NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Kalyn Ponga of the Newcastle Knights lines up a shot at goal during round one NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium on March 15, 2019 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga has begun discussions with the club on a $6 million contract extension, reports the Courier Mail.

It is understood that Ponga's management and the Knights have held preliminary discussions in a deal that would make the 21-year old one of the NRL's million-dollar men.

Ponga is currently contacted until the end of 2021, with a player option the following season, and reportedly sees his long-term future at Newcastle.

Newcastle officials are keen to lock down Ponga beyond 2022, while the rookie's management would like to tie him to the club until 2024.

The new proposed deal would take Ponga's annual salary into the $1.2 million range and his management will formalise the upgrade this season, fending off links to New Zealand rugby.

Ponga told The Sunday Mail he was happy at Newcastle.

“I’m really happy at the Knights,” Ponga told the Courier Mail.

“I didn’t think I would establish myself at Newcastle as quickly as I have.

“It’s been awesome. I’ve learnt a lot on and off the field. It’s been a good move … the right move.

“To be honest, it would have been the easier option to stay (at the Cowboys), but I had faith in myself and my family backed me. I felt confident with what I was doing.”

Ponga opened up on the difficulties of leaving the Cowboys and informing club legend Johnathan Thurston of his decision.

“It was definitely hard to walk away from the Cowboys,” he said.

“They had a bloke like ‘Jonno’ who was such a huge figure and I was doing some mentoring with him.

“We had a chat. I told him I was leaving.

“He respected what I said. He had his views. What I chose probably wasn’t what ‘JT’ wanted to hear but I’d like to think he is happy for me now.

“Going to a different city with a struggling team (Newcastle was a tough call, but I was confident I could make it work.”

7 COMMENTS

  1. The way he played tonight vs Dragons he is a long way from being a $1M player. Did some good things in the first half but made some dumb plays with the game on the line, that ultimately cost the Knights a chance to win. Pearce was equally guilty of dumb plays and the Knights looked like a rudderless ship. Million dollar players are expected to be able to close games down and win them, especially tight games, but both Ponga and Pearce are not doing enough on a regular basis to be worth that much money.

  2. Where would he play❔❓❔❓🎱🎱🎱🎱 Norths, Roosters have no position for Ponga, can’t play 5/8 and even if he could Keary would only force him over to the North Sydney Bears. Same goes for fullback. Tedesco has it all over him. Stay at Newcastle and drain their cap💪🐔👍. Looks like Brown will get the bullet after this season

  3. That’s why we at the Chooks purchased Cooper Cronk, to teach Pearce how to win big games. But it upset his ego and he left the Big Smoke with his tail between his legs. Pride got in his way and now he is doing the same thing as he was doing at the Chooks. Bombing vital big games. Don’t get me wrong he played good footy through out the regular season but come semi finals he could not take control of the match.💪🎱👍

  4. Pearce played well in his first season at the Knights, even with his pec injury and being out for 8 weeks. His head is not right this year because his girlfriend left him and rumours are he is off the wagon again and possibly looking to return to Sydney next season. Hang on – isn’t Super Cooper finishing up this year? Stranger things have happened in footy. Stay tuned.

  5. That’s quite a different hymn book your singing out of now Wood Putty
    Before the start of the season you were quite insistent on here that Pearce should be the NSW halfback yet again. I said that he really sucked as NSW halfback & when it came to the pressure situations in finals. So please selectors , select any halfback for NSW other than Pearce.
    If I were you, I’d look up your old statements , with the dates & put them right here. What a hypocrite .
    Glad to see that you’re admitting that I was right in the first place though.

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