Kalyn Ponga kicked things off by donating a jersey from his Dally M Medal-winning season, but there's one item above all others he'd like to contribute to Newcastle Museum's rugby league exhibition. Login or signup to continue reading The Knights skipper, along with NRLW captain Hannah Southwell, club chief executive Philip Gardner, Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes and other officials, gathered at the council venue on Friday to mark the launch of a project set to showcase the sport's history in the region. The museum is seeking objects from players, officials and supporters for an exhibition set to open in 2027, coinciding with the Knights' 40th anniversary and 120 years since Newcastle entered a team in the inaugural state premiership.
The museum already has a number of items in its sports collection, and while the Knights and Newcastle Rugby League will dust off plenty themselves, the parties have put a call out for community donations. It could be old playing jerseys, memorabilia, historical photos, fan-created paraphernalia or just about anything in between. Ponga gave away a signed jersey from 2023, when he won the Dally M as the NRL's best player, but it's a premiership trophy he'd really like to be able to offer up in coming years.
"I would like to, definitely," Ponga said on Friday. "It's definitely what we're chasing, and we're definitely still in the race. "That is the goal, and it's the reason why we're here.
" Southwell has helped the NRLW side bank two premiers.