2018 halves combination

He's a good finisher but his defence is really bad. The scary thing is I think he and Pete worked well together and somewhat covered up his defensive deficiencies. Assuming he plays outside Moga next year I think he'll struggle more.
 
I think it was Barnett who said in an interview that one of the main reasons the team's form turned around was that Ross at the back had sorted out their defence and that his talk and energy in attack was also a big factor.
Ross has things to work on, but his efforts are under appreciated.
 
Billy said:
I think it was Barnett who said in an interview that one of the main reasons the team's form turned around was that Ross at the back had sorted out their defence and that his talk and energy in attack was also a big factor.
Ross has things to work on, but his efforts are under appreciated.
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That is one big area I expect Ponga to struggle with for a while being that constant voice at the back


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I don’t think he will. Very few young people in Sydney want to come to Newy.


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Billy said:
We could show him your profile picture - that might get him interested - but you'd have to put your dog in witness protection.
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My dog is a Sydney girl but she drinks out of a Newcastle Knights water bowl and one of her food bowls is a Knights bowl.


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Leave Ross on the wing he plays very well there unless an absolute emergency such as injury during game. If Ponga is not f/b due to injury or whatever then play either Pythian or Meaney, let's not make several positional changes due to one missing player.
 
Simon Templar said:
Ethan, it is the enthusiasm for the game that sets Ross above others, he tries his heart out wherever he is in the team.
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Yeah he does and I wouldn't leave him out of the side but just not at F/B.... Enthusiasm is all well and good but it doesn't make tackles or catch balls if your on the wrong side of the field....Leave him at wing where he is our best finisher ....
 
Ross got better as the season went on. He made some great 1v1 tackles and our defensive line was getting sorted better each week. It's not all up to the fullback to count numbers in the line.

Ponga needs to be at fullback in attack. As for defense i personally don't think he is even at a Ross level. So I'm all for that. See what happens as the year pans out I suppose.
 
danknights said:
Ross got better as the season went on. He made some great 1v1 tackles and our defensive line was getting sorted better each week. It's not all up to the fullback to count numbers in the line.

Ponga needs to be at fullback in attack. As for defense i personally don't think he is even at a Ross level. So I'm all for that. See what happens as the year pans out I suppose.[/QUOT

Kurt Gidley is back in town be good if he could work with him
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Tapping into the experience of our past greats isn't the worst suggestion.

I'm sure we have a couple of decent halves and a hooker we can call on as mentors or consultants for the young fellas if appropriate ;)
 
In defense I found Ross out of position a bit which is something he will learn, but he has to learn to get to ground asap after catching balls when players are coming in to tackle him. His back injury occurred as he caught the ball and instead of going straight to ground to protect his body, he kind of hunched over waiting for the hit he knew was coming.

Anyway, Ponga will be our fullback in attack and defense and will learn his trade.
 
Looking at each club, we still have one of the weaker halves combinations in my opinion

Brisbane: Milford, Nikorima
Canberra: Sezer, Austin
Canterbury: Foran, Mbye
Cronulla: Townsend, Maloney
Gold Coast: Taylor, Elgey
Manly: Cherry-Evans, Green
Melbourne: Croft, Munster
New Zealand: Johnson, Hiku
Newcastle: Lamb, Watson
North Queensland: Thurston, Morgan
Parramatta: Moses, Norman
Penrith: Cleary, Cartwright
Roosters: Cronk, Pearce
South Sydney: Reynolds, Walker
St George Illawarra: Hunt, Widdop
Wests: Brooks, Reynolds

Pearce realistically squeezes in the top 10 halves in the league in my opinion in terms of current ability and possible ceiling.

Lamb for me is like Brooks at Wests, he needs to develop and his best development will come playing next to an experienced half or learning from one. Perhaps Hodgkinson can provide that in the background along with our coaching staff, but if Pearce was available I'd take him.

If Lamb wanted to leave, i don't see any clubs signing him as a starter, Townsend, Croft and Brooks are probably the worst starting 7's (excluding Lamb) and i rate Croft highly, with the other 2 being local boys like Lamb.

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Dodge, that's a pretty fair summary.

Penrith are in a similar position with Cleary and Cartwright: those guys have been identified as their long-term halves pairing and I reckon Lamb and Watson should be given the same opportunity to develop together.

For all of the negative stigma surrounding Hodkinson, if we didn't have him as a backup I'd be more inclined to agree with the pursuit of an experienced half.
 
Don't forget mullo was around for all lambs career so he has learnt a fair chunk already. It's just putting it all together on the park and it working.
 
Dodge23 said:
Looking at each club, we still have one of the weaker halves combinations in my opinion

Brisbane: Milford, Nikorima
Canberra: Sezer, Austin
Canterbury: Foran, Mbye
Cronulla: Townsend, Maloney
Gold Coast: Taylor, Elgey
Manly: Cherry-Evans, Green
Melbourne: Croft, Munster
New Zealand: Johnson, Hiku
Newcastle: Lamb, Watson
North Queensland: Thurston, Morgan
Parramatta: Moses, Norman
Penrith: Cleary, Cartwright
Roosters: Cronk, Pearce
South Sydney: Reynolds, Walker
St George Illawarra: Hunt, Widdop
Wests: Brooks, Reynolds

Pearce realistically squeezes in the top 10 halves in the league in my opinion in terms of current ability and possible ceiling.

Lamb for me is like Brooks at Wests, he needs to develop and his best development will come playing next to an experienced half or learning from one. Perhaps Hodgkinson can provide that in the background along with our coaching staff, but if Pearce was available I'd take him.

If Lamb wanted to leave, i don't see any clubs signing him as a starter, Townsend, Croft and Brooks are probably the worst starting 7's (excluding Lamb) and i rate Croft highly, with the other 2 being local boys like Lamb.

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Mate you have got a few wrong. Blake green is going to the warriors.
Roosters Kleary. Cronk.
Bulldogs. Nu brown/mybe Foran
Penrith Cleary Moylan
New Zealand. Blake green and Johnson
Manly cherry Evans / Hastings or Cullen



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I couldn't care less about theoretical halves power rankings. It doesnt mean they are going to perform.

Our halves are young and untested together. And halves are not ranked until they fire and start taking defences apart. Hopefully thats our halves this year.

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