Paul Gallen has dropped a truth bomb on Kalyn Ponga after Phil Gould shredded the media for turning the contract negotiations of the Knights phenom into a “circus”.
Gould on Monday night launched a scathing attack on the media amid the tug-of-war between the Knights and Dolphins for Ponga’s signature, slamming the thirst of journalists to have answers immediately instead of patiently waiting for the Newcastle co-captain to decide on his own terms.
“I would say ignore the media and just get on with your own negotiations and your own business,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“The only circus around here has been created by the media.”
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Ponga is tossing up whether to trigger an option in his favour to remain at Newcastle for the next two years or shun the Knights and join the Dolphins.
Media coverage of Ponga’s contract talks have grown more intense by the week – and Gallen doesn’t see an issue with it.
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“This is part and parcel of the game. This is what you do. When you sign big-money contracts and you’re a high-profile player, you attract attention and you attract media attention,” Gallen said on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“At the end of the day, the media are the ones that virtually pay these blokes’ bills. If it wasn’t a sport so covered by the media and people weren’t so interested, they wouldn’t get paid the money they get paid.
“He signed a contract like that, he chose to have a contract like that, (so) he’s got to deal with the consequences.”
Ponga has repeatedly pointed out the role of his manager in a bid to divert attention away from himself, but Gallen warned the Queensland State of Origin fullback against it.
“Kalyn is the boss and he has to make the decision and that’s what a lot of players (say): ‘my management is looking after me, my manager is looking after me’. That’s what they say. A lot of people say it,” Gallen said.
“But you know what? At the end of the day it reflects on you. You’re the person signing the contract, you’re the one running out on the field. It reflects on you.”
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