Kalyn Ponga discussion

slotmachine said:
And yet he played 5/8 (terribly) for a month immediately after he returned from the Canada trip, leading to the infamous Eels game where Moses repeatedly clowned him.

So obviously no issue with his health, he just stunk out loud and hasn't been back there since.
Click to expand...

Yep I’m aware he played a couple of games in the 6 when coming back but I never agreed with it, especially considering both he and Lachie Miller were going terribly. I thought it was borderline negligent and we’re lucky he didn’t get another concussion. Thankfully they had a reconsider.
 
Chaister said:
The Ponga to 6 will never happen again as it’s a danger to Ponga’s health. That’s the bottom line at the end of the day.

The only way it could work is if you played Ponga at 6 but then had him defending at 1, but those positional swaps in attack and defence rarely work well on transitions.
Click to expand...
With today's hypersensitivity for contact above the shoulders, Ponga at 6 would be either of a penalty cheat code or be at no further risk of head injury
 
Les Misérables said:
With today's hypersensitivity for contact above the shoulders, Ponga at 6 would be either of a penalty cheat code or be at no further risk of head injury
Click to expand...
Yes he would becuase the majority of concussions occur to the defender not the ball carrier. So yeah he’d be at a significantly increased risk because he’d be forced to make 25+ plus tackles per game at 6. Opposed to the 3 or 4 he makes at fullback

Also getting a penalty for a hit in the head doesn’t help much if he’s off the field for a HIA or worse gets a concussion.
 
Newygirl said:
Yes he would becuase the majority of concussions occur to the defender not the ball carrier. So yeah he’d be at a significantly increased risk because he’d be forced to make 25+ plus tackles per game at 6. Opposed to the 3 or 4 he makes at fullback

Also getting a penalty for a hit in the head doesn’t help much if he’s off the field for a HIA or worse gets a concussion.
Click to expand...
Plus he can’t tackle for toffee so when not suffering with a HIA would be a walking turnstile in defence.
 
Newygirl said:
Yes he would becuase the majority of concussions occur to the defender not the ball carrier. So yeah he’d be at a significantly increased risk because he’d be forced to make 25+ plus tackles per game at 6. Opposed to the 3 or 4 he makes at fullback

Also getting a penalty for a hit in the head doesn’t help much if he’s off the field for a HIA or worse gets a concussion.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. People point out that he’s also copped concussions at fullback which is true, but it’s just common sense a player is likely to cop more in a position where they’re making 30 tackles a game as opposed to 5.

When he’s not a natural half and playing there is more likely to end his career or worse, effect his long-term brain health, there’s absolutely no indication to move him.
 
Thieves Like Us said:
Plus he can’t tackle for toffee so when not suffering with a HIA would be a walking turnstile in defence.
Click to expand...
Yeah you’ve only got to look at his attempt at tackle in the Tigers match in early 23 when he was knocked out cold.

He’s clearly never really learned to defend properly and now the problem is compounded by his fear of being injured so putting him at 6 now would be a disaster. Teams would just send all their attack at him. Would not be pretty
 
Kurriboy said:
Sure, but that wasn't my point.

And, Sharpe has not had near the level of scrutiny Ponga/pressure got in the position.

Ponga was bullied in to the position by the press who kept on about it, OB eventually moved him there, and then when Ponga didn't set the world on fire there the press started running the stories on how long can AOB persist with the experiment, and that he was risking his job keeping him there etc etc.

Anyway, my post wasn't about Sharpe vs Ponga, just to highlight the different views on two different players moving from fullback to 5/8th.

The concussion thing is another one, Ponga got the majority of his concussions playing from the 1, yet the view is we are protecting him somehow from concussions playing him from the 1. Ponga just had a bad run of concussions, the position didn't really matter substantially.

I think Ponga needs to just go somewhere else for a fresh start.
Click to expand...
I know you say the majority of his concussions were at 1 and not 6, but I wonder if these were more about the timing of his career, rather than his position?
Remember there was a couple of years there when it was just a free for all for cheap shots on Ponga and the refs didn’t do a thing about it, every game it seemed they were attacking his head. JWH really showcased his ability to be a grub during these times.
 
listo said:
I know you say the majority of his concussions were at 1 and not 6, but I wonder if these were more about the timing of his career, rather than his position?
Remember there was a couple of years there when it was just a free for all for cheap shots on Ponga and the refs didn’t do a thing about it, every game it seemed they were attacking his head. JWH really showcased his ability to be a grub during these times.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats my point, the position he was playing wasn't a big factor.

