Kalyn Ponga discussion

These idiots actually get paid to write. Is Riccio just butt hurt or actually that thick

“Ponga has started pre-season training and was at the announcement of Holbrook, but who knows if he will be at the club next year?” - Dave Riccio

The guy is training when he doesn’t need to be and was there to meet new coach but yeah he’ll probably be somewhere else next year 🤪
 
Hammer just announced he’s available for Samoa for the World Cup. You would assume now Reece Walsh has FB locked in for the Australia. Confident KP will switch his allegiance to the Kiwis. I say he will wait till after origin next year if he gets selected for QLD.
 
Are we all now thinking walsh is the complete player all of a sudden?. His in a purple patch no doubt just like ponga was in 2023. Walsh is every chance of falling off and playing like he did through the first part of the season next year. No reason ponga wont be backing himself to outplay him in 26.
 
I don’t know what “complete player” means, but there are very few things he’s not good at and he just had the single best performance by a player in a grand final I have ever seen. I guess you could argue that means the only way is down but that’s in itself praise of where he is right now.
 
I just have this feeling with DB, Adam Blair at Newcastle now he will play for the kiwis. I can’t see him getting picked for Australia either with Reece and brushing Mal. He’s burned his bridges with Australia.
 
frankLauda said:
I just have this feeling with DB, Adam Blair at Newcastle now he will play for the kiwis. I can’t see him getting picked for Australia either with Reece and brushing Mal. He’s burned his bridges with Australia.
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Yeah I think that’s the main thing with Ponga and Australia … even if he wanted to, they’ll be very reluctant to select him after last year’s antics. I see a path into the Queensland side for him with form and injuries, but not Australia.
 
EASBay17 said:
Are we all now thinking walsh is the complete player all of a sudden?. His in a purple patch no doubt just like ponga was in 2023. Walsh is every chance of falling off and playing like he did through the first part of the season next year. No reason ponga wont be backing himself to outplay him in 26.
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I kind of think Ponga comes out trying to in 2026, which is exciting for us if he can. But I’m also very sick of expecting miracles and peak Ponga performances.

Let’s not forget Walsh started the year very poor. Leading into origin there were talks about who would play 1 with Walsh and Ponga playing poorly.
He seems a confidence player. When his confidence is high, he’s unstoppable. When it’s low, I think he struggles. He’s still good for some errors and trying to do too much. I don’t think they look very good when they have Mam, Hunt, Walsh and Reynolds all trying to run the show.

Can only really judge him now on his last game (or 10 games) and they have been pretty impressive. I think he’s now going into a stage of his career where those superstar performances are expected of him. He’s raised the bar for himself.

I think Broncos coaching team have a big job ahead to keep a lid on things.
I may be reading WAYYYY too much into things. But celebrating the win - we saw Carrigan and Haas celebrating together, and a bit of a group pile in started, Walsh was out there alone for a long time. (Struck me as somebody who expected the team to swamp him). Barely Sherlock Holmes level of evidence I know. But coupled with his antics in the finals where he followed the PTB all set keeping an eye on the clock and pushed hooker out of the way because he NEEDED to be the one to take the final carry and showboat. When you’re winning, it doesn’t matter, but I can see a world where it becomes an issue. You don’t want to coach that personality out of him, we don’t need more robots, but maybe just need to keep an eye on it. Maybe the group absolutely love him.
Cliche but, the term “earned arrogance” came up at the end of the season. Atm, he has earned it. Absolutely great performances to finish the season. But it’ll be interesting to see what happens when there’s a dip. If there is a dip.
 
With his form taking a hit and Walsh over taking him, I’d say it’s good, Walsh will have first crack at the Kangaroos 1, I doubt KP could ever over take him, so makes sense if he does decide to switch.
 
Junior said:
I hope with all this hype around Brown that it sends a rocket up KPs *** and he wants to prove that he’s still our number 1 guy!
If so, could be attacking masterclass from the pair
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I think he just needs to stay fit and opportunities will come his way.

But we will see what he’s made of. Walsh in his prime now QLD FB. Sharpe waiting in the wings (could literally be) for a shot at FB. Brown coming in to take some limelight. Without meaning to be too dramatic, 2026 will set the tone for Ponga’s future.

With the recruitment we have done, he doesn’t need to have his hand in the cookie jar every play of every set. He can sit back, sip his strawberry milkshake, count numbers, watch defences, pick his moments to inject himself into situations that result in tries.

I back Holbrook to be thinking of the best way to use him since before he interviewed.

That said, I think he’s playing for his future in the red and blue (either on his terms or ours), especially if Smith lines up at 7, pushing Sharpe wide. If we are rubbish, I think he negotiates elsewhere come November and we probably entertain the idea of him leaving early to bolster the team elsewhere. If we play well and he doesn’t contribute to the tune of $1M I think we consider bowing out of an extension and let him go to market and shift Sharpe.

If everything clicks, we have a real dilemma. Depending upon who Perth manage to get in, that could leave some clubs desperate for some X factor and drive his price up. I think we will find out how happy he truly is in Newcastle.

I genuinely hope we see the player that is devastatingly dangerous getting into those 3 v 3 situations and popping up to give us numbers at will. I’m trying to contain my excitement that we may actually develop an attacking plan to utilise our weapons and he will reap the benefits.

I’m optimistic we can double our points scored next season. 2025 was THAT lacklustre and uninspiring.
 
The hybrid role AOB and the coaching staff had him playing effected is game and resulted in mixed form. And then he got injured.

It’s definitely not through lack of trying. I’ve heard multiple times through player interviews Ponga is one of the hardest trainers and always puts in extras. So people saying he’s not putting is simply not true.
 
frankLauda said:
The hybrid role AOB and the coaching staff had him playing effected is game and resulted in mixed form. And then he got injured.

It’s definitely not through lack of trying. I’ve heard multiple times through player interviews Ponga is one of the hardest trainers and always puts in extras. So people saying he’s not putting is simply not true.
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Yehh, the last 2 seasons have been hampered by injuries/concussions. Not a true reflection on him.

I absolutely bought into what he was saying last pre season, turning down Mal not getting selected for Kangaroos to focus on pre season here and I thought he was set for a massive year.

It’s hard to know exactly what went on with AOB and him and the hybrid role and who instigated what. But hopefully that experiment is done and he can get back to playing to his strengths and not having to take the reins in a playmaking sense. Can just focus on being a top fullback

I’ve been burned before, so I cautiously look forward to seeing him back to his best and be the Ponga we love.
 
frankLauda said:
The hybrid role AOB and the coaching staff had him playing effected is game and resulted in mixed form. And then he got injured.

It’s definitely not through lack of trying. I’ve heard multiple times through player interviews Ponga is one of the hardest trainers and always puts in extras. So people saying he’s not putting is simply not true.
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Just play Ponga as a running fullback like he was before all this hybrid halves rubbish confused the team and hamstrung individuals. It was just a total ****show tbh.
 
Junior said:
I hope with all this hype around Brown that it sends a rocket up KPs *** and he wants to prove that he’s still our number 1 guy!
If so, could be attacking masterclass from the pair
Click to expand...
This is a good point, its a legit insight. Rather than the team viewing itself the way it is characterised, as a one-man team, having Brown around should have a positive impact on how Ponga's ego affects his game. It should also raise the level of the team in the way they view themselves.
 
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