Kalyn Ponga third-party deal being investigated by NRL
The NRL is investigating a potential breach of the salary cap over a third-party deal involving Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga.
The NRL has opened an investigation into whether Newcastle has breached the salary cap due to a third-party deal involving superstar Kalyn Ponga.
The SMH reports the league met with Knights officials and the fullback’s dad Andre late last week.
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“The NRL is aware of the matter and is reviewing it,” the league told the paper.
Concerns were reportedly raised by Andre Ponga, who claims his son is owed a six-figure amount from a registered third-party deal which was signed off on by the NRL in 2020.
The report states “new information has since come to light which questions whether the deal was at arm’s length from the club”.
It is not suggested Andre Ponga’s allegation is true, just that it has been made.
The Knights said in a statement: “All third parties are registered with the NRL. There’s no issue with Kalyn Ponga’s contract and anything to do with third parties remain between the player and his agent to resolve.”
The club could opt to pay Ponga the alleged missing funds but those funds would then be added onto the Knights’ cap.
Ponga is already paid around $1.4 million a year, on an extension signed two years ago and running until the end of 2027.
Under NRL rules, the league’s salary cap auditor can retrospectively include deals under a club’s cap if new information emerges, as seen in 2018 when Manly was fined $750,000 for breaches over the 2013-17 period.
In that scenario the Sea Eagles were given a $660,000 penalty on their cap over 2018-19 for breaches involving 15 players, for a total of $1.5 million in undisclosed third-party deals.
Ponga is currently sidelined long-term due to a Lisfranc foot injury.
Originally published as Kalyn Ponga third-party deal being investigated by NRL
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