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Ramifications of the Kalyn Ponga deal

Nice Beaver

First Grade
Messages
5,920
Who is calling for Kalyn Ponga to be in the Queensland emerging squad anyway? He has played two games of NRL football and suddenly he should get recognition because signed a massive contract. What a joke.

Wasn't Thurston selected in the Qld emerging squad in 2002?
 
Messages
3,000
I read that he moved here when he was quite young and then moved back for a short period. Something like 16 of his 19 years have been spent in Oz. So he would be eligible based on that alone, can't say for a fact though.

Hard to keep track of where he's been? I think he spent some time in WA as well?
 

butchmcdick

Post Whore
Messages
52,031
No but when a club has recently seen one of its brighter prospects lose his ability to walk, let alone play professionally, they probably want to support their players' back up plans pretty well. Playing footy isn't always the most important thing.

Good on the kid for realising making it in the NRL is tough and there's a chance he won't and wanting a plan B.

As for your crack about the Knights care about Tapine and his welfare: the Knights supported him through an assault charge, one where most people in the know thought he would end up in prison. The club also helped his family out big time when they were struggling. The kid himself said he couldn't wait to re-sign with the club because he wanted to repay them for what they did for him and his family. Didn't happen - and I don't think telling him he'd be playing the year in reserve grade (yet still releasing him as to not really punish him) was really harming his welfare too much considering what they'd already done for him.

Considering the Knights usually sack players as soon as they get into trouble Tapine if anything was given preferential treatment. The CM can say whatever they want about the Knights and their treatment of Tapine and they'll have some idiots lapping it up, but it doesn't really change how much support that kid actually had and frankly comparing the situation to an 18 year old throwing some eggs at a car is hilarious.

Did you miss the smiley face after my Tapine comment ?

As for Kayln it is good that he is looking out for himself post footy (as I also mentioned in a subsequent post in this thread)

The point is NRL clubs don't pay players about 3K a week to put footy second and concentrate on being PE teachers

He wasn't on an under twenties contract, he was signed to the first grade squad

Other players in the same squad have managed to get tertiary degrees whilst being full time footy players. Two of our three high performance unit staff (Paul Bowman & Ash Graham) did it while they were playing first grade at the Cowboys. I'd ge interested to know specifics as to what more Ponga's dad expected from the club in regards to support.
 

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