Kalyn Ponga discussion

[Beaumont]

Went to a game V the Raiders at home one Sunday and seen Milford beat every player in a Knights jumper several times at least.

 

[member 2299]

Spot on Beaumont.

He destroyed us on his own that day and has a brilliant step on him. IMHO he is yet to show that form at the Doncs. Maybe it is being coached out of him.

 

[Speedymetric]

You can't point to one incident declaring he still has a lot to learn. Fullbacks miss tackles and let in tries all the time, point out any fullback in the NRL who makes that tackle on milf every time?

You point to that one tackle, I'll point to that situation in the same game where he was confronted with a two one one, stayed with the man with the ball (which was jimmy the jet I believe? No slouch in attack) forcing the pass turned and ran down the attacker to save a certain try. Many would have just stuck the arm out to try to knock down that last pass.

Look, I think he's a great player but it's obvious he needs some work.

Most experienced fullbacks probably would have done more than get caught flat footed and thrown out an arm to get beaten on their inside shoulder, especially seeing as Milford only had support on the inside and there was cover defense coming on the outside.

Most experienced fullbacks also wouldn't have thrown the no look cut out pass that should have been intercepted by Oates to maybe run the length before SKD went over for the disallowed try. Especially seeing as he tried the same pass in the warm up twice in a semi opposed drill & both times it was intercepted in the drill.

Also if you watch the footage of Roberts again Roberts blew the try he doesn't draw or commit Ponga at all, Ponga was nowhere near close enough to "just stuck the arm out to try to knock down that last pass". Roberts made Ponga's decision way too easy, he passed way too early to Nikorima who was so slow he would have been a good chance to get run down by the other cover defence if Ponga had been taken out of the play effectively and wasn't there.

 

[member 2299]

He is a twenty year old kid of course he will improve from great to brilliant.

 

[Joshhh]

You can't point to one incident declaring he still has a lot to learn. Fullbacks miss tackles and let in tries all the time, point out any fullback in the NRL who makes that tackle on milf every time?

You point to that one tackle, I'll point to that situation in the same game where he was confronted with a two one one, stayed with the man with the ball (which was jimmy the jet I believe? No slouch in attack) forcing the pass turned and ran down the attacker to save a certain try. Many would have just stuck the arm out to try to knock down that last pass.

There's been a couple run of the mill things he's failed at like Milford stepping past him & a couple passes that might have been too hard, or no one in support so the ball went to ground. Stuff like that happens to players all the time. I find it strange people using those examples to say how Ponga needs so much to learn still.

The only genuine things in my opinion that show his age are a couple drops under the high ball & a stray no look offload or 2 out the back to no one at the pressure point of a game.

On the other side of the spectrum, he looks dangerous every time he runs to the line, his vision is exceptional, he can ball play already as fluent as any half, he's tough & has a dig, already made some great try saves & surprisingly has little trouble tackling, he's pulled down a heap of players that have made a break. I would have forgiven him as a 19-year old if he was brushed past. I knew he would be good this season, but he's exceeded my expectations & probably a lot of other people's so far.

 

[BargeArse]

Look, I think he's a great player but it's obvious he needs some work.

Most experienced fullbacks probably would have done more than get caught flat footed and thrown out an arm to get beaten on their inside shoulder, especially seeing as Milford only had support on the inside and there was cover defense coming on the outside.

Most experienced fullbacks also wouldn't have thrown the no look cut out pass that should have been intercepted by Oates to maybe run the length before SKD went over for the disallowed try. Especially seeing as he tried the same pass in the warm up twice in a semi opposed drill & both times it was intercepted in the drill.

Also if you watch the footage of Roberts again Roberts blew the try he doesn't draw or commit Ponga at all, Ponga was nowhere near close enough to "just stuck the arm out to try to knock down that last pass". Roberts made Ponga's decision way too easy, he passed way too early to Nikorima who was so slow he would have been a good chance to get run down by the other cover defence if Ponga had been taken out of the play effectively and wasn't there.

You keep saying “most experienced fullbacks”.

Firstly, he’s not an experienced fullback. He’s a 19-20 year old kid with just 14 first grade games under his belt, half of which came on the wing.

Secondly, he’s playing better than “most experienced fullbacks” in the game right now.

The list of fullbacks playing at the same level or better than him right now are Trbojevic and Tuivasa-Sheck. That’s it. Slater’s not playing better than him. Tedesco’s not playing better than him. Boyd’s not playing better than him. Holmes/Dugan/Moylan (Sharks revolving door at fullback) aren’t playing better than him. Which other fullback do you want to put up against him right now? Mbye has impressed and is doing some great things, but no one is taking Mbye over Ponga.

