Knights-bound Ponga reveals his one Cowboys regret

Kalyn Ponga is on his way to Newcastle after leaving the grand finalists, and while he knows people will wonder why, it appears there's only one regret.

"People are always going to question you and criticise you," Ponga tells 7 News Brisbane's Chris Garry.

"But I'm comfortable so I don't really care."

What will he miss the most from the Cowboys?

"Johnathan Thurston," he says immediately.

"It's probably a cliche thing to say, but playing with him is different to watching him."

Ponga credits Thurston for calming him before his debut in the 2016 finals.

Spotting the decade of NRL experience between himself and JT isn't hard to do, but he hopes to close that gap in Newcastle.

"I reckon I'm fast but he just does not stop on the field," he says.

A multi-code talent, Ponga sets bold goals and then exceeds them.

Signing with the lowly Knights is his chance to play fullback from round one, 2018.

"You can only get better," he says.

"To be part of that rebuilding process, it's something I want."

His four-year deal smashed the richest contract signed by a teenager in Australian sport.

But he was almost kicking a Sherrin when the Lions attempted to poach him.

"I was pretty close to signing," he says, but why didn't he?

"If I was to go, it would have had to have been early. It would've taken me a while to adjust my body to that game."

Now he's in league for life.

"Given everything goes well, I hope to stay in league and have a long career," he says.