Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga has engaged the services of a New Zealand rugby union agent as he prepares to walk away from the Knights as early as the end of this year.
This masthead can reveal Ponga, 27, has begun exploring alternative options despite having two years to run on his deal with the Knights.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions said Ponga 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.
The revelation comes amid Knights powerbrokers making internal preparations to part ways with coach Adam O’Brien at the end of the season after six years at the helm.
Barring a late-season resurgence, the Knights are making plans to pay out the incumbent coach. He triggered a guaranteed two-year extension through until the end of 2027 by finishing in the top 12 last season.
There is a push internally at the Knights for assistant coach
Blake Green to take over next season. Green is the attack coach at Newcastle and despite the team’s struggles with the ball in 2025, is highly regarded by officials and players alike.
There is also a push from sections of the club to pursue Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach, Josh Hannay.
The situations surrounding the fullback and coach are not linked.
Ponga has not yet approached the Knights to formally request a release. He is contracted to Newcastle until the end of 2027 on a deal worth around $1.4 million a season.
The Ponga camp have indicated to relevant parties that they would be willing to request a release at the end of the season if there is a suitable option available to them.
Knights sources told this masthead there is a willingness from some quarters of the club to explore the prospect of releasing Ponga from the final two years of his monster deal.
Such a move would allow the Knights to move young gun Fletcher Sharpe into his preferred fullback position and save 12-13 per cent of their salary cap to try and balance their roster.
With Dylan Brown joining the Knights next season on a record $13 million, 10-year deal, Newcastle would be able to hit the market in search of a halfback despite the lack of quality options currently available.
Ponga’s name has been thrown up to European rugby clubs as well as the organisers of the lucrative breakaway R360 competition being mooted to start next year. There’s also the appeal of a Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Kalyn’s father Andre, who represents his son in negotiations, did not respond to this masthead’s attempts to contact him.
The New Zealand-based rugby union agent the Ponga camp has engaged also did not respond to messages and calls on Monday.
The Knights have been privately bracing for the potential of Ponga seeking a release for some months.
Ponga has previously indicated his desire to represent the All Blacks and was originally given a clause in his Knights contract that would enable him to pursue the possibility of switching codes.
In a 2018 TV interview, Ponga said: “I think it’s [The All Blacks] the pinnacle. Well, they are. They’re the best sporting organisation in the world ... so to put that jersey on would be pretty special.”
The Knights removed that clause from his deal when he agreed to a lengthy and lucrative extension of his contract through until the end of 2027.
Newcastle are currently in 13th position on the ladder. and face the high-flying Warriors in round 20
