NRL news: Knights make play for Kalyn Ponga’s father in bid to deny Dolphins

Newcastle CEO Phil Gardner has come out swinging at any critics who accuse the Knights of acting illegally or unethically regarding the club’s salary cap.

Kalyn Ponga his family. Picture: Marc Robertson

Could this be the clincher for Kalyn?

In a move which may deny Wayne Bennett his marquee signing, a shrewd Newcastle is looking to employ Kalyn Ponga’s father to the Knights’ NRLW team staff.

Desperate to retain the brilliant Ponga in the face of a massive offer from Bennett’s Dolphins, the Knights will ask the NRL salary cap auditor whether the club can employ Andre Ponga in a paid mentoring role with the club’s women’s side, who will compete in the NRLW this year for the first time.

And in a bold statement, Knights CEO Phil Gardner said he would “sue the arse off” any critics who accuse the Knights of acting illegally or unethically regarding the club’s salary cap.

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Andre has been working with female Newcastle players in a voluntary role but a future paid job has been discussed by both parties.

Employing Andre might be the wily move that leads to his son re-committing to Newcastle when his current deal expires after next season.

Bennett and the Dolphins have identified Ponga as their premier signing for 2023.

The Knights have imported a number of women from New Zealand and North Queensland for this coming season with Ponga senior having helped the relocated players in cultural coordination and mentoring.

Kalyn Ponga his family. Picture: Marc Robertson

Gardner fiercely denied the suggestion Andre would be offered a paid job to ensure Kalyn stayed.

“The pennies we are talking about won’t make any difference. We’re talking about the second highest paid player in the game. And we’re talking about something that might happen for $1.50. I think it’s meaningless in what decisions they will make,” Gardner said.

“For anyone to make those sorts of comments would be pretty stupid. They’d be pretty dumb comments for someone to make.

“What we are looking at … he wants to do something long-term but that’s up to the salary cap auditor. So what will happen, if we prove where we sit and can get a team running, he might be offered a position.

Newcastle Knights CEO Philip Gardner. Picture: Supplied

“If he is (to be employed), then it goes to the salary cap auditor and the salary cap auditor would decide whether it would be in or out of the cap. That’s the way it works.

“Because of his son, Andre becomes a conflict for us so it has to be approved by the salary cap auditor. That is why it is 100 per cent above board and right. We are doing everything right and any assumption or comment to the negative, I would sue their arse off.”

Andre has been working with the women’s side in a honorary capacity.

“Out of the goodness of his heart, Andre has come along and helped,” Gardner said.

“He had some girls stay at his own home. He has been talking to parents. We are trying to provide them with welfare and support. Andre’s position isn’t a paid position – he has done it all for love.

“He (Andre) has provided welfare and support, not coaching. We have had some huge welfare challenges. He understands the game and understands the role of a parent in rugby league. He has been fantastic for us.

“Currently he (Andre) has no contract and isn’t employed by the club at all. He is helping with the Polynesian girls.”

Ponga, 23, is signed with Newcastle until the end of 2024 but can trigger a get-out clause after next season. He has options over the final two years of his current deal.

The Dolphins are reportedly set to table Kalyn Ponga a monster offer. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Reports have suggested the Dolphins would be prepared to shell out up to $1.4m a season to secure Ponga. The Dolphins’ chase for Ponga has intensified given the fledgling club has been rejected by a number of leading players.

Newcastle have grand plans for Ponga, provided he stays. The club see him as a future skipper with a move into the halves being considered for 2023.

Most of the Knights’ recruited NRLW players will arrive in Newcastle on January 10. Newcastle agreed to field a side in last year’s NRLW before the competition was postponed due to Covid.