Kalyn Ponga discussion

Joshhh said:
He's finally maturing into a proper footballer now. Not just a talented kid that's in and out of games. I really think he took a big step up last year with Pearce gone, he just hadn't been able to stay on the field consistently. After 2021 there were real concerns about him being lazy or not being demanding enough to take ownership of the team. But in 2022 he switched on mentally and decided he wanted to be at the forefront of the game. That's what really sparked the whole is he a half conversation. We've been struggling for over a year to figure out the right balance and where he fits, but it's starting to look like we're getting closer. Just need to try and keep adding quality pieces around him.
Click to expand...
I think part of it as well is that previously it’s like AOB had a lot of pre-conceived notions about how KP should play. Tried to turn him into James Tedesco at fullback, seemingly tried to keep him away from the left side of the field due to some notion that he could only be a “complete” player if he didn’t favour one side or another, and then this year they seemed to think KP being a dominant playmaker necessitated moving him to the halves and getting a yardage/support play merchant at fullback.

I don’t know, maybe seeing Reece Walsh & Scott Drinkwater, fullbacks who can also play 6, absolutely kill it while mostly attacking wide areas and being a more common kicking option than their teams’ five-eighth, has led to AOB shedding some of his preconceived notions.

Our poor attack through 2020-22 has led to many of us (myself included, I’ll admit) concluding that we’d always have attacking dysfunction with KP at fullback. Turns out maybe the problems were more 1) Having halves who weren’t good facilitators for their outside men like Jackson & to a lesser extent Tyson are and 2) Trying to cram players into square holes into attack rather than constructing our attack around the strengths and weaknesses of the players we have.
 
I wonder how far up the Dally M ladder he is now? Clearly not top 3-5 after not being available in the early part of the season but in the last few months he will have captured the full 6 points quite a few times you’d reckon.
 
72497006_crocker-m-29072023-dsc_047501_202372917545.jpg


👀
 
If we keep winning he might go close. But don't know if it'd be enough. Missing 5 games in a row, in a team that has been struggling all year, would have to be almost unheard of to win a Dally M like that.
 
frankLauda said:
He won't get Dally M even if we win the rest of the games. This is the leaderboard at 12 rounds.


View attachment 6497
Click to expand...
Thing to remember though about this year is that the system has changed, you can poll a maximum of 6 points per round with the new dual-voting system. So theoretically he could chase those top guys much more easily than in previous years, particularly with the injuries/origin/suspensions a few of those top 10 have had.

I agree that he's probably missed too much footy and wouldn't have polled many points at 6 bar that one Titans game, but he could be a real bolter if we continue to finish strong.
 
Rupert Murdoch said:
That jaw line has one the finest *** chins I have ever had the privilege to see with my own eyes.
Click to expand...
A strange fellow. Looks like he’s been chasing parked cars to me but the next person along might say he’s wonderful! 🤷🏼‍♂️ I would then say their eyes are painted on but I’m just making up scenarios here let’s face it.
 
I actually think Ponga going to 6 was a good thing for us. He had a lot of time off to work on his passing and his in play kicks. He has always had the natural talent but now he has actually worked hard at his craft. The other good thing is he is not as afraid to take on the line and get hit now. Now we are seeing what a long off seasons can do for him and I'm excited to what else he can do this year!😀
 
I normally take what the media says with a grain of salt but many outlets have their, “team of the week”. Has anyone noticed that even though Ponga has been the revival of our team, scoring a try most weeks, setting up plenty and earning well over a hundred metres per game he is still never seen in any of these lineups? Call me petty 😂
 
MBQLD said:
I normally take what the media says with a grain of salt but many outlets have their, “team of the week”. Has anyone noticed that even though Ponga has been the revival of our team, scoring a try most weeks, setting up plenty and earning well over a hundred metres per game he is still never seen in any of these lineups? Call me petty 😂
Click to expand...
He’s a pretty permanent fixture in bloke in a bar’s team of the week.
 
We used to play a drinking game where you took a swig every time the commentators said something stupid.
I will never forget the quote "that's 2 big men coming together". For that, I skulled my beer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top