Kalyn Ponga discussion

My mate and I were talking about Ponga at half time the other day and agreed on one thing. He was showing no signs of fear digging in to the line and creating space outside him. He had to be tackled every time he got the ball in the first half because he fully engaged the defender.
 
slotmachine said:
KP spent most of the first half with his hands in the air after not getting the ball when he wanted it.
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Reminds me of stories I've heard about the ex-Warriors centre Clinton Toopi ... they gave him some special call so that if he saw a chance he'd yell it out and get the ball so he could exploit it. He ended up just yelling it out for the entire game, he just wanted the ball pretty much every single play haha. Maybe KP needs a call!
 
Owey said:
My mate and I were talking about Ponga at half time the other day and agreed on one thing. He was showing no signs of fear digging in to the line and creating space outside him. He had to be tackled every time he got the ball in the first half because he fully engaged the defender.
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Yeah he didn't look hesitant or scared of contact in this game, it looked like the two weeks intense training really helped.
 
I'd like to know why Ponga came back from Canada so unfit?
the tests he was getting wouldn't have taken more than a few hours at a time I'm sure, and there are gyms everywhere.
He has taken this long to get match fit, so he must have spent all his time in Canada watching net flicks or something.
If someone like Kurt Gidley had gone off on a trip like that, he'd have come back fitter than when he left and would have spent every spare minute in the gym.
 
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Billy said:
I'd like to know why Ponga came back from Canada so unfit?
the tests he was getting wouldn't have taken more than a few hours at a time I'm sure, and there are gyms everywhere.
He has taken this long to get match fit, so he must have spent all his time in Canada watching net flicks or something.
If someone like Kurt Gidley had gone off on a trip like that, he'd have come back fitter than when he left and would have spent every spare minute in the gym.
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"net flicks" 😆

Probably some kind of medical advice to take it easy pending tests and their results.
 
Billy said:
I'd like to know why Ponga came back from Canada so unfit?
the tests he was getting wouldn't have taken more than a few hours at a time I'm sure, and there are gyms everywhere.
He has taken this long to get match fit, so he must have spent all his time in Canada watching net flicks or something.
If someone like Kurt Gidley had gone off on a trip like that, he'd have come back fitter than when he left and would have spent every spare minute in the gym.
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Strawberry milkshakes and Poutine.

I’d have thought just his time away would be enough to affect the cardio. No amount of gym work can prepare someone for full time NRL first grade.
 
He’d barely played for a year, so was always going to take him a while. If he’d started the season when everyone was at a lower level of match fitness then it might not have been as noticeable. Also he wasn’t doing any contact training while recovering from the headknock, that’s been mentioned by him and AOB in media, so it took him a few weeks to get up to speed on that when he returned from Canada as well.
 
Yep that’s it. In the opening rounds, you see way more players really blowing, even though they’re theoretically at their fittest having just been caned in pre-season, more than you do in finals games, even though finals are way higher intensity. There’s just no substitute for match fitness.
 
I always feel like sides can win games based on fitness in the first month. That’s why sometimes you see sides get off to a great start (eg. us) then sink without a trace when the rest of the comp gets their match fitness. Then it becomes more about actual skill and ability.
 
jamesgould said:
I always feel like sides can win games based on fitness in the first month. That’s why sometimes you see sides get off to a great start (eg. us) then sink without a trace when the rest of the comp gets their match fitness. Then it becomes more about actual skill and ability.
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Yep why Dragons look like whirl beaters except for this year ofcourse, hence hook got ..........
 
Call me a sceptic if you will...
But is it a coincidence that Ponga plays his best game since Origin 3 last year 2 weeks out form Origin selection?
I hope I'm wrong but what happens to Pongas form for the Knights after Origin 3 this year?
 
frankLauda said:
I don’t think Ponga had that bad a game. He had one bad miss on Hynes. I think it’s more our team, and bad game plan. Too much one out. Watch how he goes on that QLD side.
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Plus that whole attitude of the squad will be different. QLD will be prepared to kill for the win, do anything, put it all out there.

We don't show anywhere near that level of desire. They just can't muster the will to win and dominate their opponents.

Interesting Ponga in the presser saying he was fine and wasn't dazed, yet laid down after that hit again. Of course it's BS in the presser, you don't lay down like that unless your hurting, or playing for a penalty.

And if Origin wasn't coming up, I'm thinking that gets a cat 1 ruling and he is out for the game and the following week.

I'm sure Ponga will go fine at Origin, but Origin is next level and that game could easily result in him concussed and out for a lengthy stint for us again.
 
I got a lot of negative comments the last time I said Ponga just lies down and plays dead after a head knock which makes it look worse, but he's even saying it himself now.
Medically, it's probably the right thing to do, but it's not what you'd expect to see a football player do in the middle of a game. Most jump to their feet as soon as the can and try to pretend everything is fine.
 
Billy said:
I got a lot of negative comments the last time I said Ponga just lies down and plays dead after a head knock which makes it look worse, but he's even saying it himself now.
Medically, it's probably the right thing to do, but it's not what you'd expect to see a football player do in the middle of a game. Most jump to their feet as soon as the can and try to pretend everything is fine.
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It could also be he is full of **** and concerned about his future.

If he says yeah that one dazed me, it spent look good and puts his future in doubt, again.

Plus at the time he had hopes of playing for qld.

Not sure why people believe exactly what players and coaches say like they could never bend the truth or speak out of their own self interest.
 
Kurriboy said:
It could also be he is full of **** and concerned about his future.

If he says yeah that one dazed me, it spent look good and puts his future in doubt, again.

Plus at the time he had hopes of playing for qld.

Not sure why people believe exactly what players and coaches say like they could never bend the truth or speak out of their own self interest.
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Watching the slo mo replay after the game it was pretty clear he was dazed at the very least … he was on his side and his head had just gone limp.

Staying down might have helped him stay on the field, but I don’t think it’s a good idea if anyone’s considering his future wellbeing.
 
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