Kalyn Ponga

The only upside about our losses so far is that they’ve been against three quality teams, Roosters still a bit up and down but effort has been there every game and we’re still, not surprisingly, not getting the 50/50 calls go our way. If we do and hold the footy at that, we are capable of scoring points.
 
Quality? The chooks and storm have looked rubbish against everyone but us and the dogs. Dragons killing it obviously.
 
Quality? The chooks and storm have looked rubbish against everyone but us and the dogs. Dragons killing it obviously.
Roosters, dragons and storm in that order are the top 3 in betting to win the grand final so lots of people think they are quality sides.
 
So you're saying the elite selectors and coaches for NSW Origin and Australia who are all pretty much legends of the game and massively more credentialed and experienced than you and I put together who keep picking Woods don't watch the actual games, only look at the stats on paper and are nothing more than misinformed Super Coach players?

Seems legit.

You’re good at cherry picking. Out of that whole reply you pick just the Woods comment. Well done.

On that; I can form my own opinions. I don’t need to go off of reputation, what others say, look at stat sheets, etc. Woods is overrated and has been for a while now IMO. Blues have struggled with front row talent the last few years which has helped his case. Once he was picked, he seemingly remained picked by default and not many others were putting their hands up. Last year however, there’s no reason he should have been picked over Paul Vaughan or even Nathan Brown. I couldn’t give two craps who the selectors are. That was a poor decision. Blues have fallen short with their selections for years now and not picked the best available IMO, hence Maroons dominance. Back to Woods, now that we’ve made a coaching change to Freddy and actually have some middle forwards playing well like Vaughan, Campbell-Gillard and de Belin, on top of Trbojevic and Klemmer – I doubt Woods makes it this year. I’m hoping not, anyway.
 
OK how come the tigers beat the storm twice and conceded 2 tries over 2 games?
Beat the chooks too.

Are you seriously comparing the storm side that played us to the side that played the tigers?

Give me the side that played against the tigers any day of the week. They couldn't hold onto the bloody ball and complete sets yet lost by 1 and 2 points.

The storm that played us had everything go their way and were switched on. I would love to see the tigers play them right now.
 
The way you play does tend to change when you from playing the best defencive team in the comp to one of the worst. Balmain new coach, lost big name players, plenty of changes in roster yet currently sit as the best defencive team in the comp. Hey that's ok we need time to adjust to the changes in roster.
 
You’re good at cherry picking. Out of that whole reply you pick just the Woods comment. Well done.

On that; I can form my own opinions. I don’t need to go off of reputation, what others say, look at stat sheets, etc. Woods is overrated and has been for a while now IMO. Blues have struggled with front row talent the last few years which has helped his case. Once he was picked, he seemingly remained picked by default and not many others were putting their hands up. Last year however, there’s no reason he should have been picked over Paul Vaughan or even Nathan Brown. I couldn’t give two craps who the selectors are. That was a poor decision. Blues have fallen short with their selections for years now and not picked the best available IMO, hence Maroons dominance. Back to Woods, now that we’ve made a coaching change to Freddy and actually have some middle forwards playing well like Vaughan, Campbell-Gillard and de Belin, on top of Trbojevic and Klemmer – I doubt Woods makes it this year. I’m hoping not, anyway.


Not cherry picking at all.

I assumed the whole point of your post was that you need to look at a player's on field performance and not just their stats on paper. It's patently obvious that the NSW and Australian selectors do both and their opinion differs greatly to yours regarding Woods. Therefore it is fair to assume their opinions (and those of many others) may very well differ regarding Ponga, Edwards or any other player and again as I said they have much better credentials and experience than you or I.

Also aren't you cherry picking in the above reply by not acknowledging that Woods has been picked for Australia? It's fair enough to say that in your opinion NSW have struggled with front row talent which has helped Woods case but how do you explain that he gets picked at a higher level again for his country ahead of both NSW and Queensland front rowers who all played in the same Origin series to gain selection?
 
Some people see a front rower who runs flat out at the line as the gun prop, though sometimes the prop that uses footwork and the ability to stand in a tackle while still making meters as well as getting the offload away is the better prop.

Another thing with Woods is the work off the ball that he does, pressure on kickers, directing players for the half to be where the play needs to be, Woods is a organizer as well as a meter eater.
 
Couple of articles in the Herald - one quoting Cam Smith, one quoting Brad Fittler - saying he could be picked as a bench player for Queensland - Fittler saying he will be picked.

It would be very good for him to be picked, even as a squad member who trains with the side and doesn't make the final team.

Most players improve a hell of a lot when they make their first rep side. I think it comes down to confidence - they go back to NRL and think "I've got this. I'm better than most of these blokes".
 
Some people see a front rower who runs flat out at the line as the gun prop, though sometimes the prop that uses footwork and the ability to stand in a tackle while still making meters as well as getting the offload away is the better prop.

Another thing with Woods is the work off the ball that he does, pressure on kickers, directing players for the half to be where the play needs to be, Woods is a organizer as well as a meter eater.

Agree to disagree on Woods. I think he’s soft and overrated. He’s not bad, just not rep quality and a default selection like he has been.
 
Agree to disagree on Woods. I think he’s soft and overrated. He’s not bad, just not rep quality and a default selection like he has been.

I think last yr he wasnt the woods he has been, i havent really watched him this yr tbh though id still have him in the 17 for the blues.
 
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Best move was Tigers getting rid of him. Not worth the money and he isn't the sort of player that has the attitude the Tigers are currently playing with. Matulino and Packer have been amazing buys for less money
 
Still can’t believe Bulldogs signed Woods to $1M a season or whatever it was. That’s just asinine. They lost a much better front rower / leader in Graham as well.

I agree Tigers upgraded too. That’s not with the benefit of hindsight either. I’d take Matulino + Packer over Woods every day, twice on Sunday’s.
 
Honestly I would have taken Woods over those two, before knowing how things have turned out.

Matulino was always a risk, Packer a solid signing but.

Ivan Cleary has got to be one of the most underrated coaches out there. Everything he touches bring success.
 
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