Ramifications of the Kalyn Ponga deal

[isaiah]

Cowboys fans on LU are doing a great job at biting their tongues and/or being good sports for the most part, although it's clear and obvious there is salt. A quick glance at the recruitment thread on the Cowboys Stampede reveals the true feelings up north, though. The butthurt is very intense. Props to butch for being a voice of reason over there. Many of your compatriots willing to throw the kid under the bus or just bitch about our club in frustration.

To be honest I have no love for the Cowboys, the way they have cried and whinged in the past about things like the Snowden "shoulder charge" and NSW conspiracies makes it hard for me to feel anything other than schadenfreude.

cowboys fans on LU? what does that mean? there has not been a post on the NQ forum since sept. there are no cowboys fans here.

 

[elyod138]

cowboys fans on LU? what does that mean? there has not been a post on the NQ forum since sept. there are no cowboys fans here.

Several have posted in this thread.

 

[Pedge1971]

Kalyn Ponga is he worth it? You be the judge. These are highlights in Holden Cup though, where bruising defense is not exactly the norm.

He clearly has vision, a passing game at fullback and pace. The Knights clearly lack that at fullback. I think it isna worthwhile punt for a potential franchise player where we are now.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

The only thing that concerns me with ponga at fullback as early as 2017 potentially, are the kick returns. He's not massive yet and he could be an easy target running into the big boys 1 out.

Still remember Sam Tomkins with us, getting dominated on every return.

 

[elyod138]

The only thing that concerns me with ponga at fullback as early as 2017 potentially, are the kick returns. He's not massive yet and he could be an easy target running into the big boys 1 out.

Still remember Sam Tomkins with us, getting dominated on every return.

Ponga is a freak of nature, he hits it up the middle straight into the props and often makes 5-10m after contact, despite his lack of size (not just in the u20s, saw this happen in a trial against most of the Broncos first grade squad). I think he'll be fine, especially with another off season to gain some weight. He had a brain infection last year, was bedridden for months and he lost a lot of weight. He's extremely tough.

For those who haven't seen him play, he's not a winger (he hadn't played there before he did in the NRL), I think he'll move to the halves eventually. He has everything, including the mentality to succeed. Injury is the only thing that will stop him becoming one of the best in the game IMO.

I'm a Cowboys fan and although it's disappointing to lose him, I'll follow him throughout his career. I want him to shine, he's the type of player who will sell the game to new fans.

 

[Spot On]

The only thing that concerns me with ponga at fullback as early as 2017 potentially, are the kick returns. He's not massive yet and he could be an easy target running into the big boys 1 out.

Still remember Sam Tomkins with us, getting dominated on every return.

He only needs to watch Darius Boyd to learn how to avoid returning the ball. Simple.

 

[T-Boon]

You could just think of him as the 2017 number 1 draft pick.

It is probably a good thing for him to stay with NQ for the year where there will not be a lot of expectation on him and he can play second fiddle behind some big time talent. But the problem is the Cowboys are likely to neglect him. If they insist on him staying on and then neglect him it reflects poorly on them in my opinion.

If he does move to Newcastle for 2017 the Knights should give him the number 1 jersey but play him off the bench and really minimise his minutes. He isn't going to make the 2017 Knights team good. They have to sign a few more good players yet.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

:lol: And where are we gonna play him, genius

Just a handy back up 18th man.

 

[Canard]

But the problem is the Cowboys are likely to neglect him. If they insist on him staying on and then neglect him it reflects poorly on them in my opinion.

Make unfounded assertion to justify a position. Check.

 

[T-Boon]

Make unfounded assertion to justify a position. Check.

Well, it IS speculation on my part. But hardly unfounded.
What is in it for the cowboys to develop the Ponga talent the way it should be developed? I am saying it is likely they will get what they can out of him for the year and not be too fussed about what that use does for his development as a player.

