Newcastle offer North Queensland rookie Kalyn Ponga $3.6 million, five-year contract

NEWCASTLE want to make Kalyn Ponga the richest teenager in NRL history after offering the Cowboys rookie a stunning contract.

Ponga has played just two NRL matches.

THE Cowboys conceded they could not win a bidding war for Kalyn Ponga after the NRL-owned Knights tabled a record $3.6 million deal for the young gun.

Ponga could join the Knights as early as next season, with Newcastle coach Nathan Brown offering the richest contract for a teenager in rugby league’s 108-year history.

The 18-year-old has played just two NRL games but has been offered a massive five-year contract worth an average $720,000 annually.

Well-placed sources said Ponga’s manager, Wayde Rushton, had contacted the Cowboys to inform them his client is poised to ink the Newcastle mega-deal.

The landmark offer has stunned the Cowboys, who cannot compete with the Knights’ bid under a salary cap dominated by big-name trio Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Michael Morgan.

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Ponga has played just two NRL games.

“We face a tough battle to keep Kalyn with the money that is being offered,” Cowboys’ recruitment chief Peter Parr said.

“We are bracing for the fact we can’t compete with what’s on offer at other clubs.

“There is a lot to weigh up for him. He has a good offer from us but there’s a few clubs who are prepared to offer a lot more than we can.”

Asked about the NRL’s influence as owners of the Knights, Parr said: “It doesn’t matter who owns the Knights as long as they operate within the rules and are salary-cap compliant. We can’t whinge about that.

“It’s all fair in love and war. If I was at the Knights, I’d be offering Kalyn big money too.

“I am still hopeful that he will stay with us but we are preparing for the prospect that may not be the case.”

The 18-year old is regarded as one of the most talented prospects in the game.

North Queensland have tabled a four-year extension but Ponga stands to pocket an extra $1 million by defecting to Newcastle.

Ponga is the most sought-after talent in Australian sport, with the Cowboys fighting to stave off interest from five NRL clubs and AFL rivals the Brisbane Lions.

But the Lions confirmed they had been informed they are out of the race for Ponga, who made a sublime NRL debut against the Broncos in September.

The information the Lions received was that the NRL had become involved in Ponga’s contract negotiations because they did not want to lose another player to the AFL.

Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau have previously quit rugby league to play AFL, but the NRL, which controls Newcastle’s licence, is determined to win the cross-code battle.

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A multi-sport phenom, Ponga had been chased by AFLA and rugby clubs.

Ponga is off-contract at the end of next season, but could be offered an immediate release if the Cowboys can secure a prop following the loss of James Tamou and Ben Hannant.

The signing of Ponga would be a major coup for the Knights. The lowly club finished wooden spooners last season with just one win and view Ponga as the future superstar who make the Knights competitive again.

Cowboys champion Thurston recently told The Courier-Mail Ponga is destined to dominate the code.

“Talent-wise, Kalyn is one of the best I have ever seen,” he said.

“In saying that he is still a kid, he is still learning the game and the club is managing him accordingly.

“He’s got a lot of hard work in front of him, but he’s certainly got the skill level to play in the halves.”