2026 Recruitment And Retention

Kurriboy said:
Just reading online, some Sydney club in secret talks to sign Ponga.

Happy for him to go, but the November negotiation time is a joke and clubs just ignore it.
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Fine, he can go, Smith would be our halfback and we could buy a decent hooker.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I just worry so much about us making the same mistake yet again. Years of only intermittently getting the best out of Ponga due to not ever putting the right stuff around him.

As much as I bag Nathan Brown, he absolutely had it right the first time given the roster he had. You want to park true halves on Kalyn's inside who can manipulate the defensive line and bring him onto the ball in good positions. The way he set up in 2018, with Pearce playing through the middle third and Ponga & Watson posting up on opposite edges outside him - this is essentially what we ended up landing on when the attack showed signs of life this season, finally (I'm not counting easy W's vs decimated Bunnies/Panthers lineups, talking the wins vs Manly, Dolphins), with Ponga left, Sharpe right, Cogger/Crossland working through the middle third. Ponga and Watson seemed to have amazing chemistry as friends, but on a footy field you did not want one trying to facilitate the other. Similarly, separating Ponga and Sharpe seemed to help both.

Since that first year where he almost won the Dally M in a mediocre team just basically hammering that left edge, the same patterns have repeated over and over with us again: play him outside true halves who can help him work to his preferred looks, he looks like the single most dangerous player in the game. Play him outside utilities with limited ball playing ability, you get something which looks really clunky and awkward. Even outside very bleh halves like Cogger and Crossland, if they effectively compress the line and bring him onto the ball with wide man-on-man opportunities, he can just make **** happen.

Just don't see a recipe for the attack functioning next year without putting Brown in that on-ball roll Pearce & Hastings played, which is not his natural game - he excels as a running half playing down certain channels on one side of the field & bringing his outside men onto the ball. Which sounds like it could be incredibly dynamic, him and Ponga - I maintain that Brown is a very, very good NRL half - but you need another actual half to make that sort of split halves set up work. Where would we find something like that though? With so much money invested in the spine already, no less?

Well, Sandon being apparently gettable for like $450K if you just tell him he'll play in the halves... there it is, the golden ticket to bail us out of a calamity before it happens, if you ask me. The dude can play. He doesn't have the big boot we crave but otherwise he's good at the exact stuff you'd want a guy facilitating Brown & Ponga to be good at, but he's not just a totally unthreatening role player and facilitator, he's a dangerous runner, he has a step, he's shown flashes of very impressive skill in ad-lib situations. $450K for a half who's performed well in the NRL, who's 22 and still has scope to grow, is great value in any context even before you factor in the specific need we have. He is the best half available to talk to right now, the best half available for 2027 besides Metcalf (who'll surely be extended soon), and if you see a half available for 2028 who you think won't have already been re-signed by then, please name them.
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It almost seems like Sandon has just landed in our lap, yet I still expect us to completely fcuk it up.
 
Joel.M said:
Sharpe would make a great centre IMO
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Totally agree, every time I see Sharpe running with that swerve in open space reminds me of the great Brett Kenny.
I'm praying we get Smith, he's a great goal kicker too and we need that, but I'd play him at 7.
 
I read that too but can’t remember where I saw it. They’re using the fact that Pongas family is stepping away from their roles within the club as a sign he’s gonna leave lmao. Imagine the cap space that would free up!
 
Yep. Constant speculation around Ponga. If he went to Roosters, or Melbourne etc, there would be no speculation at all as to the press their perception is that's where he belongs, not with a struggling club.

Pretty ordinary when every aspect of the competition is channeling the best players to the same old power clubs.
 
I understand support for Ponga to go. But I rather keep him for the two year of his contract, anyway. When he’s on he arguably the best player in the comp. I rather a side with both him and fletcher Sharpe in the side. I really hope we get Smith as I feel he’s the missing piece. He plays 7 and Sharpe in the centres. Gagai can play on Greg’s wing. It’s creates more depth in the backs too.
 