 

[butchmcdick]

Well, it IS speculation on my part. But hardly unfounded.
What is in it for the cowboys to develop the Ponga talent the way it should be developed? I am saying it is likely they will get what they can out of him for the year and not be too fussed about what that use does for his development as a player.

Yes

I can see us playing him at prop now tamou has gone

Sure it might impede his development but hey, it's what the team needs ...

 

[franklin2323]

He doesn't want us to turn it around. He's just running his predictable "I want Perth to have a NRL team at any cost" agenda.

Just like he used to deathride the current premiers...

If I am a Newcastle fan. I'd be pissed if management didn't take these punts. Buhrer and Kostjaysn will stop Knights losing star power of the likes of Ponga gets them into the 8 and beyond

 

[perverse]

Yes

I can see us playing him at prop now tamou has gone

Sure it might impede his development but hey, it's what the team needs ...

I think once the cooling off period is up, if Ponga is coming to the Knights for 2018, the Cowboys will pretty quickly realise that they are far better off with a first grade prop than a backup winger on their roster this year and will release Ponga for 2017 in a swap for probably Korbin Sims.

Once the sour grapes are taken out of the equation and looking at 2017 in isolation, it makes sense for both teams to make the swap happen. Both teams will be stronger for it.

 

[T-Boon]

Yes

I can see us playing him at prop now tamou has gone

Sure it might impede his development but hey, it's what the team needs ...

Ok, so they aren't going to play him at prop. Haha. I think developing talent properly is a bit more complicated than not completely f**king their position up...but thats just me.

 

[Nice Beaver]

Kalyn Ponga is he worth it? You be the judge. These are highlights in Holden Cup though, where bruising defense is not exactly the norm.

Jesus, mate.

We get it. You are outraged that Newcastle have (in your mind) paid too much for Ponga.

You aren't Peter Badel's secret LU account are you?

 

[Maroon4life]

Can't see why they would release him to the knights for next year. He looks like a handy backup for their backline and next year is their last genuine go at a premiership for a while.

 

[elyod138]

Can't see why they would release him to the knights for next year. He looks like a handy backup for their backline and next year is their last genuine go at a premiership for a while.

Yep, he'd be backup fullback and if Morgan or JT go down long term we might need his flair in the team at fullback (with Coote playing in the halves) or 6.

Carlin Anderson is a possible acquisition for the backup fullback role if the Cowboys do end up releasing KP.

 

[Tommy Smith]

I don't know why anyone would think the Knights have paid too much for Ponga.

If Hodkinson is being paid 500k a year, a player with a talent ceiling lower than a Hobbits house; then you might as well take a punt on paying Ponga 600-700k a year when his potential ceiling is more like Isengard in comparison.

 

[MilkShark]

That bow is drawn very long.

How is it?

How many young kids nowadays make it into the NRL?

The only ones that do are extremely gifted, or, the club has given them a chance and are prepared to give them a few years to let them grow into it. Where do the rest go? They leave and get full time jobs because the sport doesn't give them time to get experience and / or the sport is designed in a way that they could never get a start because they would be playing against NRL hardened men that would destroy the smaller / younger ones coming through.

The competition lacks ALOT of talent nowadays. This is why clubs will take a punt when they see a kid coming through that could actually be someone that can play football instead of the usual muscular meat heads that do hit ups all days long.

The competition took a step in the right direction reducing the interchange, in my opinion we need to lose at the very least 2 more interchanges and we will start seeing skill back in our game.

This also another reason why the talks of expanding our competition is laughable. We don't have the talent to cater for it. Disagree? Benji Marshall playing at the Broncos says hello.

 

[butchmcdick]

I think once the cooling off period is up, if Ponga is coming to the Knights for 2018, the Cowboys will pretty quickly realise that they are far better off with a first grade prop than a backup winger on their roster this year and will release Ponga for 2017 in a swap for probably Korbin Sims.

Once the sour grapes are taken out of the equation and looking at 2017 in isolation, it makes sense for both teams to make the swap happen. Both teams will be stronger for it.

What sour grapes ?