The Knights have received a massive boost with skipper Kalyn Ponga shunning rival clubs and codes to ink a five-year contract extension with the club.

Ponga has agreed to terms five year extension which includes an option in the club’s favour for the final two years.

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Ponga was already signed until the end of 2027, but had been linked to a switch to the Roosters and the All Blacks in rugby union.

However, he decided to ink a gauranteed deal to the end of 2030, with options in the club’s favour for 2031 and 2032, when he will be 33.

The 28-year-old has scored 56 tries and 744 points in 148 games for the Knights and Cowboys since his debut in 2016 and has played 10 Origins for Queensland.

“The nib Newcastle Knights have secured one of the most significant signings in the club’s history, with captain Kalyn Ponga committing his future until at least the end of the 2030 NRL season,” the Knights said in a statement.

“The landmark extension, which also includes a further two-year option in the club’s favour, ensures Ponga will remain in red and blue for what would be at least 13 seasons since making his debut in 2018, further cementing his legacy as one of the Knights’ all-time greats.

“More than just a contract renewal, Ponga’s decision is a strong endorsement of the club’s direction under Head Coach Justin Holbrook, and a clear signal of shared ambition as the Knights push towards premiership success.”

Holbrook said retaining Ponga was a major moment for the club.

“Kalyn is an elite player and an elite person and re-signing him is massive for us,” Holbrook said.

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Kalyn Ponga will stay with the Knights.Source: AFP

“His leadership within this group is exceptional. He sets the standard every single day, in training, in games, in the way he carries himself, and the players in this squad look to him.

“That kind of influence is invaluable as we continue to build toward the goals we have set for this club. He is one of the leading players in the NRL and he is ours. I could not be more pleased.”

Head of Recruitment Peter O’Sullivan said the deal reflects the club’s long-term strategy of building sustained success.

“When this new deal concludes, Kalyn will have been a Newcastle Knight for at least 13 seasons. That is an extraordinary commitment and one that speaks volumes about who he is as a person and a player,” O’Sullivan said.

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“From a recruitment and retention perspective, this is exactly the kind of signing that underpins our strategy to bring Premiership success to the Knights.

“Retaining your very best players, the ones who understand your culture, who drive your standards, who want to win here, is fundamental to everything we are trying to achieve.

“Kalyn makes every player he plays alongside better and with the exceptional young talent we have coming through, there are exciting times ahead for this squad.”

Ponga said the decision to extend was an easy one, driven by his belief in the club’s future.

“To lock that in and know I’m still going to be part of the Knights journey, I’m extremely grateful.

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“I’ve been here for 10 years and where we are now, the people within it, the direction of the club, the players that are coming through, I know I want to be here.

“Justin has created an environment that everyone wants to be a part of, come in every day and learn and train and get better. He’s obviously a big part of it all as well.

“I want to win a Premiership here and I want to do it so badly. I’ve now got the opportunity to keep chasing that dream and that’s what I see in the near future.”