Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga is exploring a shock exit from the NRL, engaging a prominent New Zealand rugby union agent as he weighs up a code switch as early as the end of the 2025 season.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that Ponga, 27, is actively assessing his future options despite having two years remaining on his lucrative $1.4 million-per-season deal with the Newcastle Knights, which runs through to the end of 2027.
Sources close to the situation, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, say Ponga is increasingly concerned about wasting the prime years of his career at a struggling NRL club.
Ponga’s potential departure coincides with significant upheaval at the Knights, with club powerbrokers preparing to part ways with head coach Adam O’Brien following a disappointing campaign.
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O’Brien triggered a guaranteed two-year contract extension by finishing in the top 12 last year, but a payout is reportedly on the table unless the team stages a dramatic late-season turnaround.
There is strong internal support for current assistant coach Blake Green, Newcastle’s attacking specialist, to take over the head coaching role in 2026.
Green remains well-regarded despite the club's ongoing offensive struggles.
Others within the organisation are pushing for a bold play for Cronulla Sharks assistant and Queensland Maroons coach Josh Hannay.
While Ponga has not formally requested a release from the Knights, sources indicate his management has floated the possibility if a suitable opportunity arises elsewhere.
The fullback has been linked to a range of destinations, including top-tier European rugby union clubs and the proposed R360 competition, a lucrative breakaway rugby league venture expected to launch in 2026. The upcoming 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia is also believed to be a motivating factor.
Some Newcastle officials are reportedly open to negotiating a release from the final two years of Ponga’s blockbuster contract, especially if it allows the club to reset both financially and culturally.
The situations involving Ponga and head coach O’Brien are understood to be separate, with no direct connection between the superstar’s future and the coaching search.