Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga has penned a monster four-year $4.5 million extension with the club.
It will make Ponga one of the highest paid players in the game's history and tie him to Newcastle until at least the end of 2024.
The fullback knocked back approaches from a number of rival clubs - both in rugby league and rugby union.
The 22-year old boldly declared his main goal is to end the Knights' 19-year premiership drought.
โItโs no secret I want to win a comp in Newcastle, I want to hold the trophy up here,โ Ponga said.
โItโs very exciting and a very proud moment for myself and my family.
โWeโre building towards something and I can definitely feel it. Itโs something that I want to be a part of and Iโm excited to be a part of.
โThere was a lot of talk in the media about rugby union but Iโve always said Iโm focused on the Knights and have been since I walked in the door.โ
Ponga paid tribute to his family - with his father Andre negotiating the hallmark deal after splitting with former manager Wayde Rushton.
โFor us as a family itโs never been about the car in the garage or the brand of T-shirt that youโre wearing or the expensive steak at dinner,โ Ponga said.
โItโs always been about where you are, who youโre with and the memories that you can make.
โIโve been very fortunate that my Mum and Dad have been there for me this whole journey even when times were tough really early on.
โItโs never been about the materialistic stuff for us itโs always been about being together and being happy.โ
Andre Ponga added: โIโm pretty proud to say weโre looking after his first house. Thatโs huge for us.
โTo give you a reflection of how huge that is for us I said to the neighbours โIโve actually got a shed I can go into and useโ.
โAnd they looked at me and I said: โWeโve never had a garage or a shed for the last few yearsโ.
โWhen people ask Iโm proud to say itโs (Kalynโs) house. He might say itโs ours but itโs not, itโs his.
โThatโs one goal we set when he was a 14 year old.โ
