Around the Grounds

[Woosh]

How did Lomax end up with the goal kicking duties?
NSW would’ve won if the old man was kicking for them

 

[Yosh]

Just on Ponga, he made one half break yesterday. He used to make 5-6 every game. His passing game was dangerous because defenses were worried about his running game. Feels like he has lost his running game this season.

Never was an effort player like Edwards but at least he was super dangerous with the ball throughout most games but that's gone now. Wonder what he is thinking.

 

[Apey]

View attachment 103305

How did Lomax end up with the goal kicking duties?
NSW would’ve won if the old man was kicking for them

Can you ask ChatGPT if NSW would have won with Dane Gagai kicking goals for NSW please?

 

[Woosh]

Just on Ponga, he made one half break yesterday. He used to make 5-6 every game. His passing game was dangerous because defenses were worried about his running game. Feels like he has lost his running game this season.

Never was an effort player like Edwards but at least he was super dangerous with the ball throughout most games but that's gone now. Wonder what he is thinking.

Age. Ponga can’t keep relying solely on individual brilliance.
He should look at how Shaun Johnson and Benji Marshall evolved their games as they began to lose their speed and agility.
The worry is that Ponga has never really been a student of the game

 

[Woosh]

Can you ask ChatGPT if NSW would have won with Dane Gagai kicking goals for NSW please?

haha are you still upset about the Wong no try?

 

[Yosh]

Age. Ponga can’t keep relying solely on individual brilliance.
He should look at how Shaun Johnson and Benji Marshall evolved their games as they began to lose their speed and agility.
The worry is that Ponga has never really been a student of the game

He is just entering his prime? Only just 27. Not like he is 33....

 

[Apey]

haha are you still upset about the Wong no try?

Why are you sharing that video? I already knew the only reason you gave a shit in the first place was because Gagai talked about it in the press conference.

No, I was hoping you using ChatGPT to reinforce your opinions was going to be a fresh new addition to your posts in here.

 

[Woody90]

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.

I just really don’t think Slater coached him to stay defending in the line and not being ready to defend where he needed to be. Honestly he wasnt even in the frame when a few of NSW tries went through. It was really rookie stuff.

FTR I don’t think KP defending in the line so much was his biggest error last night. More brought it up to say I don’t think injuries were hampering him too much given he seemed to be looking for contact.

 

[Burwood]

Anyone not watching it, Newcastle boys are doing well for NSW U19. Votano setting up 2 tries in quick succession and Hopwood getting over the line.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Votano needs to get to kicks on the full though. He's let a couple bounce now to near disaster

 

[AusKnightRKO]

Both boys have had a great night.

 

[Woody90]

Hopwood looks an incredible prospect tbh. Still needs to fill out too. Looks like he could be the best junior we’ve had come through in a long time. Helps he plays a position we need too.

Votano’s very classy. I have some small concerns regarding his athleticism for the NRL, hopefully another off season will help.

 

[Woosh]

He is just entering his prime? Only just 27. Not like he is 33....

He looks 37 though. Poor lad hasn’t aged well.
He’s been taking a battering ever since he came into first grade.

Some players tend to peak early, particularly those who rely heavily on their agility.
Milford is a prime example.
His best years came early in his Raiders/Broncos days.
After losing some of his athleticism, he tried to being more of an organiser, but it was clear his heart wasn’t in it

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

I can't excuse Ponga for the way he played last night. Thought he was worst on field. Not just defensively but he's atrocious under the high ball. The most alarming aspect for me though is that he's lost agility and pace. His best years are behind him and this rabble of a club wasted those years. For me the clubs greatest failing is not putting a good enough side/coach around Ponga over the past 6 years. Unforgivable.

I'm pretty close to saying it's time to move on from Ponga. He's either injured, out of form or trying to carry the whole team. He's 27. He's not getting faster or more durable from here.

 

[Yosh]

Lost because Votano couldn't kick an easyish conversion!

