The Knights are reportedly growing concerned about star fullback Kalyn Ponga’s desire to remain with the club.
Newcastle have had a horror start in 2025, with just three wins from their first 10 games, and are currently sitting in last spot on the ladder.
The Knights have a woeful attacking record, scoring just 128 points for the season at just 12.8 per game.
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According to journalist Michael Chammas, Knights officials are wondering whether Ponga, who is under contract until the end of the 2027 season, may soon start to get restless and want out.
“There are people at Newcastle now starting to worry about Kalyn’s appetite to hang around,” Chammas said on Triple M.
“To use a word out of (Wests Tigers CEO) Shane Richardson’s vocabulary, maybe he’s not in for the crocodile roll …
“Time will tell.”
As for coach Adam O’Brien, Chammas said the Knights need to start winning games otherwise he will be shown the door at the end of the season.
“Adam O’Brien is safe until the end of the year. They do not want to sack him before the season is out,” Chammas added.
“Adam O’Brien needs to turn it around quickly because if they fizzle out, end of the season, he’ll be gone.”
SUPER LEAGUE STAR MAY RETURN TO NRL
Warrington Wolves skipper George Williams has been linked with the Dolphins, and if the move came to fruition, he would form a gun halves combination with Isaiya Katoa.
According to Zero Tackle, the Dolphins believe Williams would be an ideal mentor for the boom 21-year-old.
If Williams were to sign with the Queensland-based club, he would play five-eighth instead of current pivot Kodi Nikorima, according to reports.
Williams’ Warrington contract expires at the end of 2026, the same year Nikorima’s Dolphins contract ends.
The 30-year-old Englishman last played in the NRL with the Raiders in 2021 and has two Super League titles with Wigan to his name, in 2016 and 2018.
The Dolphins believe Williams’ experience will be ideal following Jesse Bromwich’s exit from the club at the end of last season.
Their interest in Williams comes as the Dolphins appear to be out of the race to sign Daly Cherry-Evans, who is expected to join the Roosters next season.
BOOM TEENAGER TO STAY WITH DOLPHINS
Still on the Dolphins, and they have re-signed star 17-year-old forward Brian Pouniu.
The Dolphins beat several clubs to secure his signature, Wide World of Sports reports.
Pouniu has already built an impressive resume. He played in Queensland’s under-19 emerging squad, and captained the Dolphins to a grand final win in the Cyril Connell Cup, a QRL-run under-16 competition.
The new contract will add Pouniu to the Dolphins’ top 30 squad and give him the chance of making his NRL debut in the future.
While Pouniu plays mostly as a forward, he is a utility and has played previously in the centres.
The Dolphins are yet to confirm the signing but given he has brushed offers from other clubs, he will stay put.
REYNOLDS CONFIRMS TIGERS INTEREST AMID GALVIN EXIT
Broncos No. 7 Adam Reynolds has confirmed the Wests Tigers have been in contact with him in the wake of the club allowing Lachlan Galvin to leave early.
Reynolds is off contract at the end of this season but the 34-year-old is keen to play on next season and is open to offers.
The veteran half-back’s preference is to stay in Brisbane but there is currently no offer on the table with the club in the midst of a salary cap squeeze.
Galvin’s departure from Concord is imminent after the Tigers this week agreed to let him start talking to rival clubs.
Reynolds revealed on Thursday afternoon that the Tigers had been in contact to gauge his interest in a return to Sydney.
“Yeah, there’s been interest,’’ Reynolds told Triple M.
“There’s obviously talk about, but for me I’m trying to secure my future here at the Broncos.
“I’m sure everyone has read and is sick of hearing about it.
“For me it’s about letting the manager do all that sort of stuff in the background.
“Brisbane is home no matter what, for our family we’ve settled up here.
“The kids are happy, the wife is happy and when they’re right you have to do what is right.
“But we’ve got to be realistic, it’s about trying to work through certain scenarios, and keep a lot of (Broncos) players at the club, which isn’t easy.”
