NRL 2021 transfer news: Kalyn Ponga makes call on Newcastle Knights future

After the emotional exit of best mate Connor Watson, Knights star Kalyn Ponga has made up his mind about his future in Newcastle.

Connor Watson in action for the Knights. Picture: NRL Photos

An “emotional” Kalyn Ponga has made a call on his future at Newcastle after best mate Connor Watson opted to sign a two-year deal with the Roosters rather than stay at the Knights.

Ponga, who has a player option for 2023 and 2024 in his favour, confirmed his commitment to the Knights after speculation he too could follow Watson out the door.

Ponga said winning a title with Newcastle, with our without Watson by his side, remained his only priority.

“That’s definitely not happening. The dream of winning a comp here, I’ve still got that dream and that want,” Ponga said on Friday when asked about leaving the Knights.

“[It was an] emotional a day or two as you can image. The smoke has definitely cleared. For us, it’s focusing on tomorrow.

“I knew what was going on, that he was negotiating. At the end of the day it’s his choice, his future, his decision. I let him know what I thought early.

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Kalyn Ponga says he wants to stay at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images.

“He told me the night before he told all the boys. I was a bit emotional, as you can imagine, having my best mate leave.

“I told him where I sit, what I want to do.

“The journey and the dream that I’m on stays the same.”

Housemates Ponga and Watson had set themselves the goal of winning a premiership title together in Knights colours. With Newcastle in the hunt for a finals berth, Ponga said that “dream” was not only alive but achievable.

“The dream is still there. We have three games left of the season and hopefully we go into the finals and deep into the final. One hundred per cent, I still want to win a premiership every time I step on the park. For us, that starts tomorrow,” Ponga said.

“We don’t want to leave any stone unturned, it’s definitely that sort of mentality heading into every game.

“We know our opposition probably want to ruin that for us. It’s about giving it our all, wherever we can.”

Kalyn Ponga was devastated by Connor Watson’s decision to leave, but he won’t be leaving Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images.

That opposition this week is the Canterbury Bulldogs, who are currently anchored on the bottom of the NRL ladder.

The Knights then close out the regular season with crucial clashes against the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos.

Adam O’Brien’s men will be gunning for their fourth consecutive win against the Bulldogs on Saturday and Ponga warned the seventh placed Knight cannot afford to take their soft run home lightly or become complacent.

“Our mentality is huge heading into this game. We don’t want to go out there just expecting to score points,” Ponga said.

“ We have to work hard for it and the same time we have to be steely and have our defence going as well.

“It’s definitely a game in which we want to be patient and resilient in. We don’t want to go out there and expect anything easy.”

WATSON, KNIGHTS OPEN UP ON TOUGH CONTRACT CALL

“I remember giving him a hug ... it was like hugging a corpse.”

This was how Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien knew how heavily the decision to walk away from the Knights was weighing on Connor Watson.

“I noticed that black cloud on one of the mornings last week,” O’Brien said on Wednesday.

“I could see how much this was weighing him down. I felt really, not sorry for him, but I care about him, he’s a good young man.”

Watson is departing the Knights to rejoin the Sydney Roosters, the club where his NRL career started in 2016, on a two-year deal from next season.

It’s a career call that left Watson feeling as though he was turning his back on the Knights.

“For the last couple of weeks I have been back and forth, I’m not really someone who is moody, but the last few weeks I just felt like I had this big black cloud over me, weighing on me,” Watson said.

Connor Watson has opened up on his tough call to leave Newcastle. Picture: NRL Photos

“I was separating myself from the group because I needed to be in the right headspace to make the call.

“I think that’s why it took so long. It‘s a big call for me to go and turn my back on the Knights.”

The protracted negotiations ­between Watson and the Knights only fuelled speculation his relationship with coach O’Brien had soured.

Watson and O’Brien fronted the media on Wednesday in a bid to arrest the potential for the rumours to derail Newcastle’s push to cement a top-eight spot.

The Knights are seventh on the NRL ladder with three do-or-die matches to finish the season, beginning this week against Canterbury.

“It’s nonsense (the rumours of a rift). It’s really ill informed. To his credit, he wasn’t up for media today and he came up and said I need to put this to bed because it’s not true, and it’s not,” O’Brien said.

