Kalyn Ponga contract: Newcastle Knights keen to re-sign star and shift him to five-eighth

The Knights are preparing to give Kalyn Ponga the keys to the team in a bid to ensure the superstar stays at Newcastle long term.

In a spectacular trifecta, Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga is poised to sign a new deal at the club, before being groomed to assume Newcastle’s captaincy as he transitions into the five-eighth position.

Ponga’s expected contract extension will end speculation he may switch codes to join the All Blacks or be headhunted as the marquee signing for the Brisbane bid team that wins the race to become the NRL’s 17th franchise.

Ponga, 23, comes off contract after next season but has options in his favour at the Knights for 2023 and 2024. Well-placed sources claim Ponga is ready to agree to those clauses and remain at Newcastle for at least another three years.

Newcastle has grand plans for their champion player, including a captaincy role and shift from fullback to five-eighth, believing he can complete the transition into the No. 6 jersey in the same way Darren Lockyer and Jack Wighton did.

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The Knights plan to move Kalyn Ponga into the halves, like Brisbane did with Darren Lockyer. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Those close to Ponga claim he would be open to a move into the halves and would see the relocation as a “great challenge.”

He attempted it previously under former Knights coach Nathan Brown, starting four games at five-eighth — once at the back end of 2018 and the first three rounds of the 2019 season before aborting the move and reverting to fullback duties.

However, Ponga was just 19 at the time and Newcastle officials believed he wasn’t physically ready for the switch. They say he is now.

While Newcastle will use Mitchell Pearce and Jake Clifford as their halves for next season, the Ponga switch is expected to be considered for the start of 2023.

A “natural and vocal leader”, Ponga is also seen a future skipper, according to club officials, with Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey the other captaincy candidates.

Friends say Ponga is loving his footy, loving rugby league and loving Newcastle, having built a life in the Steel City.

Kalyn Ponga is seen as a leader at the Knights. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

No formal decision has been reached on his future but Ponga’s dad and manager, Andre, has said his son wants to remain a Knight.

Given he is effectively off contract after next season, Ponga — who earns close to $1 million a year with Newcastle — is free to talk with rival clubs from November 1.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien didn’t wish to discuss Ponga’s future but did say: “The thing I love about Kalyn is that each time he returns to play, he hits the ground running. He doesn’t take two games to warm into it.

“He is out there competing straight away. And the other thing I love about him is how much he has grown as a leader. Kalyn is very much a strong voice in our group.

“Kalyn is doing a really good job with his leadership. He loves the club, loves playing footy and wants to win.”

Ponga sustained a shoulder injury against Melbourne last weekend but should be fit for Friday night’s game against the Sydney Roosters.

He was spectacular in Queensland shock’s win against NSW in State of Origin III on the Gold Coast.

The Knights also quashed speculation prop David Klemmer wanted to leave the club with two years remaining on his current deal.