Cleary v Ponga

[Vic Mackey]

Kurt Gidley? Did you even see him play?
Ponga does shit on the field he has no right to be doing, Gidley was known for "trying hard"

Gids organized a heaps better after party though

 

[Fangs]

If it were touch football Ponga would be better IMO.

Just an opinion.

 

[Dave_]

Ponga is already the best player in the comp. That is all

 

[Mikehnz]

I'd go Ponga just because I prefer to watch exciting runners of the ball. The Dogs have none.

 

[9701]

I'd go Ponga just because I prefer to watch exciting runners of the ball. The Dogs have none.

Be positive you have Cogger to look forward to next year

 

[Noname36]

If you read the Panthers forum there’s people saying Cleary is more talented than Andrew Johns...so I guess Cleary lol.

Nah in all seriousness they’re too hard to compare. I think Cleary has Ponga beaten for maturity (its scary how mature he is for his age and Ponga makes his fair share of errors) but I wouldn’t trade Ponga for Cleary in a million years either. His creativity and vision and ability to do that in the equally young and inexperienced side he’s in speaks for itself.

 

[King hit]

Cleary plays in one of the most important positions and has guided his club to 2 finals series in his 2 years, his club is on top of the table and he is only the 3rd NSW halfback to win on debut. Professional beyond his years. Ponga has made a great start to his career but still hasn't achieved much.

 

[Noname36]

Hard to say who's better, but if i could have one of them at my club, it would be Cleary all day
Even average NRL fullbacks like Wighton are servicable players, it's a far easier position to find and fill... finding an elite halfback you can build a team around for 12 years is the hardest thing in this sport to do team building wise

Also the nature of Ponga's game, he's 1-2 bad injuries away from losing a lot of what makes him so good. Cleary's best attribute isnt his athleticism. It would STUN me if Cleary isnt one of the best 5 players in the game...

I dont expect it to happen but it wouldnt shock me if in 6 years time Ponga isnt playing rep footy

Ponga plays more like a #6 than a #1 though, or at least he does at the Knights, and it’s his vision that makes him so good...nothing to do with athleticism. The step and quick acceleration is pretty to watch but there’s plenty of players that can do that...but very few have his vision and ability to read what’s in front him. That can’t be coached, and it’s the reason why a player like Joey made such a shit halves coach. You can teach or pass down vision. You’ve got it or you don’t and Ponga has more of it than I’ve seen in a player in a very long time...although I’m biased.

 

[TheFrog]

If you read the Panthers forum there’s people saying Cleary is more talented than Andrew Johns...so I guess Cleary lol.

I read Panthers forum every day and I've never seen this claimed. Maybe you could post a quote?

 

[TheFrog]

Hard to compare. Cleary started very strongly in 2016, but struggled in early 2017 (as did his team) before finishing the season strongly.

Ponga has had nothing but upside and the fact he’s taken his game to another level since Pearce got hurt is very impressive. But there will be a time when he’s struggling, not sure when it’ll happen though.

I wouldn’t trade him for any other fullback in the game just as I’m sure Panthers fans wouldn’t trade Cleary for another halfback.

The Knights appear to be neglecting the forwards in order to have this talented youngster. 6 wins from 15 is an improvement on previous years, but its not going to get you in the finals. You need some good forwards.

It's the same with Cleary. He's going to be offered some insane money next year for 2020. He could easily become the highest paid player in the game. If we or anyone else want to have the highest paid player in the game, it will have consequences elsewhere in the squad. There comes a point where the opportunity cost is such that he won't be worth his market value.

 

[Pedge1971]

Cotric is better than both of them.

Not a fair fight when you have the great man Stick to manage your early development.

 

[McLovin]

Judging a players capabilities on a bad team is silly. Someone has to get the stats. That player just happens to be Ponga. Last year it was Ross.. year before, probably Ross again. You get the point.

Cleary has already proven he can lead his teams (club and state) to wins. Penrith sitting comfortably in the top 4

Let's list the qualities required to be a top line spine player and compare the two;

1. Leadership - Cleary
2. Passing game - Ponga
3. Kicking game - Cleary
4. Organisational skills - Cleary
5. Maturity - Cleary
6. Ability to garner wins for the team - Cleary

As you can see, Cleary is the winner in just about every facet.

 

[Life's Good]

All this talk of Pongas ability makes me think he would be a great signing for a club like, say, the Cowboys.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Funnily enough when I type in ‘ponga’ on my phone it autocorrects to ‘pinga’

Would you mind asking Siri where the nearest ponga's are to be found please?

 

[mozza91]

The Knights appear to be neglecting the forwards in order to have this talented youngster. 6 wins from 15 is an improvement on previous years, but its not going to get you in the finals. You need some good forwards.

It's the same with Cleary. He's going to be offered some insane money next year for 2020. He could easily become the highest paid player in the game. If we or anyone else want to have the highest paid player in the game, it will have consequences elsewhere in the squad. There comes a point where the opportunity cost is such that he won't be worth his market value.

We’re targeting props for 2019 and have already got Glasby aswell. If we can get another real quality front rower and another FG standard prop we’re set.

Our backrow is fine and we have a few decent younger blokes who will hopefully step up.

If Pearce hadn’t got hurt I’m pretty confident we’d be in the 8 right now. He’s a chance of being back next week and our next 5 games are very, very winnable we could potentially sneak in this year if a couple of teams fall away abit.

 

[Noname36]

The Knights appear to be neglecting the forwards in order to have this talented youngster. 6 wins from 15 is an improvement on previous years, but its not going to get you in the finals. You need some good forwards.

It's the same with Cleary. He's going to be offered some insane money next year for 2020. He could easily become the highest paid player in the game. If we or anyone else want to have the highest paid player in the game, it will have consequences elsewhere in the squad. There comes a point where the opportunity cost is such that he won't be worth his market value.

Wtf? The Knights not having props has nothing to do with Ponga.

We don’t have props because despite chasing every one on the market they don’t want to come to the Knights.

We have well over a million dollars left in the cap already with more players coming off contract...

 

[Noname36]

I read Panthers forum every day and I've never seen this claimed. Maybe you could post a quote?

Cleary will be 10 times the player Joey was.

I don’t have time to look for the others now but this one was a gem lol

 

[mxlegend99]

I don’t have time to look for the others now but this one was a gem lol

Yeah I sold him short. Easily going to be 20 times the player Joey was. Will smash each and every record he has set.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

From what I hear the cowboys f**ked that negotiation not old man Ponga.

Oh dear .
Where did you hear this ?
The John Folau school of great SOO players ..

 

[Noname36]

Yeah I sold him short. Easily going to be 20 times the player Joey was. Will smash each and every record he has set.

Lol, another year, another young player that people say will be better than Joey...they never are, and while Cleary is a great young player he hasn’t shown anything to indicate he will be either. Neither will Ponga.

I don’t even think Johns holds any records, but he’s still seen as the best by most.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Cleary is a great young player, but people crediting him solely for the Panthers success...it gives zero credit to Maloney who is IMO a much better and more dominate player at this stage.