He isn't being protected from concussions playing in the 1, the club isn't keeping him there because if he plays 6 he could get concussed.
 
listo said:
I know you say the majority of his concussions were at 1 and not 6, but I wonder if these were more about the timing of his career, rather than his position?
Remember there was a couple of years there when it was just a free for all for cheap shots on Ponga and the refs didn’t do a thing about it, every game it seemed they were attacking his head. JWH really showcased his ability to be a grub during these times.
Click to expand...
And the little man from the Sharks, Townsend.
 
Frank McWilliams said:
I am a big admirer of both Ponga and Sharpe but claiming Sharpe is a better f/b than Ponga is a bit of a stretch.
I think both are very good, excellent actually but different styles, Ponga more laid back waiting for his moments where Sharpe is more of a go getter, plays flat out and creates his opportunities with effort and speed.
Click to expand...
Realise I'm going back a few days quoting this comment but I only just saw it & had to highlight it.

For my money this is kind of why Sharpe is waaaaay closer than he should be to Kalyn's level as a fullback already, and why I think Fletcher surpassing him and having a better NRL career is legitimately in play.

Think about the premiership winning/contending teams in the NRL era. What archetype of fullback did you see more often on those teams? The laidback, brilliant, mercurial, "he can do stuff other players can't" guy, or the all effort, high work rate one?

This isn't to say Kalyn is "lazy" or doesn't work hard. But there is definitely an appreciable difference between him and the fullbacks where it's notable how "on" they always are (eg Teddy, Papenhyuzen), just as a non-negotable thing about them as players.

You'd be brave to suggest Sharpe will ever get to the same level as Kalyn is at at a lot of the stuff Kalyn can do. But I think it's fair to look at the *type* of player the two of them are and ask yourself - what type of player raises a team's ceiling more? What type of fullback correlates more strongly with winning footy?
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Realise I'm going back a few days quoting this comment but I only just saw it & had to highlight it.

For my money this is kind of why Sharpe is waaaaay closer than he should be to Kalyn's level as a fullback already, and why I think Fletcher surpassing him and having a better NRL career is legitimately in play.

Think about the premiership winning/contending teams in the NRL era. What archetype of fullback did you see more often on those teams? The laidback, brilliant, mercurial, "he can do stuff other players can't" guy, or the all effort, high work rate one?

This isn't to say Kalyn is "lazy" or doesn't work hard. But there is definitely an appreciable difference between him and the fullbacks where it's notable how "on" they always are (eg Teddy, Papenhyuzen), just as a non-negotable thing about them as players.

You'd be brave to suggest Sharpe will ever get to the same level as Kalyn is at at a lot of the stuff Kalyn can do. But I think it's fair to look at the *type* of player the two of them are and ask yourself - what type of player raises a team's ceiling more? What type of fullback correlates more strongly with winning footy?
Click to expand...
100% my biggest issue on KP is he doesnt sniff around the ruck and give us options and threats. He only utilises the block plays and his speed. Its a waste of his talents.
 
listo said:
I know you say the majority of his concussions were at 1 and not 6, but I wonder if these were more about the timing of his career, rather than his position?
Remember there was a couple of years there when it was just a free for all for cheap shots on Ponga and the refs didn’t do a thing about it, every game it seemed they were attacking his head. JWH really showcased his ability to be a grub during these times.
Click to expand...
Yep remember during Covid when they were only letting 5000 or so members in.Sitting on the fence for a different perspective. Said to my mate a number of times Ponga must be made of rubber. Body must feel like it's been in about twenty car accidents . It may be catching up with him ?. I felt that JWH one 😀
 
Hititup said:
Local news reporting Ponga wants out at end of season to go to rugby union reported by Chammas. So that's two big breaking news by him he might get one right
Click to expand...
Wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen for either party.

New coach (hopefully), Sharpe playing (and killing it) in his natural position with Brown at 6 and a quality half (not Cogger).

Meanwhile, Ponga gets out of the fish bowl and makes a play for an AB jersey before the next RWC.
 
danknights said:
Mmmmk so after some talking around town. There's bits and bobs going around saying KP will be going UK after this year if he gets his way. Also b green and aob won't be here either. Players have been told they can't train alone and must do extras everyday as a team.

Seems a bit farfetched to me but see what happens.......🤔
Click to expand...
This aged well.......all in the media now. Let's see how true all this really is by the end of the year
 
danknights said:
This aged well.......all in the media now. Let's see how true all this really is by the end of the year
Click to expand...
Knowing these "journalists" they prob just read your comment on here and ran with it.

On a serious note though, I'll be disappointed not to see Ponga and Brown play together, if true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top