 

[Woody90]

His best years are behind him and this rabble of a club wasted those years. For me the clubs greatest failing is not putting a good enough side/coach around Ponga over the past 6 years. Unforgivable.

Yeah no. Ponga’s literally taken RL seriously and prioritised it for 2 seasons in his entire career, 2023 and 2024 (and in both years he was injured or in bad form for part of it). We actually had a really good forward pack in front of him with an experienced halfback that had won a comp in 2019-2021 but his priority list during that period obviously didn’t have footy at the top of it.

I love a lay on about the club and what we should have done as much as the next jaded Knights fan, but wanting everything lined up that Ponga may have won us a comp is a bit difficult when there’s literally been 2 half seasons in his career so far where his priorities and physical peak were actually aligned to be in a position for that to even be a distant possibility.

People just don’t like to admit that Ponga has generally under delivered consistently for his pay packet. There must always be someone else at fault, the club, now Billy Slater’s coaching apparently…

I’m not as convinced as some people that he’s necessarily “done” physically forever, especially given his age…but I really hope POS has decided to hold off on that huge contract extension for him he was talking about earlier this year. We need to see if this is it for him or he’s just in bad form.

 

[perverse]

Yeah no. Ponga’s literally taken RL seriously and prioritised it for 2 seasons in his entire career, 2023 and 2024 (and in both years he was injured or in bad form for part of it). We actually had a really good forward pack in front of him with an experienced halfback that had won a comp in 2019-2021 but his priority list during that period obviously didn’t have footy at the top of it.

I love a lay on about the club and what we should have done as much as the next jaded Knights fan, but wanting everything lined up that Ponga may have won us a comp is a bit difficult when there’s literally been 2 half seasons in his career so far where his priorities and physical peak were actually aligned to be in a position for that to even be a distant possibility.

People just don’t like to admit that Ponga has generally under delivered consistently for his pay packet. There must always be someone else at fault, the club, now Billy Slater’s coaching apparently…

I’m not as convinced as some people that he’s necessarily “done” physically forever, especially given his age…but I really hope POS has decided to hold off on that huge contract extension for him he was talking about earlier this year. We need to see if this is it for him or he’s just in bad form.

Both. Both are true. This year being a train wreck has forced next year to be a very big inflection point for the club. Big decisions to be made. I haven't given up on him yet either, but yeah I don't think right now is the time to put a giant extension in front of Kalyn either, agreed. We have some time to evaluate things between now and then.

The hardest part if we want to move on from Kalyn will be finding another spine player that's worth even some of the money that would be available. We'd be relying on getting someone out of a contract because the market looks f**ked next year.

 

[Yosh]

These days it looks far easier getting a good fullback over a good half. The game is leaning towards a high work rate no nonsense style fullback over the playmaking one and Ponga is the latter.

If Ponga does go we have Sharpe, Hunt Votano. We still don't have a halfback. The Woods kid from the Doggies looks good and might want to move to play first grade.

 

[perverse]

These days it looks far easier getting a good fullback over a good half. The game is leaning towards a high work rate no nonsense style fullback over the playmaking one and Ponga is the latter.

If Ponga does go we have Sharpe, Hunt Votano. We still don't have a halfback. The Woods kid from the Doggies looks good and might want to move to play first grade.

Replacing our fullback is the least of our worries. Everyone has this dream that we'll sign a halfback and a big fat prop for his money - but you have to find them. Maybe they become available, maybe they do not. As it stands, Kalyn isn't coming off contract at a good time for us to be shopping.

If we do part ways with Kalyn - we're not going to be much better off as a club if we don't spend his money very, very wisely.

 

[Yosh]

Replacing our fullback is the least of our worries. Everyone has this dream that we'll sign a halfback and a big fat prop for his money - but you have to find them. Maybe they become available, maybe they do not. As it stands, Kalyn isn't coming off contract at a good time for us to be shopping.

If we do part ways with Kalyn - we're not going to be much better off as a club if we don't spend his money very, very wisely.

Halfback is a worry but Hopwood looks a great prospect. Maybe he can be the middle we are all looking for.