NRL transfer: Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett step up pursuit of Kalyn Ponga as Knights

Eager to make a big recruitment splash to announce themselves to the rugby league world, the Dolphins have zeroed in on Kalyn Ponga - but the Knights aren’t giving up without a huge fight.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has held talks with Kalyn Ponga as the NRL’s expansion newcomers ramp-up plans to poach the Queensland Origin sensation from the Knights.

News Corp can reveal the Dolphins’ pursuit of Ponga is now real, with super coach Bennett having reached out to the Maroons dynamo in a bid to make him the 17th NRL’s team first superstar signing.

But the Knights have hit back, with NRL Immortal Andrew Johns having personally met with Ponga to outline the game plan and playmaking blueprint to keep the 23-year-old in Newcastle.

Kalyn Ponga is top of the Dolphins recruitment list.

Johns is Newcastle’s greatest halfback and he is returning to the club next season in a consultancy role that will see him play a hands-on role in the development of Ponga.

Bennett is mindful he needs some star power to launch the Dolphins for their inaugural NRL season in 2023 and there are few players in the code with the mix of talent, style and commercial clout as Ponga.

The Dolphins are confident of winning the battle for Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith and Bennett has upped the ante in the second Brisbane’s team recruitment drive by having dialogue with the Ponga camp.

Ponga has a series of performance-related clauses in his $4.4 million deal that enables him to leave the Knights at the end of next season - opening the door for Bennett’s Dolphins to strike.

The Knights are aware of the Dolphins’ interest, but Newcastle recruitment chief Clint Zammit, the man who first spotted Ponga as a 13-year-old, says the Origin fullback has given no indication he wants out.

“I am very close to Kalyn’s father Andre and I have no reason to believe Kalyn will be leaving Newcastle,” Zammit told News Corp.

Ponga began his NRL career in Queensland with the Cowboys.

“He has taken on a leadership role and he is keen to have success at the Knights.

“He wants to win a premiership here, so we are confident Kalyn will stay.”

Ponga began his NRL journey on Queensland soil. He was a member of the Broncos Academy as a teenager before being poached by Zammit to the Cowboys, where Ponga made his NRL debut, ironically against Brisbane, in a semi-final in 2016.

The Dolphins will struggle to win a bidding war with the Knights. It is understood Ponga is on around $1.1 million next season, meaning Bennett would have to pay at least $1.2m to have the attacking whiz in Dolphins colours.

Newcastle icon Johns shapes as a key weapon for the Knights.

The 249-game legend has sat down with Ponga and mapped out how Newcastle will play in 2022, and why he can help the classy custodian achieve his ambition of a maiden premiership ring at the Knights.

Andrew Johns is part of the Knights 2022 coaching structure.

Johns’ brother, former Knights halves partner Matthew, fears Bennett is a major threat to Newcastle’s hopes of keeping Ponga.

“The Knights have to be on 24 hours protection for Ponga,” said Johns, now a Fox League commentator.

“Wayne will play coy, saying ‘I will let the kid do what he wants to do’.

“There is no doubt Wayne’s influence over every player is enormous.

“It is a really tricky situation with Ponga. When you bring in a new expansion team, there is a club that is going to be a loser and Newcastle have to make sure it is not them.”

Ponga has played 74 games for the Knights and is entering his fifth season in Newcastle. The Knights are under pressure to provide more playmaking support for Ponga following the recent departure of veteran halfback Mitchell Pearce.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett held talks with Kalyn Ponga.

Utility Connor Watson, one of Ponga’s closest mates in Newcastle, is returning to the Sydney Roosters next season.

Dolphins recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan said a fortnight ago it is crucial the NRL’s new 17th team signs some big-name stars.

“NRL players want to be in competitive teams,” he said.

“It’s easy for us to say we’ll have a competitive team but people will want to see something tangible which I understand.

“Hopefully a few dominoes fall and that is attractive to other players. We have a two-pronged approach. We want to sign the top-tier and bottom-tier guys and we’ll worry about the middle as the season goes on.”

Originally published as NRL transfer: Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett step up pursuit of Kalyn Ponga as Knights