Trophy is all for prodigy Ponga

Kalyn Ponga says he is desperate to win a premiership for Newcastle after signing a mega-deal with the Knights.

Kalyn Ponga’s game is developing under new coach Adam O’Brien Picture: Getty Images

Kalyn Ponga will be mentioned in the same breath as Immortal Andrew Johns and Immortal-in-waiting Cameron Smith by the time his new long-term deal with the Knights ends, according to Newcastle boss Phil Gardner.

Ponga brushed aside interest from rugby union to become one of the highest-paid players in the game and commit to a four-year extension worth more than $4 million. The Knights fullback was originally contracted until the end of next year with an option in his favour for 2022 but fast-tracked negotiations to remain in Newcastle until at least 2024.

By then, Gardner said Ponga, 22, would leave no doubt about his standing in the game and labelled his star fullback as “the face of rugby league”.

“We are lucky enough to have had an Immortal play for us,” Gardner said of Johns. “We think Kalyn has as much potential as anyone who has come through our club.

“We look at the great players who have come through our game recently in Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk. By 2024, we expect Kalyn to be mentioned in the same sort of terms as those players.

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“He came to me late last year, he said, ‘Don’t worry, Phil, we will win a competition.’ I have my confidence in KP. I know we will win a competition.

“We feel very fortunate to have Kalyn as a franchise player for our club. The region feels lucky.”

Gardner said there was no “All-Black” get-out clause in the deal. Ponga’s dad Andre confirmed his son had been courted by rival codes in recent months.

“Over the last few months I have been contacted,” Andre said regarding rugby. “You can always listen to what people will say, whether they are genuine – that’s what you have to filter. The best thing about today is when me and Phil went through the negotiations we knew we could do this without the rugby talk. We knew rugby wasn’t an issue.

“It’s always going to be there. Kalyn is known to be that prodigy. We know he is committed to rugby league. His goals are set for rugby league.”

Ponga is clear about what he wants to achieve in the next four years. He wants to be part of the first Newcastle team since the Johns-led 2001 team to win a premiership. Newcastle have Ponga, Test prop David Klemmer and Mitch Barnett (both 2023) locked in long term. Boom youngsters Bradman Best and Jayden Brailey plus Origin prop Daniel Saifiti (2022) are also secured for the next couple of years.

“I can feel something brewing,” Ponga said. “I want to be part of it. I want to win a comp for this city.

“I want to win a comp so bad, that’s what is driving me. When I win that, when I have that trophy in my hands, that’s when I’ll be pinching myself.”

The Knights and Ponga took a punt on each other when he signed after just two top-grade games for the Cowboys in 2016. He signed as an 18-year-old with a year left on his North Queensland contract when the Knights had won one game. They finished with a third straight wooden spoon in 2017.

But his arrival in 2018 helped spark a Newcastle revival. New coach Adam O’Brien has played his part as Ponga now looks to build on his game.

“I’ve always felt very at home at Newcastle from the moment I signed,” Ponga said. “I just want to be part of the Newcastle Knights. I want to be part of them for a long-time. I had no idea what (O’Brien) was going to be like. I didn’t know who he was. He has instilled a lot of confidence in us.

“Playing wise I want to get better. Off the field I can learn a few more things in leadership. I don’t know (about being captain). I have never thought about that.”