Round 9: Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs

What is your prediction for this game ??

  • Knights 13+

    Votes: 16 76.2%

  • Knights 1-12

    Votes: 3 14.3%

  • Draw

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Bulldogs 1-12

    Votes: 1 4.8%

  • Bulldogs 13+

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
Billy said:
Ponga isn't getting dally m points for doing one or two good things this year, but he is so much better than he was last year.
Last year he'd do almost as many bad things as good things, but because the brilliant touches were so unexpected in a guy so young, everyone was raving about him and giving him dally m points for having a nice smile almost.
This year his mistake rate is way down on last year, and his good touches are not getting the same glowing reviews because we have come to expect them from him.
Last year he improved rapidly all season, and this year I think he has improved a lot as well.
He is a genuine top class player this year.
Last year he showed the potential to be one, but you never quite knew if he was going to do something brilliant, or an epic fail.
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His goal kicking looks alot better also.
 
Has anyone had a read of the Bulldogs forum? They are so bitter and twisted after a loss, I know sometimes on here we get upset but they are almost psychopathic.

I also LOL at how much some of them hate the Knights because we have Klemmer.
 
ImissVuna said:
Has anyone had a read of the Bulldogs forum? They are so bitter and twisted after a loss, I know sometimes on here we get upset but they are almost psychopathic.

I also LOL at how much some of them hate the Knights because we have Klemmer.
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Hard to sympathise when the Bulldogs play like they did in the first half and we should have been up by twice as much as halftime. Should have never been a contest 70 minutes in.
 
AlbertWillScore97 said:
The dragons game was interesting, it had some parallels to the knights match as they were all over the warriors in the first half yet fell away completely in the second half. The knights have held solid leads the last 3 weeks at halftime and yet let their opposition get back into a winnable position, so to regroup and actually finish the job is a great step in the right direction (almost as good as Ponga's step today :p ). As much as I think Gould is a total muppet, he's always made the solid point that 'it's hard to win a game twice' but its something the Knights have done so well the last few games.
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The Warriors got lucky Ben Hunt had 2015 GF moments again which led to two of their tries. Dragons win that game if it wasn't for that.
 
packo said:
We need to sign him up to a big long term deal. When he loses his step and agility in 8 years then he can become a half.
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Ponga is already playing in the halves.

Ponga
2 line break assists
1 try assist
3 kicks for 54 metres
37 pass receipts
22 passes

Watson
zero line break assists
zero try assists
zero kicks for zero metres
20 receipts (several of them were when he stood at dummy half when Levi was tackled)
15 passes (several from dummy half)

Pearce
18 kicks for 440 metres
74 pass receipts
49 passes
 
Last edited:
Well I said it would take half this season to gel and play good enough footy to be competitive , but the boys are starting to gel already .Earlier than I expected but it will still take a while to get to there best , the thing I like the most is playing for the whole 80 min and not giving up half way thru the second half .
Another 5 or 6 weeks of believing in them selves and we will be able to beat anyone ...
 
Billy said:
Ponga is already playing in the halves.

Ponga
2 line break assists
1 try assist
3 kicks for 54 metres
37 pass receipts
22 passes

Watson
zero line break assists
zero try assists
zero kicks for zero metres
20 receipts (several of them were when he stood at dummy half when Levi was tackled)
15 passes (several from dummy half)

Pearce
18 kicks for 440 metres
74 pass receipts
49 passes
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I see what your saying, I was more meaning turning him into the player we tried to in the first few rounds where he is the dominant half. 5/8 is still an issue, but in saying that Watson and Brown have probably finally realised he can’t ball play and credit to them he isn’t trying too any more. I think Watson is finding his role slowly, he will win us some games off his efforts but probably lose us some too.
 
packo said:
I see what your saying, I was more meaning turning him into the player we tried to in the first few rounds where he is the dominant half. 5/8 is still an issue, but in saying that Watson and Brown have probably finally realised he can’t ball play and credit to them he isn’t trying too any more. I think Watson is finding his role slowly, he will win us some games off his efforts but probably lose us some too.
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I don't think Ponga will ever be the dominant half. He is a creative, play what you see in front of you player. He is always going to need a game managing half alongside that does most of the kicks and manages the game.
 
I would Leave Ponga at F/Back for 4 or 5 years and then maybe to 6 but not yet It was worth a go though , but there's a lot to be said for a Running , ball playing F/B with a kicking game.
Personally I like Watson at 6 a I would just leave him there as long as Danny is playing well (which he is ) . Watson does everything at 100% he tackles well he runs well and when need be he can and does pass well ..
I was a big Levi fan then for the last 12 months or so , not so much but he has come good and is thankfully making me eat my words and good on him .
Pearce is playing good footy too he runs hard and tackles hard but I wish he wouldn't throw that arm out like he did on the weekends game , that's how he got hurt before ..
 
Kurriboy said:
I don't think Ponga will ever be the dominant half. He is a creative, play what you see in front of you player. He is always going to need a game managing half alongside that does most of the kicks and manages the game.
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Well he is 21 still, who really knows what kind of player he could develop into in 10 years. Some of the great halves like Thurston, Lockyer, Cronk etc. probably didn't come into grade with all their game managing skills immediately I would imagine.
 
packo said:
Aiden Toman, good one ex bulldog
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Ese'ese out-performed Tolman and Tolman played alot more minutes, Not sure how Tolman was even in the conversation for Dally M Points

Herman Ese'Ese

Minutes - 26
Runs - 14
Metres - 144
Post Contact Metres - 47
Tackle Breaks - 8
Tackles - 15
Missed Tackles - 0
Tackle Efficiency - 100%
NRL Fantasy Points - 53
Supercoach Points - 68

Aiden Tolman

Minutes - 65
Runs - 16
Metres - 148
Post Contact Metres - 46
Tackle Breaks - 0
Tackles - 38
Missed Tackles - 2
Tackle Efficiency - 90.5%
NRL Fantasy Points - 50
Supercoach Points - 66
 
Joshhh said:
Well he is 21 still, who really knows what kind of player he could develop into in 10 years. Some of the great halves like Thurston, Lockyer, Cronk etc. probably didn't come into grade with all their game managing skills immediately I would imagine.
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agree... the finding touch kicks is a good place to start him off, building confidence, vision and patience he could develop into a great half 5yrs time
 
Funny how people see the game differently. I thought Glasby was our best. Effective on both sides of the ball and came up with some tough carries when we on the back foot. Definitely his best game for us.
 
mozza said:
Funny how people see the game differently. I thought Glasby was our best. Effective on both sides of the ball and came up with some tough carries when we on the back foot. Definitely his best game for us.
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I reckon we probably need to watch a game about 3 times to get a good idea of who done what. You need 24 eyes and a slow motion camera to keep up in real time. A week or so ago watching the game live I asked myself is Fitzy out there. I then seen him getting points by forum members so I watched again and he was very good.
 
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