Kalyn Ponga

listo said:
I think it’s more Brown looking for the best man for the job to keep himself in one.
Click to expand...

This, Coaches do not have endless rope and I can see some questions being asked if we are down the bottom 1/4 of the table next year.

At the start of the year we were saying we would be happy with a finish of around 10th just outside the 8. But that 10th was of the belief we were within reach of the 8, we finished 6 wins out of the 8 which is a big margin really.

2017 - 6 wins outside the 8 would be equal second last.
2016 - 6 wins outside 8 was second last outright.
2015 - last
2014 - second last.

This season we were saved by the Cowboys and Eels having horror years, and the Sea Eagles sh!tting the bed.

A performance like this year again and Brown is definitely in the line of fire.
 
Last edited:
I think it’s coaching suicide putting Ponga in the front line of defence. Might as well keep him in fullback for defence and 5/8th in attack if you want him closer to the ball.
 
Kurriboy said:
This, Coaches do not have endless rope and I can see some questions being asked if we are down the bottom 1/4 of the table next year.

At the start of the year we were saying we would be happy with a finish of around 10th just outside the 8. But that 10th was of the belief we were within reach of the 8, we finished 6 wins out of the 8 which is a big margin really.

2017 - 6 wins outside the 8 would be equal second last.
2016 - 6 wins outside 8 was second last outright.
2015 - last
2014 - second last.

This season we were saved by the Cowboys and Eels having horror years, and the Sea Eagles sh!tting the bed.

A performance like this year again and Brown is definitely in the line of fire.
Click to expand...

That’s a very glass half empty comment. [emoji17]

There were positives this year too.
 
Kurriboy said:
This, Coaches do not have endless rope and I can see some questions being asked if we are down the bottom 1/4 of the table next year.

At the start of the year we were saying we would be happy with a finish of around 10th just outside the 8. But that 10th was of the belief we were within reach of the 8, we finished 6 wins out of the 8 which is a big margin really.

2017 - 6 wins outside the 8 would be equal second last.
2016 - 6 wins outside 8 was second last outright.
2015 - last
2014 - second last.

This season we were saved by the Cowboys and Eels having horror years, and the Sea Eagles sh!tting the bed.

A performance like this year again and Brown is definitely in the line of fire.
Click to expand...

Pearce being out for so long contributes to it more than anything. Regardless, we've been through that now so we can identify the problem & try to fix it. It's unacceptable to fall back to wooden spoon levels like we did at times this year. I think the expectation from everyone now is make the finals in 2019 or Brown's time is up.
 
Damo Levy said:
That’s a very glass half empty comment. [emoji17]

There were positives this year too.
Click to expand...

I call it realistic. We can look at where we finished on the table and be happy we didn't finish last and that is true. I am happy with that, but, I don't just look at where we finished in comparison to the other struggling clubs. It is also important to compare ourselves to the clubs that are getting it done, the clubs up where we want to be and with that perspective, we did not go well at all.

Brown has abandoned his running 5/8 idea and is now moving to a two genuine halves gameplan.

Why is he doing this do you think? I think it is because he knows he has a squad that can make the semi's, and if we gel, even push deeper in to the finals. But not with what we churned out last season.
 
Kurriboy said:
Brown has abandoned his running 5/8 idea and is now moving to a two genuine halves gameplan.
Click to expand...
Ponga will be a brilliant running 5/8.
That he can be an organiser, can kick and can defend like a forward doesn't mean he won't also be the most dangerous ball runner we have.
 
Billy said:
Ponga will be a brilliant running 5/8.
That he can be an organiser, can kick and can defend like a forward doesn't mean he won't also be the most dangerous ball runner we have.
Click to expand...

Yes, but of Watson he didn't expect any kicking game, and playmaking, he expected Pearce to carry all of that responsibility himself.

I see moving Ponga to the 5/8 role is a move away from that thinking.
 
I reckon he just wants to get Ponga more into the action & have his hands on the ball constantly. Nothing I've seen has indicated that Brown wasn't happy with Watson, it's just Ponga is a superstar & getting him with the ball in his hands more often is our best chance of a premiership.
 
No matter how it is played, Pearce, Ponga, Watson or Pearce Watson Ponga it's all good just give us 20 rounds with them together and it will be great.
 
The Toohey article says the decision was made some time ago, presumably about the time he was actually picked at 5/8 for the first time.
All I can think of to explain them keeping it under wraps would be that they thought he might have a chance to be picked in a rep side at fullback - either the PMs 13 or Australia - and now that he has had ankle surgery they don't think he'll be ready so might as well say he is moving positions.
It is the right time to move him. He is a very quick learner, as he showed last pre season, and as he showed time and again during the season when he seemed to pick up new skills every week. A full off season working with Pearce on playmaking skills should see dramatic improvements in his skills.
I expect to see him come out next year with a whole new range of kicks and the freedom to decide when and where he wants to take on the line - basically I expect him to pick out the weak defenders and give them hell, wherever they are on the field.
 
Chief Longhorn said:
Morgan!
You're always good for a laugh CBM!
Click to expand...

The halfback that took a supposed one man team to a grand final with half the side including himself all bunged up? Plus an incumbent Australian rep?

Something neither of Ponga or Pearce have yet to achieved.
 
On merit Pearce should be in contention, he's one of the better halfbacks, but doubt he'll ever be picked due to his Origin history. Ponga will probably be picked as a fullback, even if he's playing in the halves here.

Munster, Morgan, Maloney, Cleary are/will be the incumbents though so will take some in form players to dislodge that lot. If Ponga was NSW it would be a better chance because they might get picked together in the halves & if they won a series, would be every chance of a Kangaroos pairing.
 
cowboyman said:
The halfback that took a supposed one man team to a grand final with half the side including himself all bunged up? Plus an incumbent Australian rep?

Something neither of Ponga or Pearce have yet to achieved.
Click to expand...

Morgan had 1 brillant season and a couple of decent seasons, be interesting to see how he goes next year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top