Ponga Appreciation Thread.

[Rod]

Yeah could be! I have no idea, but it appears to be stacks-on-Knights week/month - so a lot of shit is going to get thrown around, especially where Kalyn is concerned. We've sat through many years of the media thirsting over Kalyn leaving the club and it eventuating to nothing, so on this particular topic I take rumours with an extra grain of salt. Where Kalyn is concerned, I've learned to not get too bent out of shape before we hear directly from his camp.

One thing I'll say about KP is that he never spoke out of turn or even so much as hinted at being unhappy despite being the face of endless speculation from the minute he joined the club.

I'm sure there's some stuff going behind the scenes with Andre etc, it's inevitable for a player of that magnitude, and this time could well be different from all of the others, but I at least respect him for that.

 

[jonno_knights]

I know he’s not technically a local junior but to me Dylan is exactly the kind of player Newy should be all about.

Shame about his Manager though...

 

[mozza91]

Now he’s possibly leaving I’m looking forward to his salary getting a 100K lower each week on 360. What’s it now 1.5 Mil? It’ll start going down shortly.

 

[Zoidberg]

I just had a thought and wondering if this has anything to do with his injuries? Maybe he thinks going to rugby will be easier on his body to play and not get a major injury every few months. Maybe extend his career.
Would make him leaving a bit easier to swallow if it happens.

 

[HarVeeGee]

I just had a thought and wondering if this has anything to do with his injuries? Maybe he thinks going to rugby will be easier on his body to play and not get a major injury every few months. Maybe extend his career.
Would make him leaving a bit easier to swallow if it happens.

I reckon so. His collisions per game drastically drop.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I just had a thought and wondering if this has anything to do with his injuries? Maybe he thinks going to rugby will be easier on his body to play and not get a major injury every few months. Maybe extend his career.
Would make him leaving a bit easier to swallow if it happens.

Well, he will have the option to just kick the ball out instead of returning it.

 

[Alex28]

Hannay rumour apparently coming from an anonymous source very close to Ponga’s camp. Make of that what you will.

So, it’s actually nothing. Yet.

 

[Apey]

Ponga won’t win Newcastle a title, so let him leave. This 20-year rot is the real issue

Putting it politely, Newcastle’s roster is a complete mess. Kalyn Ponga and Adam O’Brien can’t solve it, because the problems run so much deeper at my club.

www.smh.com.au

Anyone got a SMH subscription? Joey article.

Probably not much different to what Joey was saying on Freddy and the Eighth.

 

[macavity]

Joey just ripping into the club saying dark times ahead and says we should let Pong go with thanks.

 

[perverse]

Best let this one play out I reckon. We are the medias chew toy right now. He might be leaving, he might not - but this was a very unnecessary post from him if he wasn't genuine about it.

I'm still in his corner, tbh. The hate he gets without saying a word makes me pretty disappointed.

 

[perverse]

Joey just ripping into the club saying dark times ahead and says we should let Pong go with thanks.

Joey should have kept his f**king mouth shut on this one and let it play out. Now we've got a situation where a club legend is in the paper telling our captain to leave, and our captain is on socials saying he's committed to staying.

God he's f**king hopeless sometimes. He's damn lucky he could play football real good.

 

[Knight Tales]

Perhaps Hannay is getting the job afterall. His IG statement does not sound like there is no change afoot.

 

[Apey]

Joey should have kept his f**king mouth shut on this one and let it play out. Now we've got a situation where a club legend is in the paper telling our captain to leave, and our captain is on socials saying he's committed to staying.

God he's f**king hopeless sometimes. He's damn lucky he could play football real good.

Eh I read the article and watched the original footage, I don't think what he said was that out of place. He seemed pretty sombre about it, and was saying if he does leave, he wishes him all the best and thanks for everything he did for the club. The headline is a bit of bait, he did make the point of what the f**k do we do at hooker and halfback if Ponga goes?

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Joey should have kept his f**king mouth shut on this one and let it play out. Now we've got a situation where a club legend is in the paper telling our captain to leave, and our captain is on socials saying he's committed to staying.

God he's f**king hopeless sometimes. He's damn lucky he could play football real good.

He isnt wrong though

 

[perverse]

He isnt wrong though

He's wrong to say anything until the dust settles unless he wants to create more problems than he solves. Right now, while the club is on fire, is not the time to pour petrol on. If he wants to share his opinion, I'm sure anyone at the club will pick up the phone for him.

