‘Could play in the NFL’: American stunned by Ponga’s salary
American sports journalist Grant Cohn, who travelled to Melbourne to watch the NFL game earlier this month, has become an instant NRL fan and believes Kalyn Ponga could cut it with his team, the San Francisco 49ers.
“He’s like the smallest guy in the team,” Cohn told his massive US audience.
Kalyn Ponga. Getty Images
“He’s their best player. He’s like a combination of Christian McCaffrey and Cooper DeJean.
“He can really make people miss, he does offence and defence, he’s a hell of a player ... the best players in the NRL could play in the NFL.
“Maybe the 49ers could get Ponga.”
Cohn was stunned that Ponga is “only” on a salary of around $1.2 million.
“These guys are putting their whole body on the line for $1 million. Would American athletes do that? I don’t know,” he said.
‘Sliding doors’ moment for Knights star
Underrated halfback Sandon Smith is the accidental hero of the Knights’ stunning grand final charge, but 12 months ago he wanted to stay at the Roosters.
Smith’s management has revealed to nine.com.au this week that the talented half had his heart set on staying at the Roosters this season – until he was told there was no room for him.
Having played most of his career with the Roosters, Smith saw his future at the club, until a sliding doors moment.
“Everyone pretty much knew that Daly [Cherry-Evans] was coming to the club and they already had Sam Walker and Hugo Savala,” Smith’s manager Gavin Orr said.
“We got told we were free to look around and it came down to the Knights or the Cowboys. He decided on the Knights because he thought there was more opportunity to make the team, but he knew it would be tough.
“Dylan Brown was the club’s marquee signing and Fletcher Sharpe had the five-eighth spot sewn up ... but with Dylan’s injury he has played virtually the entire year and been a key man in getting the Knights to the grand final – against his old club – it’s been an amazing season for him.”
The hero of the Knights’ shock win over Penrith last weekend with his two second half solo tries, Smith now finds himself taking on the team that let him go in the season’s biggest game.
“The Roosters were transparent with me. I’ve got no remorse toward the club,” he said after the Penrith win.
Warriors star in high demand
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava. Getty Images
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is a man in demand following his impressive season with the Warriors in 2026.
The 21-year-old back-rower played 13 games in the strong Warriors pack and impressed plenty of people with his hard-running and no-nonsense defence.
But the Warriors, sensing that rival clubs are ready to swoop on the busy forward, are currently preparing an extension to his current deal.
Ieremia-Toeava to sign a two or three-year deal in coming days.
Eels skipper’s bitter exit
Eels NRLW skipper Mahalia Murphy set tongues wagging this week when she announced on social media that she was leaving the club - and she wasn’t happy about the circumstances behind her departure.
I’ve done some digging and it seems Murphy injured her knee early in the year and did not see eye to eye with the medical and rehab staff over the way her problem was treated.
Mahalia Murphy. NRL Images
Her form dropped as the injury affected her on the field and in the end, the club told Murphy there was no place for her in 2027.
The Eels didn’t even acknowledge Murphy in their tribute to farewell players so it’s been a bitter ending.
With an off season to get the knee right, it will be interesting to see if a rival club gives her a chance. On her day, she’s a top notch player.
