Kalyn Ponga

The two fullbacks capped an historic night for the Knights, with both men’s and women’s medals going to players from the same Club.

Ponga became the first Knights men’s player to win the award since Danny Buderus in 2004 during a glittering ceremony at Winx Stand at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

“This year both competitions came down to the final match of the final round to decide the finals line-ups,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said. “You cannot script that.

“The game has never been stronger.

After leaving the field eight minutes into last Friday’s clash with the Roosters, following a high shot which saw him fall and hit his head on the ground, Ponga said the rugby league community has rallied around him this week, with Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen – who has faced his own concussion issues in recent times – among those to reach out.

Ponga said while his desire is to play again this year for Newcastle, he isn’t getting his hopes up.   

It now opens the door for Ponga to link up with the Dolphins after being sprung meeting with coach Wayne Bennett earlier this month.

News Corp reports Ponga and the Knights had agreed to a five-year deal, however it was pulled by the club on Friday.

Ponga has one of the more intricate contracts in the NRL. The 23-year-old is signed to the Knights until the end of 2024 but he has an option in his favour for the final two seasons — and doesn’t have a decision deadline looming.

The Dolphins have held talks with Ponga, while he has previously shared his interest in playing for the All Blacks.

The Newcastle Knights' Ponga and Parramatta Eels' Moses are yet to represent Australia, but are set to play their parts in Sydney on October 18-19.

Moses' Eels team-mate Clint Gutherson and the Brisbane Broncos' David Fifita are also part of the squad.

Australia head coach Mal Meninga is excited by the players he has at his disposal for the tournament.

Congrats to Eels Clint Gutherson, Mitch Moses and Nathan Brown who have been named in Australia’s Nines squad!

Matt Scott, Antonio Winterstein and Lachlan Coote were all injured, with scans revealing captain Matt Scott's season is over due to a damaged ACL. 

Ponga is certain to come into calculations for the Cowboys' season-opener against Canberra after Antonio Winterstein came off early in his team's NRL trial win over the Wests Tigers.

Green named an 18-man squad to travel to Sydney with the same backline that was present for most of 2016, including Kyle Feldt, Antonio Winterstein, Justin O'Neill and Kane Linnett to go with incumbent halves Michael Morgan and Johnathan Thurston.

The 18-year-old fullback, who played two NRL matches during the 2016 finals series, was a member of the 2016 NYC Team of the Year and is rated one of the most promising young players in rugby league.

According to The Courier Mail, the NRL got involved in negotiations for the talented 18-year-old once it became apparent that the AFL’s Brisbane Lions joined the race for the two-game NRL veteran, alongside five other NRL clubs.

Clearly, NRL HQ isn’t keen on letting another potential superstar depart for a rival code.

Although the Cowboys will have money to spend with the departure of James Tamou and the sudden retirement of Ben Hannant, they couldn’t match the Knights’ mammoth offer.