Newcastle chief executive Matt Gidley hasnt given up hope on fullback Kalyn Ponga joining the NRL club in 2017, despite him remaining on contract to North Queensland.The Knights officially announced on Monday Ponga was joining on the club on a four-year deal from 2018 - the same day Cowboys officials confirmed to AAP they wouldnt entertain releasing the talented youngster early.But while Gidley on Tuesday reiterated North Queenslands stance, he said the club would be ready to pounce if the Cowboys reversed their decision.Things may change and were well positioned to bring Kalyn (early) if they change their position, Gidley said.I think its important that everyone recognises that Kalyn is contracted to the Cowboys for 2017 and we need to respect that.If the Cowboys decide to change their position, we would certainly entertain bringing him here early.Newcastle opened the door for up-and-coming second-rower Joseph Tapine to head to Canberra before the start of this year, after he signed with the Raiders for 2017.And Gidley said he sympathised with Cowboys officials after they had done the hard work to develop the 18-year-old Ponga.Its happened to us a number of times over the past 30 years, Gidley said.Weve developed players and weve lost them to other clubs, so I understand the Cowboys were probably disappointed.But there were a number of NRL clubs who were interested in recruiting Kalyn and some other codes as well.Ponga has played just two NRL games, making his debut for North Queensland in their 2016 semi-final win over Brisbane.After impressing in under-20s for the past two years, he made six tackle busts and two linebreaks, telling enough for Gidley to indicate he could be the clubs fullback of the future.Hes a pretty dynamic ball-runner, he said.If you look at him purely from a ball-running point of view, he certainly looks like a Benji Marshall or a Shaun Johnson or a Roger Tuivasa- Sheck.Hes certainly got that ability to beat people and to score tries.Gidley also stressed reports over Pongas salary, suggested to be as high as $900,000 per season, were widely exaggerated.Instead, he said it was the chance to play with a young Knights team - who won just one match in 2016 - that won Ponga over.We were probably the longest odds at the start of this, Gidley said.If it was purely down to financial reasons, Kalyn wouldnt be coming to Newcastle.Ponga has admitted Newcastle wasnt a likely option before he visited the clubs facilities.I was a bit in denial before we went (to Newcastle), he told Seven News on Monday.I was like, dont like the players, never been there, I dont like it, but we went there and everything about it just seemed like an opportunity. Air Force 1 Sp Italia . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Air Force 1 Mid Bianche . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-lunar-force-1.html . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Air Force 1 Alte Nere . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Air Force 1 Alte Qs .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Southeastern Conference coordinator of officials Steve Shaw will become the NCAAs secretary-rules editor for football starting next season.The NCAA playing rules oversight panel announced Tuesday it had approved the recommendation of Shaw to replace Rogers Redding.Redding is a former head of SEC officials whose term as the secretary ends in August. Shaw will begin a four-year term on Sept. 1.Shaw has been the head of officials for the SEC since 2011 and also the head of officials for the Sunn Belt Conference since 2014.dddddddddddd. He worked 21 years on the field as an NCAA football referee, including 15 in the SEC.Shaw helped lead enhancements in the use of video to evaluate and develop officials and is developing a centralized collaborative instant replay system for the SEC.---Online:The APs college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '