Ponga Appreciation Thread.

[Yosh]

I did, so it's even more of a joy to witness this. There were some serious fears he had to consider retirement just months ago. Then imagine coming back from that and knowing 1 more knock may have just forced that..

He's honestly having a legendary patch of footy right now.

Was being very sarcastic haha. So happy to see him kill it week in week out.

 

[Woody90]

Never doubted him.

Never doubted him talent wise but I really thought he was gone after the knock earlier in the year.

Felt really bad for him when he had to go off yesterday as he obviously really didn’t want to. The commentary were going off about us bringing him back on with just 6 minutes left but IMO it was definitely done for his mental state so he didn’t dwell about it.

 

[perverse]

Never doubted him talent wise but I really thought he was gone after the knock earlier in the year.

Felt really bad for him when he had to go off yesterday as he obviously really didn’t want to. The commentary were going off about us bringing him back on with just 6 minutes left but IMO it was definitely done for his mental state so he didn’t dwell about it.

Agreed. Honestly he's taken enough clean knocks to the head now and not been phased that I'm starting to grow in confidence with it.

 

[Woody90]

Interesting Matty Johns on his show last night confirmed that it was in fact KP that had requested the 5/8 move, not the coaching staff. AOB copped a lot of criticism for his 5/8 move, but it’s a bit hard to tell your best player he can’t move positions if he asks. Hopefully it’s put to bed now and he realises his head isn’t up to the halves.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

The kid is still a marvel.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Best fullback in the game

 

[Rod]

I was thinking during the game who in the comp I would take over a fit Ponga and the list is very short if there is a list at all. *Maybe* Munster but even then...

 

[Zoidberg]

Love seeing him play so well and he looks so invested in the performance of the whole team.

 

[Jono078]

There's no other player I want. The Ponga we see now is what we dreamed of back in 2018. It took a while, but we he's well and truly arrived.

 

[Wizardman]

He was a lazy sulky bastard not that long ago. Whatever happened to him over the last few months is well and truly working. Best player in the comp since Origin.

 

[Burwood]

He was a lazy sulky bastard not that long ago. Whatever happened to him over the last few months is well and truly working. Best player in the comp since Origin.

The most astounding thing is that he has somehow turned every weakness he had as a fullback back into a strength. No longer loiters around the ruck, positional defence much better and not getting caught out by defending in the line, dangerous on kick returns.

I was convinced he was going to be a 5/8 and his fullback days were over. I think the turning point was all psychological- after coming so close to having his career end, he’s playing every game like it’s his last.

 

[Woody90]

The most astounding thing is that he has somehow turned every weakness he had as a fullback back into a strength. No longer loiters around the ruck, positional defence much better and not getting caught out by defending in the line, dangerous on kick returns.

I was convinced he was going to be a 5/8 and his fullback days were over. I think the turning point was all psychological- after coming so close to having his career end, he’s playing every game like it’s his last.

He’s said a few times that the 5/8 move actually helped him because it helped him better understand how plays unfold so he can insert himself better from fullback.

I think the “Ponga’s lazy and disinterested” calls have always been blown right out of proportion. Seems much more likely now that his “bludging” behind the ruck was more because he was waiting for something to happen because he didn’t know how to insert himself. That and he and the whole spine have been consistently injured for the past few years so we’ve not been able to build anything.

 

[Yosh]

When we were defending on our try line he was lifting our guys off the ground to get into position and barking orders. I have never seen him like that. Great stuff. Is leading the team around superbly.

 

[Nuke]

The biggest difference, to us outsiders (well, to me anyway) appears to be attitude. He actually seems like he wants to be a footballer, one that's part of a team. In recent years, it looked like he was playing football but really just wanted to be doing other things. Best example: the famous toilet event. Why the captain was out drinking and not with his teammates at the ground was totally beyond me.
Chief would never have done that. Buderus likewise. Johns may have wanted to go drinking, but understood his role..!

This year, he looks like the captain role suits him. He's matured a hell of a lot. And good on him too. THIS is the million+ dollar marquee player we've been desperate to see.

 

[perverse]

The biggest difference, to us outsiders (well, to me anyway) appears to be attitude. He actually seems like he wants to be a footballer, one that's part of a team. In recent years, it looked like he was playing football but really just wanted to be doing other things. Best example: the famous toilet event. Why the captain was out drinking and not with his teammates at the ground was totally beyond me.
Chief would never have done that. Buderus likewise. Johns may have wanted to go drinking, but understood his role..!

This year, he looks like the captain role suits him. He's matured a hell of a lot. And good on him too. THIS is the million+ dollar marquee player we've been desperate to see.

I think the toilet incident and nearly losing his career to concussion issues are going to be the making of him tbh. Woke him up... made him realise what he has and how fragile it is.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

The biggest difference, to us outsiders (well, to me anyway) appears to be attitude. He actually seems like he wants to be a footballer, one that's part of a team. In recent years, it looked like he was playing football but really just wanted to be doing other things. Best example: the famous toilet event. Why the captain was out drinking and not with his teammates at the ground was totally beyond me.
Chief would never have done that. Buderus likewise. Johns may have wanted to go drinking, but understood his role..!

This year, he looks like the captain role suits him. He's matured a hell of a lot. And good on him too. THIS is the million+ dollar marquee player we've been desperate to see.

Joey definitely would've done that lol

 

[Woody90]

Joey definitely would've done that lol

Yeah lol Joey actually said at the time he did it all the time but Kalyn needed to work out which bars to go to that are more private hahaha.

 

[Woody90]

This is after missing a large part of the season with head knocks and then positional changes. What a superstar.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

This is after missing a large part of the season with head knocks and then positional changes. What a superstar.

Rugby league porn right there

 

[Jono078]

I'm going with a hot take here..

Ponga will go close in Dally M voting.

I know he missed a good chunk of footy but I'm sure he would have collected a fair chunk of points in the last 6 weeks, even in a couple of losses. I'm positive he's collected 12 points from his last 2 games.

To quote Connor mcgregor, I PREDICT DEEZ TINGS!!