Knights coach Adam O'Brien. Picture: NRL Photos

“I get it, when you don’t sign someone like Connor there is going to be opinion and speculation, but I can honestly say there is no truth to it.

“We are a tight group and really honest with each other, but it’s not going to derail us.

“We are in a position where we can do something with our season and we’re not going to let something like this derail this group.”

Watson had a three-year offer from the Knights and a deal to play in the Super League to choose bewtween when he phoned Roosters coach Trent Robinson – who also coached Catalans Dragons in England – for ­advice.

That call set in motion Watson’s return to Bondi.

“I know in the last day there has been some stuff about mine and Adam’s relationship is divided,” Watson said.

“That’s so far from the truth. To be honest, I see Adam as a really good mate. I was transparent all the way through, I told him about all the conversations I was having.

“The call (to Robinson) was more of an advice call. I had offer to go over to the Super League, I wanted an external opinion from someone who has been in the Super League and knows me as a player, as a person.

“I asked him whether he thought it would be a good ­career move for me, and we got to talking about my career and where I see it going.

“At the end of that he was curious to see if the Roosters could get me back, if they had a spot there for me – it eventuated that way.”

O’Brien confirmed former Brisbane and South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold, who joined the Knights as a consultant, had filled in for assistant coach Rory Kostjasyn, whose partner recently had a baby.

Star running out of time to impress

By Travis Meyn

Gold Coast Titans five-eighth Ash Taylor has 240 minutes to save his NRL career as D-Day looms for the maligned playmaker.

Taylor will enter the final three rounds of the regular season without a contract for 2022 and has been tasked with leading the Titans to a drought-breaking finals berth.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook has denied he is messing with Taylor’s head despite the Gold Coast leaving their million-dollar pivot in limbo by not tabling an offer or informing him if he is in their future plans.

Will Ash Taylor get a new deal from the Titans?

The Titans are planning to make a definitive call on Taylor at their next recruitment committee meeting in the coming weeks and one of 26-year-old’s final chances to impress will come against the high-flying Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium on Thursday night.

A win against the Storm, who are gunning for a record 19th straight victory, will take the Titans one step closer to playing finals for the first time since 2016, with Taylor the only remaining player from that play-offs loss to Brisbane.

Despite his reluctance to offer Taylor a new deal, Holbrook has consistently maintained the door hasn’t been closed and denied the impasse could be affecting him.

“I don’t think it’s upsetting him,” Holbrook said.

“It’s open-ended. It’s not a definite yes or we would have signed him, but I don’t want to close the door either.

“We haven’t got any definite options for six next year so the longer I pick him the better chance he’s got.

“If his future’s not here, at least he is playing and, if he’s playing well, other clubs are going to show interest.

Ash Taylor would certainly enhance his staying put cause oif the Titans could beat the Storm.

“For Ash, the best result is him playing footy. I’m not too stressed about what I say or don’t say to him. What I’m saying to you now is what I’ve said to him.”

Holbrook is in his second season coaching the Titans and has the club sitting eighth on the ladder with games against the Storm (1st), Knights (7th) and Warriors (12th) to come.

Missing the finals again would be considered a failure for the Titans considering the favourable draw they received this season and the addition of high-profile recruits like Queensland Origin duo David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

When asked why he couldn’t make up his mind on Taylor’s future after coaching him for two years, Holbrook said: “It can be easy, but also difficult.

“It’s up to Ash to be playing well. He’s got the best opportunity.

“I’m trying to keep it open for him as best as I can. That’s why the option is still open. If he can play well in the back end of the year then anything is possible.

“As frustrating as it would be for Ash, at least I’m picking him and he’s in the side. That’s giving him his best chance to be re-signed with us or elsewhere.”

Juastin Holbrook has made a number of changes to try and get his side firing.

The Titans will have to mount their finals run without star fullback AJ Brimson, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken jaw and will be replaced by Jayden Campbell.

Holbrook has also dropped young halfback Toby Sexton after four games and recalled co-captain Jamal Fogarty.

