Kalyn Ponga

Rewatched the game and taking Ponga off after the first quarter seemed to affect him badly.
He went OK for the first quarter, even though Smith seemed far more interested in giving the ball to his Melbourne team mate.
When Ponga went back on the team was behind and he tried to make something happen every time he touched the ball, and it all got a bit sloppy.
It didn't help that Levi and Ponga were only on together for about 15 minutes all game.
I think he'd have been able to take his time and work his way into the game and build on that first quarter if they'd have left him on for 80 minutes.
 
Ponga also had off season surgery and missed a chunk of training. You know you're travelling ok when opposition fans start sweating on every mistake ready to lay the boot in.
 
On a positive Levi looked sharp and even a decent kick from Dummy half.

Ramien had 1 flashy moment and we didn't see him besides that.

Definately a good thing we are playing next week so Ponga can put that game behind him rather than sit and stew about it.
 
When he came back on he was trying a bit too hard imo and that was just because his team was behind .. I have no problems with it he will be totally different playing for us ..
 
The other thing is if it doesn't work out with Ponga at 6 its not the end of the world he can just go back to 1 with Watson or Lino to 6 ...Watson would be my pick because from what ive heard Lino's defence isn't that good ..
 
Don't forget, he has Pearce here running the show, he didn't have that Friday night, he was the main man...

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
 
Don't forget, he has Pearce here running the show, he didn't have that Friday night, he was the main man...

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

Plus he is used to the Knights structure and set plays etc, nothing like what he would have had in the all stars game. I'm sure he will be fine.
 
It’s all just a unnecessary risk by Brown. I’ve defended him the whole time at the Knights but this is one thing I just don’t understand or agree with.

Literally every team will be champing at the bit getting backrowers running at him all game.

Is he really going to be touching the ball that much more then he was last year anyway?

Ponga has the class to pull it off but it’s just so unnecessary especially when he has made it clear in the past fullback is his preference.
 
It’s all just a unnecessary risk by Brown. I’ve defended him the whole time at the Knights but this is one thing I just don’t understand or agree with.

Literally every team will be champing at the bit getting backrowers running at him all game.

Is he really going to be touching the ball that much more then he was last year anyway?

Ponga has the class to pull it off but it’s just so unnecessary especially when he has made it clear in the past fullback is his preference.

I agree
 
Not the end of the world. They can just move him back if it doesn't work out. Personally I think he will be fantastic. It's designed to put Watson in a more running role & get Ponga more involved. Standing in the front line & being five-eighth, I do think that will actually allow Ponga to get his hands on the ball more. With Pearce running the show, Ponga can just do what he does. I'm more concerned how Watson will go in the defensive aspects like last line of defence & taking bombs under presssure.
 
Not the end of the world. They can just move him back if it doesn't work out. Personally I think he will be fantastic. It's designed to put Watson in a more running role & get Ponga more involved. Standing in the front line & being five-eighth, I do think that will actually allow Ponga to get his hands on the ball more. With Pearce running the show, Ponga can just do what he does. I'm more concerned how Watson will go in the defensive aspects like last line of defence & taking bombs under presssure.

I think Watson will be fine in the defensive part of fullback, he's a talker and knows where to direct things.
He can catch a bomb to, though when tested by anyone above 6ft he mite struggle.. hopefully he watched 500hrs of Slater tapes to learn how to use his body size best.
 
I think Watson will be fine in the defensive part of fullback, he's a talker and knows where to direct things.
He can catch a bomb to, though when tested by anyone above 6ft he mite struggle.. hopefully he watched 500hrs of Slater tapes to learn how to use his body size best.
Have the entire team defend better so he doesn't get under too much pressure overall. The ones closer to the line well just bloody jump and hope for the best. Haha
 
Have the entire team defend better so he doesn't get under too much pressure overall.

Danknight, Defense across the board is what I am most eager to see , anticipating huge improvements and I hope Wolfie has introduced a solid defensive pattern across the whole game plan both defence and attack , complete with passive blockers.
 
It’s all just a unnecessary risk by Brown. I’ve defended him the whole time at the Knights but this is one thing I just don’t understand or agree with.

Literally every team will be champing at the bit getting backrowers running at him all game.

Is he really going to be touching the ball that much more then he was last year anyway?

Ponga has the class to pull it off but it’s just so unnecessary especially when he has made it clear in the past fullback is his preference.
CM - Although there is an age difference at this stage in the respective careers, the same thing happened to Lockyer in his switch from fullback to 5/8 and he managed the transition to deliver to an equally high standard in the 5/8 role and I think Ponga will manage it equally well. His baptism of fire in SoO last year showed he is not uncomfortable or gassed by a higher workload of defensive duties at a very intense level.

I know it will require him to acclimatise to the weekly grind of the new role and what that will mean in defensive workload but I don't think it will be as significant an issue as you suspect for him and making it clear about his preference for fullback doesn't mean he's uncomfortable about doing the best for the overall team, if that's what the coaches and the club think is best.

The other aspect will be how he is positioned defensively in the structure to try and minimise how teams may try and target him - like Simon, I'm really keen to see how our defensive structures and patterns are run this year - that more than any of the attacking structures and talent we have is going to determine how deep we go into season 2019
 
CM - Although there is an age difference at this stage in the respective careers, the same thing happened to Lockyer in his switch from fullback to 5/8 and he managed the transition to deliver to an equally high standard in the 5/8 role and I think Ponga will manage it equally well. His baptism of fire in SoO last year showed he is not uncomfortable or gassed by a higher workload of defensive duties at a very intense level.

I know it will require him to acclimatise to the weekly grind of the new role and what that will mean in defensive workload but I don't think it will be as significant an issue as you suspect for him and making it clear about his preference for fullback doesn't mean he's uncomfortable about doing the best for the overall team, if that's what the coaches and the club think is best.

The other aspect will be how he is positioned defensively in the structure to try and minimise how teams may try and target him - like Simon, I'm really keen to see how our defensive structures and patterns are run this year - that more than any of the attacking structures and talent we have is going to determine how deep we go into season 2019


Nutty, I don't think we will have trouble scoring points as we look fairly and have strike weapons across the field, but our ability to stop the opposition scoring will play as big a part as injury in where we finish either 4th or 8th.

Another thing which we have this year is depth and if Brownie gets this right from the start without tinkering too much through the early part of the year, we could end up anywhere - I am looking forward to a super successful season.
 
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