The Newcastle Knights have fiercely rejected speculation there is a link between a potential job at the club for Kalyn Ponga’s father and trying to retain the 23-year-old superstar past next season.
Ponga is signed until the end of 2024 but has options in his favour for the final two years of the deal and he’s being heavily pursued by expansion side the Dolphins.
Ponga is currently earning around $1.1 million per season but he could increase that to $1.4 million per year playing under Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.
Andre Ponga has been working with the Knights women’s side in a voluntary role but a future paid job has been discussed by both parties.
Knights boss Phil Gardner said the position has nothing to do with keeping Kalyn at the club and that he would “sue the arse off” any critics who accuse the Knights of acting illegally or unethically regarding the club’s salary cap.
“The pennies we are talking about won’t make any difference. We’re talking about the second-highest paid player in the game,” Gardner told News Corp.
“And we’re talking about something that might happen for $1.50. I think it’s meaningless in what decisions they will make.
“For anyone to make those sorts of comments would be pretty stupid. They’d be pretty dumb comments for someone to make.
“What we are looking at … he wants to do something long-term but that’s up to the salary cap auditor. So what will happen, if we prove where we sit and can get a team running, he might be offered a position.
“If he is (to be employed), then it goes to the salary cap auditor and the salary cap auditor would decide whether it would be in or out of the cap. That’s the way it works.
“Because of his son, Andre becomes a conflict for us so it has to be approved by the salary cap auditor. That is why it is 100 per cent above board and right. We are doing everything right and any assumption or comment to the negative, I would sue their arse off.”
Andre has been working with the women’s side in a honorary capacity.
“Out of the goodness of his heart, Andre has come along and helped,” Gardner said.
“He had some girls stay at his own home. He has been talking to parents. We are trying to provide them with welfare and support. Andre’s position isn’t a paid position – he has done it all for love.
“He (Andre) has provided welfare and support, not coaching. We have had some huge welfare challenges. He understands the game and understands the role of a parent in rugby league. He has been fantastic for us.
“Currently he (Andre) has no contract and isn’t employed by the club at all. He is helping with the Polynesian girls.”
