Match Discussion: Round 12 vs Penrith @ Carrington Park, Bathurst / Wiradjuri

[T-Boon]

I mean he's always great. I think the mismatch on that edge is making him look a million bucks. He's a quality player, wouldn't look out of place in sky blue.

Fletcher Sharpe should be on the bench for the blues for origin 2. For his versatility and obviously his ability.

 

[slotmachine]

Someone needs to have a serious think about moving on from Ponga.

Playing Sharpe at FB, Brown at 6 and using KPs money to sign a 7 and a prop makes us a better team in 2026

 

[perverse]

Someone needs to have a serious think about moving on from Ponga.

Playing Sharpe at FB, Brown at 6 and using KPs money to sign a 7 and a prop makes us a better team in 2026

If you can find a decent 7 then yeah probably.

 

[slotmachine]

Not even a decent one, just someone to kick long and get the team round the park

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Someone needs to have a serious think about moving on from Ponga.

Playing Sharpe at FB, Brown at 6 and using KPs money to sign a 7 and a prop makes us a better team in 2026

I can't believe we're even talking about it but yeah, there's merit to the idea. The club isn't getting value from Ponga and he's 27 now. Speed and agility will slowly decline from here. The fact though, that the club failed to put a quality team and coach around him will always be one of the biggest failings in its history.

That said, Ponga is neither durable nor committed enough to ever win a Premiership in a team where he has to be the main man. He's no leader either. I'd keep him one more season and if we don't win it, see ya.

 

[slotmachine]

He's no leader either.

Yeah also a shit captain

 

[Apey]

Someone needs to have a serious think about moving on from Ponga.

Playing Sharpe at FB, Brown at 6 and using KPs money to sign a 7 and a prop makes us a better team in 2026

I see where you're coming from but Panthers are one of the worst teams in the comp and had about 9 first graders out this week. Not trying to play down us winning a game for once but people need to measure their expectations of how we'd play against other football teams.

There's no doubt that Sharpe's best position is fullback though. But was that ever really in doubt? We already knew that. No idea where that leaves us. Can't see the club moving on from Ponga unless another club takes the decision from us.

I never thought he should have been captain though. Completely agree there. We just lacked any other real options at the time and still do really. Gave it to our most expensive player.

 

[Haffa]

If you can find a decent 7 then yeah probably.

Cogger?

seriously though that knock on when we were 10 out was disgraceful. Gamble showed what a decent kicking game can do despite his limitations

 

[SamSepi0l]

Gamble >>>> Cogger confirmed once again today.

 

[Old dog]

A few players really stepped up, Sharpe, Gamble, Frizell, Jones, Lucas, - notable mentions, Croker, MCCarthy, Hunt, Gagai, KPP, Cant, - went ok Schiller, Cogger, - bit disappointing, Crossland, Brailey, - inj Elliott and Bryan but good while on

 

[Alex28]

I see where you're coming from but Panthers are one of the worst teams in the comp and had about 9 first graders out this week. Not trying to play down us winning a game for once but people need to measure their expectations of how we'd play against other football teams.

There's no doubt that Sharpe's best position is fullback though. But was that ever really in doubt? We already knew that. No idea where that leaves us. Can't see the club moving on from Ponga unless another club takes the decision from us.

I never thought he should have been captain though. Completely agree there. We just lacked any other real options at the time and still do really. Gave it to our most expensive player.

As AOB pointed out, we had 7 out as well, including at least 3 of our best players.

That excuse for the Panthers is bullshit.

 

[Yosh]

Ponga to 7 I'm telling you guys!

 

[The Axe of Druss]

We won in similar fashion against a reserve grade Souths side

I'm not taking anything from this win

 

[Apey]

As AOB pointed out, we had 7 out as well, including at least 3 of our best players.

That excuse for the Panthers is bullshit.

Yeah ok, you missed the point. The post was in reply to Sharpe looking great at fullback. We already knew that's his best position and I then also pointed out it was against the team coming 16th at the time and missing half their team.

If you do want to go down that tangent then I'll happily trade Ponga, JSaf, Best, Leo and the rest of our outs for just Cleary, Yeo and To'o without hesitation.

 

[Alex28]

Yeah ok, you missed the point. The post was in reply to Sharpe looking great at fullback. We already knew that's his best position and I then also pointed out it was against the team coming 16th at the time and missing half their team.

If you do want to go down that tangent then I'll happily trade Ponga, JSaf, Best, Leo and the rest of our outs for just Cleary, Yeo and To'o without hesitation.

Just saying, both teams were missing their top players, so if you excuse the Panthers for it, we should get praise in return.

 

[mozza91]

We won in similar fashion against a reserve grade Souths side

I'm not taking anything from this win

We were close to full strength against a totally depleted Bunnies side.
Tonight was 2 depleted teams playing. Should definitely take more positives out of tonight.
It means nothing if we don’t back it up next week though.

 

[Knight Tales]

Good win. Let us all just enjoy it. We have only let in 6 points more than the Bulldogs. The team running first.

 

[slotmachine]

Gamble >>>> Cogger confirmed once again today.

Liked that he found a mismatch and kept going back there. It's something we weirdly don't tend to do

 

[Woody90]

Liked that he found a mismatch and kept going back there. It's something we weirdly don't tend to do

It’s such simple halves play and yet Cogger can’t seem to work it out.

 

[Woody90]

I can't believe we're even talking about it but yeah, there's merit to the idea. The club isn't getting value from Ponga and he's 27 now. Speed and agility will slowly decline from here. The fact though, that the club failed to put a quality team and coach around him will always be one of the biggest failings in its history.

That said, Ponga is neither durable nor committed enough to ever win a Premiership in a team where he has to be the main man. He's no leader either. I'd keep him one more season and if we don't win it, see ya.

Ponga’s never been that fast. He’s definitely not slow but he’s not been blessed with the natural speed that the likes of Sharpe and Walsh have. The problem is more he doesn’t seem to have the energy to try and play fast throughout the whole game. I think that actually made a huge difference to our play yesterday. Sharpe rushing the ball back with energy from every single handover set the pace for all of our sets. Compare that with KP who usually jogs it back and slows down at the defence, I suspect worried about the contact, it starts our sets off on a lethargic note and the rest of the side seem to feed off it. Now when KP weaves through the defensive line on kick returns he’s unstoppable, but that’s obviously not always going to happen and as a FB sometimes you need to just run it back quickly knowing you’re going to get smashed. So in that sense I’m not so worried about him declining physically, but yeah, we’re not really getting return on investment now.

I don’t want to make the call now that we need to look at moving him on because we seem to go through this every year and by the end of the season we all love him again, and I’m also not at all confident we’d be able to find a decent enough halfback to spend his money on given the drought in the game…however, I think we may finally be in a position where we don’t have to be held to ransom by him and his Dad next time his contracts up. If he gets a better offer elsewhere we’re in a strong enough position with Sharpe (and I suppose Votano behind him) that we can say thank you for your service but it’s not the end of the world if you leave.