Joey has, and always has had, an axe to grind with the club regarding building a squad made up entirely of Cessnock Goannas and Maitland Pumpkin Pickers, and it's the same old axe he's grinding today. It's the same mentality that every 65 year old sitting on the hill at any given game will give you. It's "back in my day" shit.

Re: the article, I agree with bits and pieces, but all in all it's just a tone deaf and unhelpful article to put out there right now (assuming he cares more about the club than doing the bidding of his media bosses). It's a f**king horrible headline for the club during a period where we didn't need another one. Thanks for the help, Joey.

 

[Apey]

I don't think the article was necessary but tbh someone else was going to write it if not him. There's no way as a media pundit and Knights legend he was going to get out of putting forward his opinion on Ponga potentially leaving. Of course, it is Joey, and he doesn't really have the brains to do it in a more diplomatic fashion. He's an emotional baby at the best of times, lol.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

He's wrong to say anything until the dust settles unless he wants to create more problems than he solves. Right now, while the club is on fire, is not the time to pour petrol on. If he wants to share his opinion, I'm sure anyone at the club will pick up the phone for him.

Joey has, and always has had, an axe to grind with the club regarding building a squad made up entirely of Cessnock Goannas and Maitland Pumpkin Pickers, and it's the same old axe he's grinding today. It's the same mentality that every 65 year old sitting on the hill at any given game will give you. It's "back in my day" shit.

Re: the article, I agree with bits and pieces, but all in all it's just a tone deaf and unhelpful article to put out there right now (assuming he cares more about the club than doing the bidding of his media bosses). It's a f**king horrible headline for the club during a period where we didn't need another one. Thanks for the help, Joey.

Meh there is so much narrative around it that its just adding to the white noise imo, doubt its actually causing any damage when taken into context.

The part in bold is a bit OTT though mate. Sure Joey has always been Newcastle 1st when it comes to the Knights but hes also been a huge supporter of Ponga and other imports over the years. His own playing career at the club would have been lesser without the BKs, Robbie Os, Parsons, etc and I think hes aware of that. The bloke is blunt and always will be but that doesnt make him wrong imo

 

[perverse]

Meh there is so much narrative around it that its just adding to the white noise imo, doubt its actually causing any damage when taken into context.

The part in bold is a bit OTT though mate. Sure Joey has always been Newcastle 1st when it comes to the Knights but hes also been a huge supporter of Ponga and other imports over the years. His own playing career at the club would have been lesser without the BKs, Robbie Os, Parsons, etc and I think hes aware of that. The bloke is blunt and always will be but that doesnt make him wrong imo

Possibly not wrong, but premature certainly. It wouldn't have killed him to pick up the phone and ask the club, or even Kalyn personally where he's at before opening his mouth. He's Andrew Johns. He has the ability to talk to the club in a way that most people do not. The ink was barely dry on the article before Kalyn has come out and said he's staying put.

I guess my initial comments weren't even speaking to the validity of what he was saying, which I think is a mixed bag all in all - but more to the method, timing and intent. If he wants to help the club, this ain't it. If he wants to just serve his media masters and stoke the fire, then I guess fair play and continue. It is what it is.

 

[perverse]

I don't think the article was necessary but tbh someone else was going to write it if not him. There's no way as a media pundit and Knights legend he was going to get out of putting forward his opinion on Ponga potentially leaving. Of course, it is Joey, and he doesn't really have the brains to do it in a more diplomatic fashion. He's an emotional baby at the best of times, lol.

Sure someone else would write it, but it doesn't carry weight like it does from Joey. He certainly is a baby, I'll pay that - and he's probably just shooting from the hip here after getting a poke from his editor to write something. I don't disagree with any of that honestly, I just wish he didn't add to the pile-on, especially when 5 minutes later Kalyn is out there pouring cold water on all of it anyway. We could have just... not had that article and moved on with our lives.

 

[Woody90]

I’ve got to say, KP’s post deflated me a little bit. Not because I was super keen for him to leave, but I was feeling like a clean break with a new coaching team and new captain would be the more positive outcome for us.

I hope he genuinely feels that way and wasn’t just because of media pressure because completely agree the best option would have been to let it play out so everyone’s happy.