Match Discussion: Round 2 vs Dolphins @ McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

What’s with the Roosters to make a huge play for Ponga story? Hopefully, we have extended him long before Nov next year but if not, I guarantee there will be a huge play for him from at least half the other teams out there.

before the Brown signing I would have thought he'd be a huge chance of leaving.

I'd have little doubt if he's not already doing so, come seasons end Sully will be looking to extend Ponga.

 

[Zoidberg]

before the Brown signing I would have thought he'd be a huge chance of leaving.

I'd have little doubt if he's not already doing so, come seasons end Sully will be looking to extend Ponga.

I’m sure the planning around other players contracts includes leaving a bigger than $1.3m chunk for Ponga.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

I’m sure the planning around other players contracts includes leaving a bigger than $1.3m chunk for Ponga.

The big one on the horizon is Sharpe - just wow. What a prospect he is.

With juniors starting to come through, their contracts will be great value for a while to come.

Hastings is gone + good savings on Dsaf and Brailey

KPP, Hetherington, and Elliot are finished at the end of this season and have not been re-signed (no other club has signed them either - I can only guess there must be juniors ready to slot in there.

I hope Friz and Gags stay, their experience is irreplaceable.

 

[Old dog]

Is this new signing, Sullivan from QLD, experienced has he played any firsts and is he a prop

 

[Woody90]

I was watching the 9 coverage which I normally don’t do. But Joey went into the change room after the game and was interviewing the players. He then goes up to Jack Cogger and says something along the lines of “must have been a difficult week for you now that Brown has signed” which I think is a bit of a shit thing to say to him straight after a win. Everyone knows Cogger is on the outer and is probably 4th in line for a halves spot next year. Just seemed like an unnecessary line of questioning given everything going on. Felt a bit for Jack trying to awkwardly dead bat that question.

FFS did he really??? I’m definitely no fan of Cogger but that is so unbelievably shit. Let him enjoy the win. Obviously will always love Joey but he’s a f**king moron at times.

 

[Woody90]

Haha he gave the media some lip about it in the press conference, which I loved to see to be honest.

Do the media actually realise that going on and on and on with this shit is probably going to make Ponga much LESS likely to ever want to sign for the Roosters? It’s clear watching that presser he’s at his wits end with it and the media. Can’t blame him. Imagine trying your ass off week after week and giving up rep footy (both SOO and international) for your club only to have it pushed all over the media that you want out based on NOTHING. The 360 reasoning for him wanting out was the fact that he’s known Clint Zammit since he was at the Cowboys - he’s probably much less likely to want to go to a club with a recruitment manager who had a huge role in f**king up the Knights cap.

 

[perverse]

Do the media actually realise that going on and on and on with this shit is probably going to make Ponga much LESS likely to ever want to sign for the Roosters? It’s clear watching that presser he’s at his wits end with it and the media. Can’t blame him. Imagine trying your ass off week after week and giving up rep footy (both SOO and international) for your club only to have it pushed all over the media that you want out based on NOTHING. The 360 reasoning for him wanting out was the fact that he’s known Clint Zammit since he was at the Cowboys - he’s probably much less likely to want to go to a club with a recruitment manager who had a huge role in f**king up the Knights cap.

To be honest with you, if we out-perform the Roosters over the next 18 months then I don't think Kalyn will go there regardless of money. I'm pretty sure the Phins offer was above ours for starters. Uncle Nick can want him all he likes, but I somewhat doubt he will dump a team he flat out owns and has fought his arse off to get to this position - in order to join another rebuilding club.

As a club, we have to deliver over the next 12 months. Kalyn is delivering on the field and to my eyes we now have a lot of the ingredients we need. If we're a top 4 team then Kalyn isn't leaving. He's worked too hard to get us here to not want to reap the spoils. This is why the Brown signing was so critical, even if it is a gamble. Our chance to keep Kalyn drops massively without that signing.

We need a top 4 finish and a deep run in the finals this year or next - or in the case of major injury at least look like we would be there. It's as simple as that, we need to take the next step and if we do I think Kalyn will stay.

