Kalyn Ponga discussion

Limping a bit at the end as well, had me a bit nervous he had done something.

As @frankLauda says though, if he’s available for QLD, for the toughest most physical game, I don’t know it can be used as an excuse.

I have been a little critical of him and his apparent “apathy”. However, I think I’ve changed my tune that he is simply out of form, out of ideas (whether that’s due to gameplan/coaching or not I’m not sure), doesn’t have much in-form help around him and is beyond frustrated at our performance.

I agree that he seemed to try and involve himself a bit more last night, it’s just not working. A few runs, looked dangerous, but nothing to trouble the Eels.

I saw some footage of post game Titans and he looked like he was trying really hard to contain his frustration. He’s normally able to keep a cool head and internalise whatever is going on and that comes across that he doesn’t care. But after seeing that, I genuinely think he’s just a little hopeless in the true sense of the word (no Hope) at the moment.
As a captain, I want him to be encouraging, to be motivating to be driving standards to be better. To be fair, we only see what he does for 80 minutes every week. He looks broken and doesn’t seem capable of fixing anything or anybody else when he is broken. Maybe a stint at QLD will be good for him to get some mojo back.

On the captain thing, the most disappointing thing last night was the lack of support around Hunt. He was having a tough night. I think the “man handling” made him look a lot worse than he was. But, he’s running the ball back at speed and isn’t shying away from the physical contact, despite getting smashed each time. He gets pumped my Moses, and Eels players come in a give him a little push and a few words to rub it in, not one person comes to his defence. I wouldn’t blame Hunt if he felt like Jenkins did, unsupported. To me, that summed up perfectly where we are as a club and a squad at the moment.
 
I think it's pointless him playing in the halves like he's currently doing more often than not. He's a constant threat when he gets it wide with space and can more often than not create something on the edge. When he's in the middle taking kicks on the last play we lose our best strike weapon for the last few tackles. Also when he's in the middle Crossland and Brailey seem to deliberately not pass it to him so it's mostly useless anyway.
Coach should see this and simplify his game to his strengths.
 
If we simplify his game though we’re relying heavily on a fullback learning how to play five-eighth on the go and a “pick your poison” of reserve grade standard halfbacks.

We honestly just need to accept that we blew it. As it stands next year we are compounding the mistake by dropping another Kalyn-sized salary on another complimentary playmaker. I’m the most optimistic guy going but I just can’t buy into an attacking system which relies on Kalyn as the main organising voice, rather than uses him as the diamond-tipped strike weapon.

Blow it up. Let him go. Bring in talented young forwards & some cheap veterans to help with standards and guide the next generation. Sign a capable stopgap at 7 & invest everything in developing a successor. Play the most talented kid we’ve had come through our pathways since Joey in his actual position.
 
This is a sad state of affairs. I love Kayln as a player and watching him play. He’s the most exciting guy to watch when he’s on. But HVG could be right as much as it pains me. The plan to play him, Brown, and Sharpe in the spine may not work.
 
Well, that's the plan we have at the moment. Nothing to do now but wait and see.

Coach may not be here from Monday, and even if they are, writing is on the wall, he will be gone by next pre season.

So new coach new plan?

Ponga has always played fullback in D and in the halves in attack. This isn't a this year new thing. Yet they still bought Brown, and moved Sharpe in to 5/8th.
 
Kurriboy said:
Well, that's the plan we have at the moment. Nothing to do now but wait and see.

Coach may not be here from Monday, and even if they are, writing is on the wall, he will be gone by next pre season.

So new coach new plan?

Ponga has always played fullback in D and in the halves in attack. This isn't a this year new thing. Yet they still bought Brown, and moved Sharpe in to 5/8th.
Click to expand...
Yep
 
bremsstrahlung said:
On the captain thing, the most disappointing thing last night was the lack of support around Hunt. He was having a tough night. I think the “man handling” made him look a lot worse than he was. But, he’s running the ball back at speed and isn’t shying away from the physical contact, despite getting smashed each time. He gets pumped my Moses, and Eels players come in a give him a little push and a few words to rub it in, not one person comes to his defence. I wouldn’t blame Hunt if he felt like Jenkins did, unsupported. To me, that summed up perfectly where we are as a club and a squad at the moment.
Click to expand...

I’ll need to watch the replay again, but if Ponga or Lucas were nearby when Moses smashed him and both did nothing, it really highlights a lack of leadership within the club.
 
Oliver said:
I’ll need to watch the replay again, but if Ponga or Lucas were nearby when Moses smashed him and both did nothing, it really highlights a lack of leadership within the club.
Click to expand...
Yeh, just watched the moment again.

The push and shove probably wasn’t as bad as I thought it was at the time.

It’s hard to make out as the cameras pan to Moses celebrating, but a few players do seem to make their way to him afterwards. I think Frizz looks like one of the first seen going across screen presumably to give some support. Ponga is seen walking away in the immediate aftermath, but does look to turn around to again presumably go back to Hunt.
(Ponga also looked like he got headslammed the play previous)

So perhaps I was a little worked up and the cameras don’t exactly paint the overall picture. Still don’t like seeing a debutant get pushed after an error.
Will give benefit of the doubt, but I have seen teams get a bit more fired up over less.
 
bremsstrahlung said:
Limping a bit at the end as well, had me a bit nervous he had done something.

As @frankLauda says though, if he’s available for QLD, for the toughest most physical game, I don’t know it can be used as an excuse.

