Kalyn Ponga
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Watching Channel 9 news here in Oz, and Kalyn Ponga was being talked about as seriously linking with New Zealand Rugby.
Knights in crisis: Ponga prepares to walk away, club set to move on from O’Brien
The Newcastle star is concerned about wasting the prime years of his career at the struggling Knights and is open to departing at the end of the season.
Is his contract up? Feel like this happens every two years.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky He would be taking one hell of a gamble. I thought the most likely scenario was him changing allegiance's to the Kiwis. Hurricanes would be his most likely franchise you would imagine. As for position, utility maybe in the halves.
NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga eyes up sensational rugby union switch
Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga could be about to walk out on the NRL later this year, with a sensational cross-code switch...
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So there's a bit of talk about Kayln Ponga making a shock move to NZ Rugby with the ambition of playing for the ABs. I just can't see him doing it considering he will need to take a massive pay cut from what he's being paid in the NRL.
People are suggesting the Canes are the most likely franchise for him to land, but I can't really see where he fits in. If Love plays 10 next year then he could potentially push for an outside spot. Don't think he'll be an option in the halves.
Personally, I'd rather the Canes try and sign another big unit in the forwards over someone like Ponga. I've got my doubts about it even happening tbh. Will be interesting to see how that develops.
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I read somewhere that his NZ based rugby agent is shopping him around overseas ie not in NZ. Not sure what that would mean for any AB aspirations.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Kalyn Ponga:
I read somewhere that his NZ based rugby agent is shopping him around overseas ie not in NZ. Not sure what that would mean for any AB aspirations.
That would mean he won't be available. If he wants to play for the ABs he needs to play for a NZ based Super side. I can see him landing in Japan tbh.
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@Canes4life said in Kalyn Ponga:
@Crazy-Horse said in Kalyn Ponga:
I read somewhere that his NZ based rugby agent is shopping him around overseas ie not in NZ. Not sure what that would mean for any AB aspirations.
That would mean he won't be available. If he wants to play for the ABs he needs to play for a NZ based Super side. I can see him landing in Japan tbh.
Yeah I know that. I was thinking along the lines of whether things would align for him to get some game time overseas at the end of the NRL and be in NZ in time to make a run at the ABs.
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No chance he is serious about the ABs.
He just wants out of Newcastle because they stink and their coach is finally getting fired. He's not coming back to NZ for a Super Rugby salary.
Also, if you don't watch as much league as me, he's been pretty shit this year
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@mariner4life said in Kalyn Ponga:
No chance he is serious about the ABs.
He just wants out of Newcastle because they stink and their coach is finally getting fired. He's not coming back to NZ for a Super Rugby salary.
Also, if you don't watch as much league as me, he's been pretty shit this year
It's what happens when you stay at a mediocre team for too long. Eventually they will drag you down with them, and that's what Newcastle have done. Still a quality player. Should go to the Dogs, make them a premiership contender.
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These things don’t usually eventuate, I’ll take it seriously when i see it happen.
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@African-Monkey said in Kalyn Ponga:
Should go to the Dogs, make them a premiership contender
so it's not really a Roosters sombrero, but a Phil Gould sombrero? How many more fucking players can they buy?
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@mariner4life said in Kalyn Ponga:
@African-Monkey said in Kalyn Ponga:
Should go to the Dogs, make them a premiership contender
so it's not really a Roosters sombrero, but a Phil Gould sombrero? How many more fucking players can they buy?
They do buy a lot yes.......but a lot of it is journeymen. Look at their spine, there's no world beater there. They're 1 star spine player away from being proper premiership contenders I feel.
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You'll have to work hard to convince me that Kikau, Burton and Crichton aren't on huge money, and i am pretty sure galvin is on at least $700k.
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They will be on good money yes, but no more than other sides. A side like Brisbane for example have a lot nore star power across their side than the Dogs. The cap is almost at
12 million now, and growing, and Reed Mahoney is out the door too.Let's be honest, Ponga ain't going to the Dogs, but it's one move I'd love to see him make.
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i think they are the only contending team that could do with him (as good as Tracey has been), every other team are happy at fullback. He's not going to push out Papi, Weekes, Walsh, Edwards or Tedesco. We could fit him, but would we push out either of our FBs for him?
So his main settling points outside the Dogs are those middle of the road teams like Manly, maybe the sharks?
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I don't think he plays NZ rugby, does he consider taking a European rugby club option, maybe. This could be a one year option to end up in Perth. Sharks, even back to the Cowboys (at 6) isnt a bad option, but dont know how likely any of them are.
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@mariner4life said in Kalyn Ponga:
i think they are the only contending team that could do with him (as good as Tracey has been), every other team are happy at fullback. He's not going to push out Papi, Weekes, Walsh, Edwards or Tedesco. We could fit him, but would we push out either of our FBs for him?
So his main settling points outside the Dogs are those middle of the road teams like Manly, maybe the sharks?
I’d hate for us to get overexcited about his potential availability and shaft one of our current fullback options. Ponga is quality and there are few better from the back or as a secondary playmaker with quick ball. Knights attack is all over the show right now so no surprise he hasn’t been great.
On the rugby move, “hey whanau I’m taking a 700-800K pay cut to pursue a dream that is not guaranteed and has more politics than Origin”. Yeah nah.
