Immortal and Knights legend Andrew Johns will hold no grudges if Kalyn Ponga leaves the club to join rugby union and thanked him for his service in trying to turn it around.
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The Daily Telegraph reported Johns has immense gratitude to Ponga for choosing the Knights when he could have signed at any club in the game after leaving the Cowboys.
Ponga is reportedly eyeing a switch to rugby union and is in the sights of the Saudi backed R360 rugby union competition, with the cashed up rebel league targeting NRL players, including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
The 27-year-old joined the Knights in 2018 and has scored 55 tries in 137 games for the club, taking his career tally to 55 tries in 146 NRL games.
During that time he has also played 10 Origins for Queensland and three games for the Maori All Stars, but is yet to play for the Kangaroos, despite playing an international Nines tournament for Australia.
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Ponga’s goal was to win a premiership with the Knights, but that won’t happen if he leaves at the end of the season, cutting short the final two years of his deal which expires in 2027.
However, despite the Knights paying Ponga a monster $1.4 million a season, which makes him one of the highest paid players in the game, Johns holds no ill will if he leaves the club.
“I give him a big thank you for coming to the club and if he wants to move on, I say thank you for what you have done for the club,” Johns told the Freddie and the Eighth podcast.
“He has carried the club. He signed after the three wooden spoons in a row and that year, the Cowboys got to a grand final.
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“Look, he got signed for big money but struggling clubs have to pay overs for a marquee player. He has attracted players to the club, he has attracted sponsors, I would imagine his social media reach would be huge.
“So I would say thank you to Kalyn for what you have delivered to the club. Thank you very much. If you want to move on, so be it.
“No animosity whatsoever.”
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Johns has always been a massive fan of Ponga and believes he deserves to show his immense talent on the world stage.
“He is that good, he probably deserves to be on the world stage,” Johns said.
“He’s not going to win a comp at Newcastle. He plays for Queensland and he hasn’t played for Australia – does he see himself as a Kiwi.
“I imagine the carrot is to play for the All Blacks.”
