Sport Confidential: Bombshell secret clause in Kalyn Ponga contract
When the Knights announced the re-signing of ace fullback Kalyn Ponga earlier this year, they claimed a five-year deal. But it’s not that simple.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A host of NRL clubs including Canterbury have identified English hooker Daryl Clark as a target to become the latest Englishman to move to Australia.
Clark has established himself as the best hooker in the Super League with Warrington and the 27-year-old is keen to follow countryman Josh Hodgson and make the move to the NRL.
He is contracted with Warrington next year but has an option in his favour for the following two seasons.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The Bulldogs and Titans have expressed an interest in having Clark join them as early as next year.
Canterbury had success with Luke Thompson’s mid-year arrival from England while Titans coach Justin Holbrook coached against Clark in Super League.
Clark, 27, has played more than 250 first grade games for Warrington and Castleford. He shared the England hooking duties with Hodgson in 2018 and last year for Great Britain.
While the Bulldogs are now getting tight on the cap for next year after the impressive off-season purchases of Nick Cotric, Kyle Flanagan and Jack Hetherington they do have space in 2022 where they also hope to add Penrith’s Matt Burton.
They could create some more cap room depending on what happens with Blake Green. The club is still seeking clarity regarding Green’s contract situation with the injured veteran considering remaining at the Knights. Green was officially listed as a Bulldog as part of Canterbury’s contracted player list announced on Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs have a mammoth 17 players off-contact at the end of next year including Will Hopoate, Dylan Napa and hookers Sione Katoa and Jeremy Marshall-King.
TIGERS PUT FOOT DOWN OVER ADDO-CARR
The Tigers remain adamant that if Josh Addo-Carr plays in Sydney he has to make a return to the club where he made his NRL debut.
Wests Tigers chairman, and principal of Brydens Lawyers, Lee Hagipantelis said the heads of agreement Addo-Carr signed with the club meant any release the NSW winger receives from Melbourne means he must play for the Tigers.
The reason Addo-Carr signed a heads of agreement instead of a regular playing contract, was because players can’t have two playing contracts signed at once. As Addo-Carr is still officially a Storm player for 2021, the Tigers had him sign the heads of agreement.
“It means if Melbourne release him then it activates a heads of agreement with the Wests Tigers,” Hagipantelis said.
“At the moment he is a player contracted to the Storm for 2021. However there is a heads of agreement in place with the Tigers and if he is released from Melbourne it will be activated.”
The Tigers reached out to the NRL to seek clarity around the situation.
“In the event he is released by Melbourne, the document speaks for itself,” Hagipantelis said.
Addo-Carr has denied he has signed a heads of agreement and has left negotiations in the hands of his manager.
The Storm have confirmed the signing of former Parramatta winger George Jennings for the next two seasons. Premiership winner Brenko Lee and young half Cooper Johns have re-signed for one season.
SECRET CLAUSE IN PONGA CONTRACT
A secret clause in Kalyn Ponga’s contract has been revealed allowing the star fullback to quit the Knights at the end of 2022, meaning he could be free to negotiate with rivals clubs as early as this time next year.
Ponga’s re-signing was trumpeted earlier this year where it was downplayed that Ponga had an “All-Blacks” exit clause.
While it may not officially be a rugby-related exit, Ponga does have a player option in his favour to leave Newcastle at the end of 2022 and 2023. The Rugby World Cup is in 2023.
His deal with Newcastle includes the next two years with options his way for 2023 and 2024. The Knights potential recruit Jake Clifford met with Cowboys officials on Thursday as he considers a long-term deal to join Newcastle.
VETERAN ROOSTERS’ TRIO RE-SIGN
The Roosters have re-signed the Morris twins and Jake Friend for another season.
The trio agreed weeks ago but the Roosters had to free up some cap space to register the deals and the exits of Kyle Flanagan and Poasa Faamausili have allowed them to announce the extensions.
The Morris twins will turn 35 next year.
Brett sits fourth overall on the all-time try-scorers list in the game’s history with 165. He is behind Ken Irvine (212), Billy Slater (190) and Steve Menzies (180).
“From day one, I’ve loved every minute at the Roosters,” Brett said. “The club gave me a lifeline and it’s certainly been a very memorable couple of years here, so I’m really happy to re-commit for 2021.”
YOUNG GUN JOINS WARRIORS
There will be a family reunion of sorts at the Warriors with Sean O’Sullivan joining dad Peter at the club. Sean, who played eight games for the Broncos in the past two years, has signed a one-year deal with the Warriors to join Peter – who is the club’s recruitment manager.
GUTHO’S DREAM NOW A NIGHTMARE
Clint Gutherson’s Origin dreams soon became a nightmare after the Blues’ shock loss on Wednesday night. Just last year Gutherson publicly hoped he would one day wear the NSW jersey. It didn’t take him long to fulfil his wish having been part of the extended squad last year.
JERSEY SWITCH FOR EMBATTLED BLUES
The Blues will revert to their traditional sky blue jersey for the rest of the Origin series. NSW players took to the field in a 1997-replica jersey on Wednesday night which former Blues fullback Garry Jack labelled a “terrible jersey”.
THAT ORIGIN MEMORY: SHAUN TIMMINS
Nine Origins for NSW between 2000-2004
State of Origin created the highest of highs for Shaun Timmins but it also produced a moment which threatened his career.
While Timmins’ shock golden point field goal to win game one of the 2004 series is etched into Origin folklore, it was a moment in his second game which is harder to recollect.
A 23-year-old Timmins owns one of Origin’s best individual tries when he chipped over the Maroons defence only for Darren Lockyer to stick a hand out before Timmins re-claimed possession to score. It helped NSW to a game two series-clinching 28-10 win in Brisbane in 2000.
Timmins limped from the field after that try and spent 18 months on the sidelines as doctors struggled to correctly diagnose his injury. He has had 17 operations on his knee.
“I went to get up after that try and my knee was gone,” Timmins said.
“It got misdiagnosed that I’d done my cruciate. It was my bone which was flaking away. My knee was a bit stuffed before that game.”
Timmins almost did not play after hurting the knee in an opposed session against NSW U19s the day before the game.
“It was killing me before the game,” Timmins said.
“The adrenaline got me through. Before the game I was in pain but I got through the warm-up.
“I ended up in a knee brace struggling to walk. I was off my feet for nine months.”
Timmins eventually returned for the Dragons and Blues. His next pivotal Origin moment came in his final Origin series wearing the No.6 jersey — the first time golden point was introduced in Origin.
With the game on the line, Timmins slotted an 83rd minute, 38m left-footed field goal to give the Blues a 9-8 win. It was just the second field goal in Timmins’ 13-year career.
“I was really struggling with the knee in 2004,” Timmins said. “To be able to do something like that in a big Origin match was pretty special.
“It was one of those things you’re always in t