The Knights’ disastrous 2022 campaign is almost over and the club is already looking at revamping their spine for next season.
Superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga is reportedly set for a switch to the halves, with coach Adam O’Brien desperate to get his best player more touches.
The Knights have struggled to fill their void in the halves following the abrupt departure of Mitchell Pearce last summer.
If Ponga shifts to five-eighth - where he played four games in 2019 - it will shake up the rest of Newcastle’s spine.
Co-captain Jayden Brailey has a mortgage on the No. 9 jersey, but O’Brien has some crunch decisions as to who will play fullback and halfback.
Newcastle’s salary cap situation means the club can only bolster their spine if players are moved on, according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio.
“They don’t have a lot of salary cap space the Newcastle Knights,” Riccio said on SEN.
“It’s spent in their forward pack with the Saifiti boys (Daniel and Jacob), (Tyson) Frizell, (David) Klemmer, there’s a lot of money in that group, they’ve signed Jack Hetherington, Adam Elliott.
“The Knights are in a situation where they don’t have a lot of money to spend on their backline.”
Klemmer, Brailey, Frizell and the Saifiti brothers, plus 2023 signings Hetherington and Elliott — the Knights have more than $4 million in their pack - according to The Daily Telegraph’s NRL Rich List.
Throw in Ponga’s $1.1 million-per-season and Newcastle have even less cash left to splash next year.
The salary cap will increase to $10.5 million for the 2023 season, meaning the Knights have around less than $5 million to spend on 22 players.
It means there’s not much left to spend on another star spine player, but the Knights are reportedly eyeing off Sea Eagles star Reuben Garrick to replace Ponga at fullback.
Garrick has been superb in the No. 1 jersey this season since Manly’s superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic went down in injured in Round 11.
Garrick has played at fullback 14 times this season and sits fifth for running metres, fourth in points and 14th for tries.
The 25-year-old‘s salary is considered ‘winger money’ but the 91-gamer could almost double it playing fullback.
That leaves the halfback role vacant for Adam O’Brien to complete his spine.
Anthony Milford would have been the preferred option but the former Bronco will make the move north to the Dolphins in 2023.
That leaves four options currently on the Knights’ books — Adam Clune, Jake Clifford, Simi Sasagi and Phoenix Crossland.
Clune has been the first-choice halfback this season but he’s also been dropped twice and O’Brien will be looking for an upgrade in 2023.
Newcastle have been linked to Wests Tigers star Luke Brooks but they won’t be able to afford his monster $1.1 million price tag unless they can offload someone.
Broncos playmaker Tyson Gamble has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs and the Knights are reportedly talking to the 26-year-old who has played halfback and five-eighth at the Broncos.
But if the Knights want to look in-house, one emerging star could be the man to take over.
Simi Sasagi has shown glimpses of talent during his 15 appearances mainly off the bench.
The 21-year-old has started twice in the outside backs and his big strength is his dynamic ball-running, being able to play multiple positions.
Jake Clifford has played 12 games in the halves this season without cementing his position and is currently sidelined with a broken arm.
Clifford was a mid-season recruit from the Cowboys last year and was considered Newcastle’s future five-eighth - but he’s struggled to live up to his billing.