 

[Woody90]

To be honest with you, if we out-perform the Roosters over the next 18 months then I don't think Kalyn will go there regardless of money. I'm pretty sure the Phins offer was above ours for starters. Uncle Nick can want him all he likes, but I somewhat doubt he will dump a team he flat out owns and has fought his arse off to get to this position - in order to join another rebuilding club.

As a club, we have to deliver over the next 12 months. Kalyn is delivering on the field and to my eyes we now have a lot of the ingredients we need. If we're a top 4 team then Kalyn isn't leaving. He's worked too hard to get us here to not want to reap the spoils. This is why the Brown signing was so critical, even if it is a gamble. Our chance to keep Kalyn drops massively without that signing.

We need a top 4 finish and a deep run in the finals this year or next - or in the case of major injury at least look like we would be there. It's as simple as that, we need to take the next step and if we do I think Kalyn will stay.

Yeah the way I see it, whether he’s a chance of leaving or not will depend on which clubs offer him a contract. The top clubs that will always be in the fight for a comp already have star fullbacks themselves that are around his age. He’ll no doubt get huge money thrown at him by some lower clubs needing a marquee, but I doubt he leaves the Knights where he’s obviously happy to go to a club that’s in no better position than we are. The danger with the Roosters I suppose is they have a good knack at selling themselves as being this elite club that would be in with a premiership chance to players that will further their careers, even if it’s clear that narrative is pretty bullshit now.

 

[perverse]

Yeah the way I see it, whether he’s a chance of leaving or not will depend on which clubs offer him a contract. The top clubs that will always be in the fight for a comp already have star fullbacks themselves that are around his age. He’ll no doubt get huge money thrown at him by some lower clubs needing a marquee, but I doubt he leaves the Knights where he’s obviously happy to go to a club that’s in no better position than we are. The danger with the Roosters I suppose is they have a good knack at selling themselves as being this elite club that would be in with a premiership chance to players that will further their careers, even if it’s clear that narrative is pretty bullshit now.

Sure, I just don't think Kalyn will see it that way if we're legitimately competitive. He got us here. He's worked his entire career to get us to this point, he owns and leads the team in every conceivable way - and I don't think money alone will be enough to take him away from it IF we're competitive.

If another team comes along that he thinks can win a premiership and offers him huge money, then we might be in real trouble - but I can't see him going for a few extra bucks if we are firing and he believes the vision. And nor should he, we've made sure he's going to be rich for the rest of his life regardless, and some things do mean more than money - especially when it's not a massively significant percentage of your already existing fortune.

Maybe I'm naive, but that's the read I have on him. I think he wants to win a comp, I think things like family and legacy and whatnot do mean something to Kalyn, because honestly I don't think he'd still be here now if they didn't. He doesn't need to be here and never really did. For some reason the media wants to gaslight us into constantly doubting whether one of our greatest ever players really loves us or not.

 

[Frederick]

Why the f**k would anyone want to live in Sydney anyway? It's a massive shithole

 

[Yosh]

Ponga stayed all those crappy years and then when we become a force, he wants to leave?

If he wants an upgrade I reckon all our players will take a pay cut to keep him anyway.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Croker is a great top 30 guy, apparently very well liked by the team, good clubman, etc however I don’t think he’s the calibre of player you want in the top 17 every week. Just doesn’t have enough upside to counter the flaws

I remember you hammering Crossland every second post couple of years ago. With your eye for talent Croker will be a SOO rep in a couple of years.

 

[Rod]

I think we can already see what our biggest issue will be as the season goes on - bench minutes and forward depth.

And by "as the season goes on" I meant Round 3..

 

[slotmachine]

We need a top 4 finish and a deep run in the finals this year or next

Don't see it unless POS produces a really good middle or two from somewhere. We're down to potentially starting Hetho and Jones at prop next week with a few injuries as it is.

 

[perverse]

Don't see it unless POS produces a really good middle or two from somewhere. We're down to potentially starting Hetho and Jones at prop next week with a few injuries as it is.

Won't happen this year without a charmed run, which isn't impossible but as you said there a few pieces missing. I can see it next year though. I dunno if it'll work but I can see the vision.

I'm rarely this bullish on our team but a lot of key ingredients are there now. Kalyn is getting so good it's going to be hard to deny him too.