You can nitpick anyone and everyone’s game. Smith’s, Thurston’s, Taumalolo’s, etc. Ponga’s game deserves to be nitpicked the least due to his youth, inexperience, and the fact that he’s playing as good as any fullback in the game right now.

 

[Speedymetric]

You keep saying “most experienced fullbacks”.

Firstly, he’s not an experienced fullback. He’s a 19-20 year old kid with just 14 first grade games under his belt, half of which came on the wing.

Secondly, he’s playing better than “most experienced fullbacks” in the game right now.

The list of fullbacks playing at the same level or better than him right now are Trbojevic and Tuivasa-Sheck. That’s it. Slater’s not playing better than him. Tedesco’s not playing better than him. Boyd’s not playing better than him. Holmes/Dugan/Moylan (Sharks revolving door at fullback) aren’t playing better than him. Which other fullback do you want to put up against him right now? Mbye has impressed and is doing some great things, but no one is taking Mbye over Ponga.

You can nitpick anyone and everyone’s game. Smith’s, Thurston’s, Taumalolo’s, etc. Ponga’s game deserves to be nitpicked the least due to his youth, inexperience, and the fact that he’s playing as good as any fullback in the game right now.

You're correct, he's not an experienced fullback, that was kind of my point. Therefore as I said there are aspects of his game that need improving and I'm sure they will over time with experience.

I would also argue that Dylan Edwards is another fullback who is playing at the same level as Ponga and is actually playing better defensively.

 

[Aidos]

You're correct, he's not an experienced fullback, that was kind of my point. Therefore as I said there are aspects of his game that need improving and I'm sure they will over time with experience.

I would also argue that Dylan Edwards is another fullback who is playing at the same level as Ponga and is actually playing better defensively.

Dylan Edwards is a good running fullback and safe, but lacks ball-playing ability and isn't an outstanding athlete either. He's good but these deficiencies will stop him from reaching any great heights imo. He's in the Michael Gordon mould and is a quality young player but not in the same ball-park as Ponga so far this year and on potential.

 

[Beaumont]

All that I know is every time Ponga looks like getting the ball I move forward in my seat and the heart rate lifts.

 

[Speedymetric]

Dylan Edwards is a good running fullback and safe, but lacks ball-playing ability and isn't an outstanding athlete either. He's good but these deficiencies will stop him from reaching any great heights imo. He's in the Michael Gordon mould and is a quality young player but not in the same ball-park as Ponga so far this year and on potential.

Ponga’s stats are better than Edwards in attack, but not by a great margin. In defence Edwards has much better statistics.

 

[BargeArse]

Ponga’s stats are better than Edwards in attack, but not by a great margin. In defence Edwards has much better statistics.

For the most part, I think Ponga’s been safe, decent defensively and good positionally.

In attack, they’re two completely different players. Apples and oranges, but what Ponga brings to the table with his footwork, ball playing and playmaking ability is head and shoulders above anything Edwards can offer in attack – likely ever.

For the year, Ponga has 4 try assists and 5 line break assists. Edwards has 0 try assists and just 1 line break assist. Not by a great margin? That’s a huge difference. Granted, both run for similar metres, but Ponga edges him out in that area, too. Ponga also edges him out in tackle breaks, has less errors to his name and has the added value of being an 88% goal kicker this year.

Edwards is a nice young player, nothing against him, but he doesn’t remotely stack up to Ponga.

 

[LEVR]

Ponga’s stats are better than Edwards in attack, but not by a great margin. In defence Edwards has much better statistics.

Lmfao, Cowboyman, if you're going to make new accounts to pretend there are people out there who agree with you, dont make it so obvious!

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Forget stats, might be one or two f/backs up with Ponga on current form but none are playing better, from what I have seen wouldn't change him for any other, it's the X factor, anything can happen when he has the ball and runs and that anything is usually very good and it will all get better with further experience, maturity and his team mates developing combinations and understanding. Forget stats.

 

[Speedymetric]

For the most part, I think Ponga’s been safe, decent defensively and good positionally.

In attack, they’re two completely different players. Apples and oranges, but what Ponga brings to the table with his footwork, ball playing and playmaking ability is head and shoulders above anything Edwards can offer in attack – likely ever.

For the year, Ponga has 4 try assists and 5 line break assists. Edwards has 0 try assists and just 1 line break assist. Not by a great margin? That’s a huge difference. Granted, both run for similar metres, but Ponga edges him out in that area, too. Ponga also edges him out in tackle breaks, has less errors to his name and has the added value of being an 88% goal kicker this year.

