North Queensland coach Paul Green is disappointed by Kalyn Ponga’s defection to Newcastle but won’t consider an early release to the Knights for the NRL prodigy.
Green is resigned to losing Ponga in 2018 after the 18-year-old was offered a $3.6 million, five-year Knights deal after playing just two games for the Cowboys.
It is potentially the richest contract for a teenager in league’s history.
“We expect Kalyn to go there,” Green said.
“We are disappointed but we have got the big picture in mind, we have a plan in place.
“We wanted to keep Kalyn, he’s a good young talent and been in our system for a little while now.
“But we will move on.”
Ponga is contracted with the Cowboys until the end of next year.
Green said the teenager would not be released or relegated to reserve grade despite the Knights deal.
“He is still a contracted player for next year, he is still in our plans,” Green said.
“I am going to pick the best team possible and if Kalyn is part of that he will be part of the team.”
Asked about the lucrative deal offered Ponga by Newcastle, Green said: “It’s not for me to comment.
“But if it came down to money we were never going to be in the hunt.”
Ponga made his NRL debut on the wing in the Cowboys’ finals win over Brisbane in September as a replacement for the injured Antonio Winterstein.
He played in the preliminary final loss to Melbourne a week later.
As a junior, Ponga was chased by six clubs and four sports including AFL and rugby union before committing to the Cowboys.