Kalyn Ponga discussion

bremsstrahlung said:
Tooheys news from other thread (thanks Billy) mentions Ponga playing with rib cartilage issue - playing through pain.

Often referred to as a very painful injury.
Usually the biggest issue is the pain as far as I’m aware - which would be limiting movement and I assume not very pleasant to be tackled with.
Not sure how effectively it can be needled.

Most things I’ve looked at in my comprehensive search (2 minutes googling NRL physio) mention most players seem to get on top of it in 2-4 weeks. With most succumbing to it after playing through pain for a few weeks.

Interesting to see if we hear anything official, and how he approaches his origin availability.
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Rib cartilage can't be needled. It's about the most painful injury to play through. But not serious, it's just a matter of waiting for it to heal.
 
Billy said:
I imagine O'Brien would not be happy about this coming out.
He never talks about injuries to players who are playing on. I assume he thinks that oppositions will immediately target the player and the injury, which is obvious I suppose.
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My first thought was, I wonder if Bennet still follows Toohey’s articles….

Unless it’s a timely excuse, I can see him sitting a few weeks out now that it’s come out. As you say, there’s gonna be a few flops into any tackle involving him.

Kudos that he’s still doing the one out hit ups, but also, doesn’t seem to be worthwhile if that is what is limiting his involvement.
 
Billy said:
I imagine O'Brien would not be happy about this coming out.
He never talks about injuries to players who are playing on. I assume he thinks that oppositions will immediately target the player and the injury, which is obvious I suppose.
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Maybe with all the negativity coming KP's way the club or OB thought it best to leak this to old faithful to get it out there that there are reasons for this, injury.

Given Toohey's close ties to the club I can't see him leaking injury news without the club backing to do it.

This way, they get it released without officially saying anything.
 
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Tackleslikeagirl said:
Ponga seems like the type of bloke who will try and do it all himself and not want to be stood down.
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Every player in the history of the NRL plays and in some cases are forced to play through injury. There wouldn’t be a player in the Knights side who would rather Fletcher Hunt to play fullback this weekend as opposed to their captain and best player. Criticism of KP for playing through this is outrageous.
 
waynesworld said:
Every player in the history of the NRL plays and in some cases are forced to play through injury. There wouldn’t be a player in the Knights side who would rather Fletcher Hunt to play fullback this weekend as opposed to their captain and best player. Criticism of KP for playing through this is outrageous.
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Prob would have missed a week or two if we weren't going through such a dire injury crisis . Agree 100%.
 
waynesworld said:
Every player in the history of the NRL plays and in some cases are forced to play through injury. There wouldn’t be a player in the Knights side who would rather Fletcher Hunt to play fullback this weekend as opposed to their captain and best player. Criticism of KP for playing through this is outrageous.
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🤔
I was NOT being critical of ponga.

Pointing out he will likely want to it himself is not being critical. He is our best and most influential player and likely just as annoyed at our current form and poor results as we all are. The best players always want to stand up and take the game on themselves. I actually think it’s brave playing injured.
 
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waynesworld said:
Every player in the history of the NRL plays and in some cases are forced to play through injury. There wouldn’t be a player in the Knights side who would rather Fletcher Hunt to play fullback this weekend as opposed to their captain and best player. Criticism of KP for playing through this is outrageous.
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I mean, there’s a few variables and unknowns involved that make it a bit difficult to know if it’s him carrying an injury, poor form and execution, poor gameplan or poor coaching.

Only KP knows how he feels, and I trust he makes decisions that are best for the team.

Devils advocate here- if he’s not 100% and it’s impacting his game (would make sense if he’s been carrying it for a few weeks) and marginally improving, I’d rather he sat out a few weeks, recover and get himself to 100% so he can go back to being the player he can be.
I’d take no Ponga for 2-4 weeks if it meant he was back to 100%, over a lacklustre, restricted Ponga for 8 weeks or longer. But that’s just me IF it’s the primary reason affecting his performance.
 
waynesworld said:
Every player in the history of the NRL plays and in some cases are forced to play through injury. There wouldn’t be a player in the Knights side who would rather Fletcher Hunt to play fullback this weekend as opposed to their captain and best player. Criticism of KP for playing through this is outrageous.
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Except that he’s 10x better for us when he’s 💯 so it’s hardly outrageous is it?
 
Gotta agree it’s better to lose KP for the short term than keep him playing with this injury and clearly only performing at 40%

I’d rather two weeks of Hunt and than the long term with KP after his heals a bit.

I’d be even thinking about it against Souths, switch Gags to 1 and bring in McCarthy.

Really just want KP fully fit and ready to go for the long haul.

(That’s if the injury is confirmed)
 
Seems obvious the mistake here was to play him when he originally got this injury. Or even if he played one game after the injury, the coaching staff should have rested him considering how much it was effecting him and obviously the team.

AOB should have the power to say to Ponga, mate I know you want to play but for the better of the team sit out a couple of weeks.

So now he has probably recovered enough from this injury. Let’s hope so.
 
KPGreatness said:
Gotta agree it’s better to lose KP for the short term than keep him playing with this injury and clearly only performing at 40%

I’d rather two weeks of Hunt and than the long term with KP after his heals a bit.
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Pretty sure playing with rib cartilage makes no difference whatsoever to the recovery time. It’s just a matter of whether the player can play through the pain while it recovers.

He should be close to recovered by now.
 
jamesgould said:
Pretty sure playing with rib cartilage makes no difference whatsoever to the recovery time. It’s just a matter of whether the player can play through the pain while it recovers.

He should be close to recovered by now.
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So we should expect fireworks 🎇 from KP!
 
As I mentioned I don’t quite get why the coach wouldn’t rest him. It’s obvious it’s affecting his game. How many times did he almost do a voluntary tackle on his back. Because he didn’t want to get hit. That’s how I saw it.

We had options in Fletcher Hunt, Votano to play FB.
 
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