“One of the reasons I’ve changed a few guys is because of a short turnaround (after Saturday’s 36-6 loss to South Sydney), I wanted to bring a few fresh troops in,” he said.

“Toby’s done a great job, four games in a row he’s been terrific. It’s probably a good time to give him a break now. He’s only 20.

“Jamal is raring to go and itching for another game.”

Star running out of time to impress Bulldogs close in on crafty Bronco

By James Phelps

The Bulldogs’ 2022 signing spree is set to continue with Brisbane’s John Asiata on the verge of becoming Canterbury’s latest recruit.

Having already snared the likes of Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton in the club’s biggest-ever spending splurge, the Bulldogs are now close to adding the Broncos’ ball-playing big man to what should be a finals-contending roster.

News Corp can reveal the Bulldogs have gone as far as requesting a medical and could come to terms with Asiata as soon as next week.

Arguably the most versatile forward in the game, having played NRL games as a prop and halfback, Asiata’s move from North Queensland to Brisbane this season was crushed by injury.

The 28-year-old was forced to undergo neck surgery earlier this year following a sickening head clash with South Sydney forward Mark Nicholls.

John Asiata is close to securing a deal with the Bulldogs next season. Picture: Liam Kidston

Out for the remainder of the season and uncontracted beyond this year, there were fears that the injury could end his 139-game career.

But Asiata will join a new-look forward pack that will include Tevita Pangai Jr and Paul Vaughan, should the Bulldogs be satisfied that the former Cowboy’s neck has fully healed.

Sources close to Asiata said the forward’s neck surgery was a success and that the Tongan international would be fully fit to play next year.

A recruitment drive initially spearheaded by coach Trent Barrett, Phil Gould has added his weight and expertise to rounding the 2022 roster.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions on our recruitment and retention, it’s a moving wheel,” Canterbury chairman John Khoury said earlier this month.

“I don’t think there’s many clubs that approach the number of players we’ve got off-contract, so that’s one of the biggest priorities right away for Gus and our football department.

“It goes without saying, he’s a game-changer in that scenario.

“It’s one of his biggest attractions in bringing him in. The relationships he’s got right across the NRL, from junior pathways, managers, other clubs and the NRL too, he’s such an asset.

“There’s a lot to be done and Gus will hit the ground running. It’s time to make some things, some positive things, happen for us.”

Phil Gould’s arrival as the Bulldogs’ general manager of football is a game-changer for the club. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

WATSON MAKES CALL ON NRL FUTURE

— Michael Carayannis

Connor Watson has made a decision on his playing future.

The in-demand utility has rejected a contract extension at Newcastle and will instead re-join the Roosters from next year.

Watson had a host of clubs after him but in the end it was left to a choice of two – stay at Newcastle or return to the Roosters where he made his debut.

The 25-year-old has opted to sign a two-year deal with the Roosters after playing 38 NRL games in two years at the club before joining Newcastle in 2018.

Connor Watson has been with the Knights since 2018. Picture: NRL Photos

The Knights were keen on retaining Watson but grew increasingly concerned when he missed a club imposed decision deadline last week. Newcastle wanted a call made before their last-start win against Cronulla but were told by Watson he needed more time.

In the end that time has landed with Watson taking up a deal with the Roosters where he will add some much-needed depth in key positions at the club.

Watson played his 100th top grade game on Sunday.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien said last week the club had made a “more than competitive” offer to keep Watson for the next three years.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson recently confirmed he had discussions with Watson.

“I’ve talked to him but I’ve also tried to help him as well in other places because I’ve known him as well,” Robinson said earlier this month.

Connor Watson has decided to rejoin the Roosters next season. Picture: NRL Photos

“We talked about two things - whether there was an opening at the Roosters but then also what are the best options for him.

“I’ve kept in contact with Connor for the last four years since he’s been away. And I’m always there for him and other players if they need advice as well.”

Kurt Mann could fill the utility position at the Knights next season.

The Knights have added international outside back Dane Gagai for the next three seasons.

Meanwhile the Dragons have confirmed the signing of Wests Tigers utility Moses Mbye for the next two seasons.

