2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

MullosLefttoRight said:
I'm a massive Ponga fan but RTS was 10x the player he is, someone you'd be more than comfortable handing $1mil+.

In saying that now that he has AB Caps on his CV his stock in Japan and France would be immense, only return to league would be to the Warriors if he wants the family to stay in NZ or a Roosters Uncle Nick situation.
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RTS - Fullback of the year at 25.
Ponga is only 24.

I think people forget his age.
 
It's weird that people are saying the Roosters have made an offer to RTS ... they already have three fullbacks on their books that would start in that position at a lot of other clubs.

Are they trying to create a side of 100% fullbacks.
 
SportsFan said:
RTS - Fullback of the year at 25.
Ponga is only 24.

I think people forget his age.
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I left this open in the sense that I didn't say Roger is 10x the player that Ponga will every be, but there's several levels and elements of his game that he has to develop before getting a sniff at RTS.

RTS actually won fullback of the year for the first time at the age of 22 - coincidentally this was his first full season playing fullback. He then won fullback of the year for the second time at 25 (and player of the year obviously) - in his 4th season of playing fullback fulltime and after missing almost an entire season due to an ACL injury.

Ponga has played 5 full seasons of fullback now, with all due respect to Ponga there's simply no comparison between the two.
 
dalpretzel said:
roger tuivasa sheck not getting a run in the starting side for all blacks - worth throwing something at him and play him at 1 for knights and move Ponga to 6 and 7 brooks?
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Heard from a source within the club that knights are going after RTS and are aware tigers making a big play also
 
MullosLefttoRight said:
I left this open in the sense that I didn't say Roger is 10x the player that Ponga will every be, but there's several levels and elements of his game that he has to develop before getting a sniff at RTS.

RTS actually won fullback of the year for the first time at the age of 22 - coincidentally this was his first full season playing fullback. He then won fullback of the year for the second time at 25 (and player of the year obviously) - in his 4th season of playing fullback fulltime and after missing almost an entire season due to an ACL injury.

Ponga has played 5 full seasons of fullback now, with all due respect to Ponga there's simply no comparison between the two.
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Ponga was better in his first full season of first grade than RTS was when he won player of the year at 25 (the same year). Without injury, he would have won the Dally M.

RTS is at the top-end of the second tier of fullbacks. Ponga has much more potential, and played up to it for one year. Would still love a 1. RTS 6. Ponga spine though
 
Maxibon said:
Hammer given permission to negotiate with rival clubs for next season. Should we target him? I'm not sure...
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I wouldn't be handing him the 1 but he has a good chance of getting it here if Ponga moves into the halves, could pit him on a wing and he can fight for it.
 
i think the issue between RTS and Ponga is RTS is proven and Ponga is still riding on potential.

RTS is a harder working player, provides greater leadership and provides a great running game from the back.

Ponga just seems to be happy getting his money and not trying to improve as a player or leader
 
Just fascinating that RTS is one of the few fullbacks who never had his work ethic and commitment questioned. I guess he was better at selling his “leap sideways and throw an arm out” business decisions than others have been.

Or he played for New Zealand so nobody was watching him.

One of the two.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Just fascinating that RTS is one of the few fullbacks who never had his work ethic and commitment questioned. I guess he was better at selling his “leap sideways and throw an arm out” business decisions than others have been.

Or he played for New Zealand so nobody was watching him.

One of the two.
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Which fullbacks do have their work ethic questioned?
Lattrel and Ponga are the only two I can think of.
I wouldn't think Teddy, Paps, Gutho and Edwards would.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Just fascinating that RTS is one of the few fullbacks who never had his work ethic and commitment questioned. I guess he was better at selling his “leap sideways and throw an arm out” business decisions than others have been.

Or he played for New Zealand so nobody was watching him.

One of the two.
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Probably because he was always on the ball racking up huge metres. That's what made him stand out. Nowadays it's almost considered a necessary trait for a fullback. I can't comment on his defence, but his running metres is the trait I remember him for.
 
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