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

[Woody90]

They are the same level of player. Cup guys that you hope you don't need.
Some of our fans overrate Cogger because he played in a much better side and stayed out of the way while Nathan pulled off the greatest 20mins in rugby league history.

That describes Cogger perfectly. In the small amount of games we’ve managed to win with him in the side his only achievement has been to not get in the way. When he tries to do more than that we always lose.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Some delusional fans want Cogger back and think he's fantastic

Let me guess, a Facebook Supporters Group?

 

[Chins]

Let me guess, a Facebook Supporters Group?

They are on LU unfortunately

 

[slotmachine]

Is it really that complicated?

I mean, what you've just said pretty much applies to anything we do with the pair of them at the moment. It's all going to require some excellent coaching.

Yes it absolutely is that complicated which is why you never see anyone do it.

But the real question is why are we still dreaming up ways to try and make KP work and paying him $1.5m for the privilege.

If he really was so good it shouldn't be this hard.

 

[Yosh]

I loved the speed at which we played at yesterday. Regardless of who plays, wish we keep playing at that speed.

Brailey (very sadly) should probably be dropped. Want to see Arthur play.

 

[Old dog]

Same side next week, rest Ponga after SOO, Leo in for Bryan, Cant for Elliott and Marzhew if fit for Hunt, Hetherington to bench

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Some delusional fans want Cogger back and think he's fantastic

I agree with them. You guys should take him back ASAP

 

[Zoidberg]

Also is there any reason on earth why we can't play Sharpe as 5/8th in defence, but fullback in attack? And vice versa for Kalyn?

I think that’s what O’brien was alluding to in the presser. Maybe Sharpe is trying to hard to play like a 5/8 in attack when we need him to play his natural game. Jump in dummy half and run, get the ball from the halfback and run. If there’s no opportunity to run, give it to Ponga or the centres, they can make things happen.

 

[SamSepi0l]

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

His combo with Lucas was sharp. Something we need to continue. Gamble to be on both sides of the field, Sharpe to float at 6.

 

[Alex28]

Proves that almost all of our problems are in the halves.

Our problems are lack of depth on the forwards moving the team forward and giving the halves the freedom to play.

That, and Leo Thompson having a go.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I wouldn't even care if we beat a SG Ball quality Panthers side, that's the first time we've beat them in 10 years and I'm taking it

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

To top it all off, we beat Penrith in all 3 grades this weekend

 

[Old dog]

That’s a huge result, all three, yes give and take on SOO and injuries but the points are ours with convincing wins

 

[HarVeeGee]

Yes it absolutely is that complicated which is why you never see anyone do it.

But the real question is why are we still dreaming up ways to try and make KP work and paying him $1.5m for the privilege.

If he really was so good it shouldn't be this hard.

That's what I keep coming back to with him.

I can't think of another player considered on his level where there is any difficulty in building the team around them. No one looks at Nathan Cleary, James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, Daly Cherry-Evans, Payne Haas etc and says "gee what position should this bloke play, how do we get the best out of him?"

The Knights constantly cop the "they're not giving Ponga enough support!" criticism. He's a "generational talent" that we can't get the best out of because the club is totally incompetent, apparently. But what's he doing out there for his teammates? How's he helping to get the best out of them?

Last year as of round 7, we had scored 120 points at an average of 17.1 per game. He then missed 8 games and over that period with Armstrong and Sharpe at fullback, we scored 162 points at 20.25 per game. Then he came back in, after the team had found some better form in attack, and SUPERCHARGED us with his generational talent to take us to a mighty 12.5 points per game over the next four fixtures. Finally put some points on with him back in the team against bottom four teams gearing up for Mad Monday after that, which I guess if you're desperate is a point in his favour, but good God, why did it take till round 23 to get SOMETHING going with Ponga in the team?

I know the pack has been struggling, but I've seen us get front foot ball this year, and I can't ignore the evidence of my own eyes about what Kalyn has done with it. Play laterally. Play slow. Fail to engage defenders. Shrink rather than increase the space his outside men are playing with. Throw careless, lazy passes. Run with zero intent.