I have been a little critical of him and his apparent “apathy”. However, I think I’ve changed my tune that he is simply out of form, out of ideas (whether that’s due to gameplan/coaching or not I’m not sure), doesn’t have much in-form help around him and is beyond frustrated at our performance.

I agree that he seemed to try and involve himself a bit more last night, it’s just not working. A few runs, looked dangerous, but nothing to trouble the Eels.

I saw some footage of post game Titans and he looked like he was trying really hard to contain his frustration. He’s normally able to keep a cool head and internalise whatever is going on and that comes across that he doesn’t care. But after seeing that, I genuinely think he’s just a little hopeless in the true sense of the word (no Hope) at the moment.
As a captain, I want him to be encouraging, to be motivating to be driving standards to be better. To be fair, we only see what he does for 80 minutes every week. He looks broken and doesn’t seem capable of fixing anything or anybody else when he is broken. Maybe a stint at QLD will be good for him to get some mojo back.

On the captain thing, the most disappointing thing last night was the lack of support around Hunt. He was having a tough night. I think the “man handling” made him look a lot worse than he was. But, he’s running the ball back at speed and isn’t shying away from the physical contact, despite getting smashed each time. He gets pumped my Moses, and Eels players come in a give him a little push and a few words to rub it in, not one person comes to his defence. I wouldn’t blame Hunt if he felt like Jenkins did, unsupported. To me, that summed up perfectly where we are as a club and a squad at the moment.
Click to expand...
It was great to see Ponga congratulating and encouraging the players as they went off at half time. He made a particular effort to seek out Hunt who was monstered in the first half.
 
Been chatting with my mate about this. Assuming Ponga gets picked at FB for QLD. Which I'm confident he will. He will be playing the more traditional FB role in that side. If he kills it and has a big series, the "new" head coach needs to say, ok, we are ditching the Ponga hybrid half/FB role experiment and he goes back to playing his normal game.

Then the rest of the season, Gamble/Cogger and Sharpe play in the halves. Sharpe will need to prove himself he is capable playmaker by the end of the season. I really think he needs to cement himself as our 7. If he doesn't, then he plays on the wing or possibly center next year. He is the backup FB when Ponga is not available. The way things are headed, I think Ponga may not get extended, and Sharpe becomes our long-term F/B, and we buy or develop a competent 7. And also some props with Pongas' money.

Understand, by no means am I dissing on Sharpe, but the idea of Ponga plays a six/seven role as well as fullback is not working. And he needs to step back and give Sharpe more responsibility. A lot of pressure on the kid, but we need to do it with the situtaion we now find ourselves in.
 
Sharpe could easily do it. If Ponga kept his snout of of the halves and just played FB role. Give Sharpe a brief of just run son, get the ball, follow your instincts, but run. Let the natural ability of the kid shine through.

Whoever is the 7 needs to play the controlling side of the game.
 
Kurriboy said:
Sharpe could easily do it. If Ponga kept his snout of of the halves and just played FB role. Give Sharpe a brief of just run son, get the ball, follow your instincts, but run. Let the natural ability of the kid shine through.

Whoever is the 7 needs to play the controlling side of the game.
Click to expand...
None of our forwards are ever looking to off load . Put Sharp in that Parra team last night I'm sure he would have jagged a couple of tries
 
frankLauda said:
The million-dollar question! I don't think it's all KPs doing, the coaching staff feels Sharpe needs help to lean into the "playmaker" role. Yes, 100% Sharpe's main asset is RUN. But so is Dylan Brown! Here lies the dilemma.
Click to expand...

DB is next year. Sharpe is now.

KP was playing hybrid fullback/playmaker role well before Sharpe was on the scene.

Sarge said:
None of our forwards are ever looking to off load . Put Sharp in that Parra team last night I'm sure he would have jagged a couple of tries
Click to expand...

KPP does. But that is a coaching issue, hopefully soon to be resolved.
 
I have been, and remain, a huge fan and defender of Ponga. He is maybe the most naturally talented person I have seen ever step onto a football field.

I've also consistently said, since probably 2020, that he should be playing 6. The elite player he has most reminded me of since his first year here is Cam Munster. Think about the best fullbacks in the comp - does he look and play more like Teddy, Latrell, Turbo, Edwards, Paps? Or does he remind you of Munster?

Munster is a great player - but Kalyn should have been an even better version of him. A guy that puts forth the case to be an immortal. He obviously hasn't, and won't. Part of that is probably that he's too laid back - but I think it's the biggest indictment of our club in the last decade that we haven't been able to install a coach that could get him close to that.

We've had a couple of poorly planned out, failed attempts at moving him to the halves - and that's it. That's all we've been able to build with this incredible talent. I'm not advocating we try again - it's probably too late. But imagine if we had a good coach, who had successfully transitioned him into that role - and then we discovered Sharpe, and could actually play him at fullback?

I'm not proposing any answers - I have none. I'm just so frustrated that we've wasted what should have been a franchise-defining signing with a ** administration and ** coaching.
 
I think the failure was sticking with AOB for so long. The curse of 23 finals run has put us in this position. He was a dead man walking until we flogged the Dogs.

We are lacking depth, both forward and backs. If we have a full strength squad it’s competitive although still one solid forward short.

We should be paying the full freight to get Dom here. We need him desperately, unfortunately. If that’s what it will take just do it POS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top