"Horrid time": Meninga's take on Ponga's future

Speculation around the future of Kalyn Ponga can finally end with the Knights star publicly committing to see out the remainder of his contract.

Amid intense speculation the 27-year-old was in talks to defect to the Suadi-backed rebel rugby league, Ponga took to social media to silence the noise.

“Committed to the end of 2027,” he wrote.

“Excited about the vision of the club. Appreciate those that support me.”

Ponga is currently contracted to the Knights until the end of the 2027 season.

He was one of a number of names linked with defecting to rugby union as Rugby 360 looks to get off the ground.

Reports this week suggest that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is set to become the league’s first defector to the lucrative R360 competition on a deal worth close to $1 million a season.

NRL Immortal Mal Meninga congratulated Ponga on his commitment to the Knights.

“That’s fantastic, that’s great news,” Meninga told SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“It's great news that he's back and going to commit to the Newcastle Knights.

“We all understand that he’s gone through a horrid time… with his injuries and his head knocks in particular.

“He’s been loyal to the club and I reckon that’s a fantastic trait, and we should congratulate him for it.”

Meninga also confirmed there were no hard feelings between Ponga and himself after the Newcastle fullback withdrew himself from Kangaroos selection last season before he was made to make himself eligible.

“I have coached Kalyn in the international nines… this is the funny thing about it, I get on with him really well,” Meninga revealed.

“It’s not any sort of contest between him and I.

“It was just the way things were done last year around… he didn’t want to be available for the national side and then he became available based on… his contractual agreement with the National Rugby League.

“I’ve still got a relationship with Kalyn.”

It is understood the creators behind R360 want to launch in September 2026 with a structure of 12 teams with a collective 300 players.

The R360 competition is a breakaway rugby league, described as a “grand prix” style competition with matches to be played across the world’s biggest cities over 16 rounds akin to Formula 1.