Apr 5th, 2020

Apr 5th, 2020

Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga has opened up on how he was sold on joining the then-NRL strugglers after spurning offers from several powerful rival clubs.

Since signing a four-year deal with the Knights, Ponga has become one of the NRL's biggest stars and has morphed into a leader at the club.

However, the Knights weren't even on the 22-year-old's radar initially, before he was swayed by the opportunity to immediately play at the Knights as well an introduction from club legend Danny Buderus.

"I had two main places that I wanted to go to and the Knights weren't one of them at the start. It was the Brisbane Lions or back to the Cowboys," Ponga told the NRL Sunday Footy Show.

"The environment when we walked in, (Buderus) showed us around. He's the best bloke ever.

Ponga does not regret his decision to spurn more powerful NRL clubs to join the Newcastle Knights (Getty)

"If I came here, it wasn't guaranteed that I'd play. I wasn't coming here for a holiday, I was coming here to play NRL. That was the main reason why I came here, because I wanted to play NRL. I didn't want to wait.

"At the time I was criticised for not waiting and learning off people, but for me, the best way that I learn is by doing and by making the errors and learning off the errors.

"When I signed I don't think I took a risk or a chance. When I got here I felt comfortable."

If the opportunity to get immediate reps brought Ponga to Newcastle, it could be the town's relaxed lifestyle which keeps the superstar here for good.

"The lifestyle here is very relaxing. It suits my personality and suits who I am and my lifestyle away from footy," he said.

"I love playing for the community and this town. We don't have fans, we have supporters. When we're going through the hard times they're still there."

Since arriving at the Knights, Ponga has become a mainstay in the Queensland's Origin side (AAP)

With the Knights the main focus for sports fans in Newcastle, there have been suggestions that the 'fishbowl' nature of the town is off-putting, but not for Ponga.

"I'm pretty good at not being too included in that," he said.

"I feel like I'm good at detaching myself from my footy life and also just being a kid and enjoying things outside of footy."

Ponga's developing love for photography has also helped him stay even-keeled off the footy field, and he described it as an "out".

"It's something I enjoy," he said.

"I'm glad that coming down here the boys are so open to it. It's just something I do now and they love it. When we're away from footy it's that thing that we get enjoyment doing.

Despite being one of the younger players on the team, Ponga is already one of the Knights' leaders (AAP)

"I'm always trying to do it and trying to get better. It also gets me and the boys out of the house."

Despite being just over 50 games into his NRL career, Ponga is one of the Knights' undoubted leaders, and he explained how he has enjoyed the challenge that leadership brings.

"I call some of (his young teammates) little kids and they're only a year or two younger than me," he said.

"I want to be a leader. I know that I've got a long way to go to really be a good one.

"I'm very open to the idea of learning leadership. I know there's different types of leadership, but over the last few years being in that fullback role, I know that I've got to be a leader and I've got to be a voice.

"Especially over the last few years, being at the Knights has allowed me to really do that, to have an opinion and a voice and I know that the boys listen to it."