not good enough as Knights contract saga rolls on
A two-decade old stink has resurfaced over Wayne Bennett’s audacious bid to poach top-level talent for struggling NRL newcomers the Dolphins.
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Superstar Kalyn Ponga’s form is way short of what is expected from a $1 million NRL player and his mind appears to be elsewhere.
In fairness the Knights skipper is carrying an MCL injury which restricts his lateral movement and it was there for all to see in his disappointing game against the Sharks on Friday night.
Ponga got the team bus home to Newcastle but drove back to Sydney on Saturday for a meeting with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, CEO Terry Reader and recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan.
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As a professional footballer coming off contract he is perfectly entitled to be talking to rival clubs.
However the question needs to be asked if the uncertainty over his future has had an effect on his performances, not that you could blame one man for a very ordinary loss to the Sharks.
Knights assistant coach Andrew Johns was furious on Channel 9 on Sunday, attacking Bennett for organising the lunch.
“I think it’s poor form for Wayne to fly down to talk to a player during the season,” Johns said, “It’s definitely a distraction.
“In 2000 Justin Hodges signed with the Roosters and Wayne put him on show in front of the team and sacked him. He played reserve grade for the rest of the year. It’s different when it goes the other way.”
Blues coach Brad Fittler chimed in: “It looks awful and it’s the worst look for the game.”
It was only two years ago that Fittler banned any public comments around contract negotiations while in Origin camp because of the obvious distractions.
The previous year, six players — Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Peats, Josh Dugan, Jack Bird, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods — were all involved in contract negotiations during a series the Blues lost.
So we spoke to Knights coach Adam O’Brien about the situation on Sunday morning.
Like any good coach he went straight into bat for his skipper.
“I’ve only seen someone totally committed to the cause,” O’Brien said.
“He’s been really focused even while he was out injured in helping guys like Tex Hoy prepare for games. I promise you he’s been totally dedicated, not just recently, but all summer.
“He’s got a really steely mindset about what he wants for the team. That’s why he’s captain. His standards have never dropped and that’s what you look for.”
O’Brien is hopeful Ponga will remain at the Knights long term despite the obvious temptation to take the next step in his career under super coach Bennett.
“I haven’t been overly concerned,” O’Brien said, “At the end of the day the clause is in his contract and he’s within his rights to explore all options but I’m confident he wants to stay.”
The difficulty for Newcastle’s fanatical army of fans is that Ponga is the face of the club.
Plus he’s their highest paid player in history and, with that, comes an expectation to perform week in, week out.
The captaincy of this club over the years has been such a proud position.
You could never imagine the greats like Danny Buderus or Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon shopping themselves around at any time, let alone so early in the season.
It is more difficult for Ponga in that he is managed by his father Andre and not a more experienced agent with a better understanding of how negotiations like his son’s can quickly turn nasty in public perception.
The Knights began the season with super impressive wins over the Roosters and Wests Tigers.
They have since struggled.
This side, more than anything else, needs Ponga contributing like we all know he can.
He needs to get his knee right and his future sorted.
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Originally published as Monday Buzz: Kalyn Ponga’s form not good enough as Knights contract saga rolls on
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