‘It’s gone ballistic’: Rumour exposes Knights as ‘basket case’

The Knights have been accused of being a complete “basket case” as details emerged about the stand-off with superstar Kalyn Ponga.

Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images.

The Newcastle Knights have been accused of being an absolute “basket case” as extraordinary details emerged about the club’s ongoing contract stand-off with superstar Kalyn Ponga.

The saga took several more dramatic turns on Monday with The Daily Telegraph standing by its report that Newcastle had taken its contract extension offer off the table.

It was followed on Monday night by some astonishing claims about the farcical situation happening behind the scenes at the Knights.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien last week dismissed reports Ponga is halfway out the door before the club’s 21-16 loss to St George Illawarra on Sunday.

Just before kick-off, News Corp reported Newcastle had withdrawn its three-year contract extension for Ponga, which would free him up to join the NRL’s incoming team the Dolphins next season as a marquee signing.

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According to the report, the Knights had offered Ponga a five-year contract on Friday but pulled the deal because Ponga’s father, Andre, wanted authority over when the new deal would be announced publicly, not the club.

The new deal would have seen Ponga earn $1.1m to $1.2m a year.

The 24-year-old has until Round 10 to trigger an option for the remaining two years of his existing Knights contract.

Ponga could now ignore the contract clauses for 2023 and 2024 and leave Newcastle after this season.

His contract saga has played out in messy, public circumstances.

The mud continued to be flung on Monday Knight when it was suggested on Fox League’s NRL 360 Knights CEO Phil Gardner has been keeping the rest of the club in the dark on any updates to the negotiating process.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said: “This entire negotiation is a sham.

Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images.

“The manager — his dad — is not really his manager, the CEO (Gardner) is on holidays in Hawaii at the height of negotiations, the general manager of football Danny Buderus is not involved in the negotiations and Clint Zammit — the head of recruitment — lives in Townsville.”

Rothfield was asked if even coach O’Brien hasn’t been told about the latest contract twist, Rothfield responded: “No, he’s not (telling Adam O’Brien), he’s keeping everyone in the dark”.

Fox League journalist James Hooper replied: “That’s a basket case if that’s true”.

NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent said he has also been told the Newcastle officials denying the contract twist — including O’Brien — weren’t even being kept in the loop surrounding the offer being taken off the table.

“All those people that are adamant are not involved in it,” he said.

“My understanding is that Gardner’s the only one doing the negotiation with Andre Ponga, who is not a registered agent. I don’t know how this happens. I don’t know how the NRL allows this to happen. I don’t know how the Knights allow – as this deadline gets closer and closer – that they allow him with his contract still up in the air to go on holidays to Hawaii when this is vital to the Knights.”

Rothfield told his fellow panellists the situation had been poorly managed by both parties.

“The reason this has blown up and gone ballistic in the last 24 hours is this,” he began to explain.

“Experienced managers are very good at keeping people like you briefed, like you briefed and Dean Ritchie briefed with the blow by blow of negotiations. So the way this story is delivered to Knights fans, there’s none of this crisis, there’s none of this panic.”

Ponga scored a try in an excellent performance against the Dragons and said he wasn’t feeling the pressure of his ongoing contract negotiation.

“No I don’t. I never have. I never will,” he said after the game.

“I don’t worry about it. All I am thinking about right now is the loss. Reviewing it hurts. It was a tough game.

“I know what I’m sort of feeling, but that’s between me and my management.

“I know you guys want to know what I’m doing.

Is Kalyn Ponga halfway out the door at Newcastle? (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“But like I respect you, I hope you guys respect that I want to make this decision on my terms … so that’s what I’m going to do.”

O’Brien was more upfront when he was asked about the reported contract withdrawal.

“Ridiculous. I had breakfast this morning and we were signing (Cameron) Munster,” he said.

“I can’t keep up with you guys, fair dinkum.

“I think he (Ponga) showed tonight why he is worth the wait. I think his performance tonight showed how committed he is to this team, and we are committed to him too.

“We’re are still going through their processes … things are tracking along.

“Certainly the way he played tonight shows his focus has been on the team.”

Ponga has previously been spotted meeting with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.