17-07-2025
Crushing new blow for Knights fans as Melbourne Storm poach young star from Newcastle
A tumultuous week for the Newcastle Knights has gone from bad to worse, with the club reportedly losing one of its best young talents to the Melbourne Storm. Rumours that Kalyn Ponga is unhappy at the club refuse to go away, despite him insisting on Thursday that he's staying put.
Coach Adam O'Brien is said to be on borrowed time, with the club reportedly preparing to part ways with him at the end of the season. And club officials are facing backlash for an 'insensitive' oversight towards former player Alex McKinnon.
But the situation went from bad to worse on Friday amid reports the Storm have poached young gun Cooper Votano from Newcastle. The is reporting that 16-year-old Votano has agreed to join the Storm from next season.
Described as "one of the game's most promising young playmakers", Cooper is the younger brother of NSW Under-19 representative Connor Votano. Cooper helped the Knights make the Harold Matthews Cup grand final this season in the Under-17s competition.
Predominantly a half, Cooper's exit is a hammer blow for the Knights considering their struggle in the position in recent seasons. Jackson Hastings, Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger have all failed to cement their place in the halves for Newcastle, however Fletcher Sharpe has emerged as a genuine superstar at five-eighth. The Knights also have Dylan Brown arriving in 2026 to play halfback.
Votano's move to Melbourne is seen as an insurance policy for the Storm amid uncertainty around Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster. Hughes is contracted until the end of 2026, while Munster's deal is one year longer. Both are expected to receive lucrative offers from expansion clubs Perth and PNG, and there's also the looming threat of the cashed-up R360 rugby competition.
How does Cooper Votano's exit affect brother Connor?
The Storm also have talented young playmakers Jonah Pezet and Tyran Wishart on their books. Votano's exit will be a huge worry for Knights officials desperate to retain brother Connor. The 19-year-old played in the junior State of Origin game for NSW in 2024, and is viewed as one of the Knights' top prospects.
However he's predominantly a fullback, meaning he'll struggle to crack the first-grade team while Ponga remains at the club. There was speculation earlier this year that Connor had drawn interest from the Bulldogs, but a family member moved to insist he was committed to remaining in Newcastle.
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With Cooper Votano now heading to the Storm, it remains to be seen how his exit will affect Connor's future. The Storm have one of the best fullbacks in the game in Ryan Papenhuyzen, but he's also off contract at the end of 2026. There's a 'mutual' option in his deal to remain in 2027 if both he and the club agree, but he's also been floated as a top target for R360 and has admitted he'd consider it.
As for Ponga, he stated on Thursday that he's committed to the Knights. The superstar fullback has reportedly hired a rugby union agent based in New Zealand, and has been discussed in meetings involving R360 offcials. But he wrote on social media: "Committed to the end of 2027. Excited about the vision of the club. Appreciate those that support me!"