Kurriboy said:
Yep. Constant speculation around Ponga. If he went to Roosters, or Melbourne etc, there would be no speculation at all as to the press their perception is that's where he belongs, not with a struggling club.

Pretty ordinary when every aspect of the competition is channeling the best players to the same old power clubs.
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When Chammas broke the story about Ponga and the agent, in his podcast he made a comment about how he wants Ponga to go because it’s just boring him playing for Newcastle. Feels like the media won’t stop until they drive him to a glamour club.
 
waynesworld said:
When Chammas broke the story about Ponga and the agent, in his podcast he made a comment about how he wants Ponga to go because it’s just boring him playing for Newcastle. Feels like the media won’t stop until they drive him to a glamour club.
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Not to defend that germ but it might be because for years we for the most part have been the most boring team in the comp lol. That’s why Warren Smith keeps going on about the non-contesting kicks too. It makes the game more dull. No one thought it was boring that Joey played for the Knights.
 
waynesworld said:
When Chammas broke the story about Ponga and the agent, in his podcast he made a comment about how he wants Ponga to go because it’s just boring him playing for Newcastle. Feels like the media won’t stop until they drive him to a glamour club.
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saw Chammas order a coffee at a cafe a few weeks ago. they asked for his name & he responded with 'dont you know who i am?'
I was behind him in the line and laughed at him.
 
waynesworld said:
When Chammas broke the story about Ponga and the agent, in his podcast he made a comment about how he wants Ponga to go because it’s just boring him playing for Newcastle. Feels like the media won’t stop until they drive him to a glamour club.
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They are boring. AOB said so too but he seemed to think it was a good thing. A lot of us however don’t and that’s why I for one wanted him gone.

A team with KP, Sharpe, Best, Lucas and Dom should not be in any way boring. Hopefully if KP is still here next year, the next coach can change that dramatically.
 
frankLauda said:
I understand support for Ponga to go. But I rather keep him for the two year of his contract, anyway. When he’s on he arguably the best player in the comp. I rather a side with both him and fletcher Sharpe in the side. I really hope we get Smith as I feel he’s the missing piece. He plays 7 and Sharpe in the centres. Gagai can play on Greg’s wing. It’s creates more depth in the backs too.
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That's a bloody good idea. That would be a great way of getting everyone into the team. Just get the best players on the park. I love it.
 
Yep my lineup I'd be wanting to work towards would be something like:

1. Ponga
2. Gagai
3. Sharpe
4. Best
5. Young
6. Brown
7. Smith*

8. J Saf
9. Crossland
10. Frizell
11. Lucas
12. McEwen
13. Mooney*

14. Arthur
15. Saulo
16. One of the other middles
17. Manulelua

18. Gamble

You could talk me into swapping Saulo & Frizell so we always have 2 of the 3 most impactful forwards on the field at all times.

Sounds like the vision is more like this:

1. Ponga
2. Marzhew
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Young
6. Sharpe
7. Brown

8. J Saf
9. Smith
10. Mooney
11. Lucas
12. McEwen
13. Crossland

14. Arthur
15. Frizell
16. Saulo
17. Given the makeup of the rest of the side, Gamble probably makes sense here
 
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HarVeeGee13 said:
Yep my lineup I'd be wanting to work towards would be something like:

1. Ponga
2. Gagai
3. Sharpe
4. Best
5. Young
6. Brown
7. Smith*

8. J Saf
9. Crossland
10. Frizell
11. Lucas
12. McEwen
13. Mooney*

14. Arthur
15. Saulo
16. One of the other middles
17. Manulelua

18. Gamble

You could talk me into swapping Saulo & Frizell so we always have 2 of the 3 most impactful forwards on the field at all times.

Sounds like the vision is more like this:

1. Ponga
2. Marzhew
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Young
6. Sharpe
7. Lucas

8. J Saf
9. Smith
10. Mooney
11. Lucas
12. McEwen
13. Crossland

14. Arthur
15. Frizell
16. Saulo
17. Given the makeup of the rest of the side, Gamble probably makes sense here
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You have Lucas at 7 instead of Brown in the second team.
 
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