Edwards is a nice young player, nothing against him, but he doesn’t remotely stack up to Ponga.

As I've said before I think Ponga is a great player with enormous potential. I just think some on here are getting a little carried away.

The only attacking stats that Ponga clearly dominates is try assists/line break assists. This could be explained by the fact you would think Ponga is a better playmaking/attacking option along side Pearce than what Lamb is so gets his hands on the ball more. At the Panthers Edwards isn't required to ball play as much with Cleary/Maloney and now Peachey/Maloney calling the shots.

As far as defensive stats go Edwards is way ahead. Ponga has made 21 tackles but missed 14 at an efficiency rate of 57.6%. Edwards has made 28 tackles, but only missed 4 at an efficiency rate of 77.6%. In fact the only fullback with a worse defensive record than Ponga this season is Holmes who has nearly missed as many tackles as he has made.

 

[Speedymetric]

Lmfao, Cowboyman, if you're going to make new accounts to pretend there are people out there who agree with you, dont make it so obvious!

Yeah nah. You may have to check your sources buddy. Your investigative skills make Frank Drebin look like Sherlock Holmes.

 

[Wobbles]

As I've said before I think Ponga is a great player with enormous potential. I just think some on here are getting a little carried away.

The only attacking stats that Ponga clearly dominates is try assists/line break assists. This could be explained by the fact you would think Ponga is a better playmaking/attacking option along side Pearce than what Lamb is so gets his hands on the ball more. At the Panthers Edwards isn't required to ball play as much with Cleary/Maloney and now Peachey/Maloney calling the shots.

As far as defensive stats go Edwards is way ahead. Ponga has made 21 tackles but missed 14 at an efficiency rate of 57.6%. Edwards has made 28 tackles, but only missed 4 at an efficiency rate of 77.6%. In fact the only fullback with a worse defensive record than Ponga this season is Holmes who has nearly missed as many tackles as he has made.

Comparing the situations in which both players were required to make their tackles (broken play with 2 on 1) or close to the line stopping a try is where the true defensive value lies. Not to mention the ability of the fullback to organise the defensive line from the back.

 

[Billy]

I don't know why people hate the idea that Ponga is a work in progress.
The most exciting thing about him IMO is that he is clearly trying new things every week.
This week he had a couple of plays on the right side, and we saw that he has a long pass from left to right that looked even better than the ones he has done from right to left on the other side of the field.
I expect to see new things from him all season. The coaching staff would be having a lot of fun coming up with new things for him to try.

 

[cowboyman]

Lmfao, Cowboyman, if you're going to make new accounts to pretend there are people out there who agree with you, dont make it so obvious!

Your obsession with me is now hitting new levels. That poster isn't me. I've been here long enough and copped a lot of hate already to not even bother trying an alternate identity like you have done.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Your obsession with me is now hitting new levels. That poster isn't me. I've been here long enough and copped a lot of hate already to not even bother trying an alternate identity like you have done.

For the most part, I think Ponga’s been safe, decent defensively and good positionally.

In attack, they’re two completely different players. Apples and oranges, but what Ponga brings to the table with his footwork, ball playing and playmaking ability is head and shoulders above anything Edwards can offer in attack – likely ever.

For the year, Ponga has 4 try assists and 5 line break assists. Edwards has 0 try assists and just 1 line break assist. Not by a great margin? That’s a huge difference. Granted, both run for similar metres, but Ponga edges him out in that area, too. Ponga also edges him out in tackle breaks, has less errors to his name and has the added value of being an 88% goal kicker this year.

Edwards is a nice young player, nothing against him, but he doesn’t remotely stack up to Ponga.

Ponga's a great player, Edwards is a good player.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

As I've said before I think Ponga is a great player with enormous potential. I just think some on here are getting a little carried away.

The only attacking stats that Ponga clearly dominates is try assists/line break assists. This could be explained by the fact you would think Ponga is a better playmaking/attacking option along side Pearce than what Lamb is so gets his hands on the ball more. At the Panthers Edwards isn't required to ball play as much with Cleary/Maloney and now Peachey/Maloney calling the shots.

As far as defensive stats go Edwards is way ahead. Ponga has made 21 tackles but missed 14 at an efficiency rate of 57.6%. Edwards has made 28 tackles, but only missed 4 at an efficiency rate of 77.6%. In fact the only fullback with a worse defensive record than Ponga this season is Holmes who has nearly missed as many tackles as he has made.

LOL, if that's all he does he'll go down as the best FB ever.