Mbye will join Anthony Griffin’s side ahead of the 2022 season, along with fellow Maroons Origin duo Francis Molo and Jaydn Su’A and former Rabbitoh George Burgess.

Moses Mbye has secured a two-year deal at the Dragons. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

KLEMMER OPEN TO DOGS RETURN

— Fatima Kdouh

Newcastle big man David Klemmer has left the door open for a return to his beloved Canterbury Bulldogs.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien moved Klemmer from the starting side to the bench after his two-match suspension for a high tackle on Manly’s Ben Trbojevic in round 12.

The decision led to speculation Klemmer had fallen foul of the coach. But Klemmer said rumours he wanted out of the club were off the mark.

“When the reports came out Addsy [O’Brien] grabbed me to talk straight away, sat me down and had a yarn to me which was pretty good,” Klemmer said.

“He is happy with me, if there was a problem I’d be out the door already because he’s the type of bloke if I wasn’t performing he’d tap me on the shoulder.

David Klemmer insists he’s still happy at the Knights. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“I came back from suspension, Addsy dropped me back to the bench. But there was no reason behind it other than that’s what he thought was the best fit for the team.

“People knowing me, and how passionate I am, were probably thinking ‘he’s upset’ and whatnot but Addsy assured me he wants to keep me here long term.

“He’s happy with the way I’m going. But I can see how people see that I’ve been named on the bench and get the wrong message. I’ve come here and I think I’ve been playing some good footy and doing my best for the footy side.”

The former NSW Blues and Kangaroos enforcer joined the Knights on a five-year deal in 2019 after playing 113 games for Canterbury, the club where he made his NRL debut in 2013.

Klemmer was a diehard Bulldogs fan during his childhood but left Belmore to move his young family out of the city.

“I’m off in two years, so you never know,” he said when asked about making a Canterbury comeback.

The Knights will be eyeing their three-straight win when they play the Sharks on Sunday, which would edge O’Brien’s men closer to a place in the top eight.

David Klemmer played 113 games for the Bulldogs before switching to the Knights in 2019. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“The Sharks are going to be desperate,” Knights hooker Jayden Brailey said.

“They are a talented side, they are very good with the football. It really is a big clash for both teams in terms of finals football. We both want to be there in the top eight. We’ve had a good couple of weeks and we need to build on that against the Sharks.”

Brailey will not only take on his former club on Sunday, but younger broker Blayke, who is also a hooker, for the second time in 2021.

This time, Brailey won’t be letting the emotion of the occasion distract him the take at hand.

“It’s still a little bit weird,” Brailey said. “When we played earlier in the year it was a strange experience. But this time I’m trying harder to treat it as a regular game. The two points at the end of the day is most important thing, especially when there is so much at stake this week.”

BATTERED DRAGONS SEARCH FOR BACK UP

— David Riccio

St George Illawarra are searching the NRL for a hooker to secure on an urgent loan deal for the remainder of the season.

The Dragons are without a single available hooker at the club following the loss of Andrew McCullough to an ankle injury that is expected to end his season.

In an additional blow, front-rower Blake Lawrie’s season is also over. He requires surgery on a broken hand suffered against the Panthers on Friday night.

But it’s at dummy-half that the Dragons are in desperate need of cover, with St George Illawarra recruitment manager Ian Millward phoning rival clubs for help.

Andrew McCullough is likely to miss the rest of the season after injuring his ankle against the Panthers. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The Dragons are clinging to the faintest of top-eight hopes ahead of their clash with the Roosters next Sunday.

Due to the fact most club’s prefer to carry 80-minute hookers in their squad, there are limited options or oversupply across the game in the dummy-half position.

The Dragons haven’t ruled out sourcing an answer from the QLD Cup.

The other option is to turn halfback Adam Clune into a stopgap hooker or share the role with prop Josh McGuire, who has deputised at dummy-half in the past.

McCullough‘s ankle twisted in tackle on Friday night and had to be helped off the field.

“He is no good,” Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said post match. “He is in a boot already. I think it is syndesmosis. Hopefully it is not as bad as it looked but he is not in a good way.”

Originally published as NRL 2021 transfer news: Kalyn Ponga makes call on Newcastle Knights future