The 2014 premiership winner who joined the Broncos from the Rabbitohs in 2022 said he didn’t want his retention to squeeze a teammate out of the club.
“I certainly don’t want to force anyone out,” Reynolds said.
“It’s a slow process they’re working at in the background.
“You can’t make your mind up on the spot, you have to go through all the different scenarios, make sure that you’re happy with your decision.
“It’s a big commitment, wherever things end up.’’
ROOSTERS KEEN TO LOCK DOWN STAR
The Roosters are reportedly keen to lock down winger Mark Nawaqanitawase on a new deal, and beat Rugby Australia and the Perth Bears in the race to win his signature.
Nawaqanitawase scored a double in the Roosters’ 24-20 loss to the Bulldogs in Round 11, including a try for the ages at the 67th minute which has gained a remarkable 70 million views on social media.
The former Waratah and Wallaby is under contract with the Tricolours until the end of the 2026 season on a $500,000 salary, and the Roosters are looking to extend him to prevent Rugby Australia from snatching him back in time for the 2027 world cup.
On the Off The Record podcast, News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield said Nawaqanitawase’s management team are seeking a two-year extension.
“The money would be around $700,000-a-season,” Rothfield said.
“I think he’s already a better player than (rugby convert Joseph) Suaalii and he’s only played about 10 NRL games.
“That try he scored against the Bulldogs was at an off-the-charts skill level.”
Nawaqanitawase quit rugby union at the same time Suaalii signed with the Waratahs and Wallabies on a huge $5 million, three-year deal.
Suaalii played for the Roosters between 2021 and 2024.
LIDDLE MAY LEAVE DRAGONS OVER LACK OF GAME TIME
The Dragons may be about to pay the price for giving hooker Jacob Liddle limited game time, with no guarantees that he will remain with the club.
Liddle has an option to stay with the joint venture in 2026, but given that he has been demoted to a bench role in 2025, with the arrival of Damien Cook from the Rabbitohs, he may look to continue his career elsewhere next year.
While Liddle has only played more than 40 minutes of a game just three times this season, he has still managed to score six tries in his 10 games in 2025.
Liddle’s manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports’ The Mole that the situation is being monitored.
“Jacob is happy at the Dragons but obviously would like to start games and have more match time,” Orr said.
“We will see how things play out.”
With the Cowboys to lose Reece Robson to the Roosters in 2026, they may make a play for Liddle, who earned Prime Minister’s XIII selection in 2024.
The 28-year-old has played 54 games for St George Illawarra after switching from the Wests Tigers.
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TAAFFE CONCEDES HE MIGHT NEED TO MOVE ON FROM BULLDOGS
Bulldogs utility Blake Taaffe has conceded he may need to depart Canterbury at season’s end, when he comes off contract.
While Taaffe has been named at centre for the Bulldogs’ clash with the Dolphins at Accor Stadium tonight, which will be his third NRL appearance of the season, the opportunity has only come about due to the absence of Stephen Crichton (Origin) and Jacob Kiraz (calf).
Taaffe has mainly featured in reserve grade as the understudy to first grade fullback Connor Tracey.
While Taaffe has enjoyed the environment at Belmore, he realises it may not be possible to stay if he wants more of an opportunity in first grade.
“I’d love to stay around here. What the club’s done in the past few years and the people that have brought into it, it’s awesome,” Taaffe said in an interview with Zero Tackle.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the boys here and the staff. I’d love to stay, but just depends on what happens.
“Rugby league’s a crazy game and at the end of the day it’s a business and whatever happens, happens.”
Speaking before being named in Canterbury’s NRL team to face the Dolphins, Taaffe said he has used his time in NSW Cup to experiment with his game.
“The goal is to play NRL but at the moment I’m playing Cup and it’s good because it gives me time to sharpen my axe and definitely improve and work on things that I need to get better at a low-pressure level where I can go out there and try things and consistently get better,” he said.
“My goal is just to consistently improve, and when my opportunity comes – hopefully it’s soon – I’ve got to keep my head down and keep working.”
