Around the Grounds

[AusKnightRKO]

He’s clearly injured which is absolutely hampering him, would not at all be surprised to see him dropped for game 3, if Walsh aims up over the next two weeks.

 

[Yosh]

Also, Edwards did nothing also. Games are so tight maybe fullbacks are having a hard time getting into the game.

 

[TooheysNew]

NRL.com stats

 

[Apey]

Had a laugh at one of the post origin player ratings. Can't remember which site it was but they said Ponga improved on his game 1 performance. Uhhh

 

[Rod]

Ponga has never been a big returner of the footy, and even less so now that he's carrying an injury. Whereas kick return metres are where Edwards gets most of his stats. They're very different players.

For the record I've never been convinced by Edwards, he was a sideways move from Teddy at best.

 

[TooheysNew]

That's fine, but if you're not going to return the footy, you need to bring something else to the table apart from unconvincing attempts at high kicks and missed tackles.

 

[Rod]

Yeah that's fair, I certainly don't think Ponga had a good game, moreso that Edwards' stats often tend to exaggerate what he's actually providing.

 

[Knight Tales]

I can see O’Sullivan going cold on a new deal for Kalyn. It is reasonable now to believe that Andre is creating hype around his son cos the writing is on the wall. There is no way they can justify paying him what he is on now again.

 

[slotmachine]

And anyone who thinks he will get what he is getting now is dreaming.

The issue is they've painted themselves into a corner with Brown's ridiculous deal, ponga is going to point to that and say show me the money.

Was the worst player on the field last night. I guess it's pleasing to see he's not just phoning it in for the knights and actually is just complete balls at the moment.

 

[Woody90]

He’s clearly injured which is absolutely hampering him, would not at all be surprised to see him dropped for game 3, if Walsh aims up over the next two weeks.

I’m sorry but the injury excuse while often true for him this year, is a cop out for this game (not you specifically, but in general). He literally spent most of his time trying to defend in the line and smash people. He must not be too injured if he’s doing that when it’s not his job. His job was to play fullback and he didn’t get his positioning right once. I’ve never seen him play that poorly. I was genuinely thinking he must have been concussed or something because even out of form Ponga can usually position himself. Somehow working with one of the games best fullbacks made him worse.

 

[Woody90]

The issue is they've painted themselves into a corner with Brown's ridiculous deal, ponga is going to point to that and say show me the money.

Was the worst player on the field last night. I guess it's pleasing to see he's not just phoning it in for the knights and actually is just complete balls at the moment.

Signing Brown doesn’t mean we have to re-sign Ponga though.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Also, Edwards did nothing also. Games are so tight maybe fullbacks are having a hard time getting into the game.

Edwards has been putting in for Penrith and as much as he was a handbrake in attack last night, he was very good defensively

 

[mozza91]

Some players can still play their best or close to whilst carrying an injury Ponga isn’t, nor has he ever been one of those players. We’ve seen it a number of times over the years.

 

[Knight Tales]

Some players can still play their best or close to whilst carrying an injury Ponga isn’t, nor has he ever been one of those players. We’ve seen it a number of times over the years.

Teddy has done this for years much to his credit! Not bad for a guy who did his ACL more than once.

 

[Burwood]

I’m sorry but the injury excuse while often true for him this year, is a cop out for this game (not you specifically, but in general). He literally spent most of his time trying to defend in the line and smash people. He must not be too injured if he’s doing that when it’s not his job. His job was to play fullback and he didn’t get his positioning right once. I’ve never seen him play that poorly. I was genuinely thinking he must have been concussed or something because even out of form Ponga can usually position himself. Somehow working with one of the games best fullbacks made him worse.

If the biggest gripe with Ponga last night was him defending in the line, that’s 100% on the coach. It has nothing to do with being out of form or injured. The most glaring issue for mine was that he couldn’t diffuse any bombs- that’s inexcusable at that level.

Another issue for Ponga in Origin is that he’s a small cog in the machine. He doesn’t need to have 40+ possessions when the spine also contains Munster, Grant etc. I lost count of the amount of times the ball was shifted out wide but stopped before it got to him- often Munster running it himself or turning it back. Edwards would kill it in that QLD side with his high workload and low error rate.

Slater needs to work out how to fit him into the side, or pick another fullback (Walsh likely more of a liability in Origin level).

 

[SamSepi0l]

100% on the defending in the line bit. If anyone thinks that is on Ponga... well I don't know what to tell you anymore.

 

[ryan.a87]

Stefano was useless last night

if Daley doesn’t pick May for game three, he is dumb

 

[HarVeeGee]

Also, Edwards did nothing also. Games are so tight maybe fullbacks are having a hard time getting into the game.

Edwards makes a consistent baseline contribution to a team whether or not he scores or sets up tries though, in a way that Ponga doesn't quite.

 

[HarVeeGee]

Ponga is past it, the injuries only excuse his form so much.

He's lost his pace and his agility is also way down. At this point I'd be happy to let him walk and I've been one of his biggest defenders here

Welcome to the He Man Ponga Haters Club mate. There's a Haterade dispenser in the corner if you get thirsty.

Guys. It's like half a season. He was never the consistent type. He can still rip it up for the rest of the year. It was rainy as hell as well.

When your best player & captain is not 'the consistent type'... that's not great news.

 

[mozza91]

Stefano was useless last night

if Daley doesn’t pick May for game three, he is dumb

Stefano has been useless his entire career. Laurie Daley is also dumb so I’m expecting zero changes.