Ramifications of the Kalyn Ponga deal

[butchmcdick]

IMO the thing that makes the negotiation a bit more tipped in our favour than it should be is that you blokes have maybe one or 2 seasons of premiership window left open. We'll be happy enough to wait until 2018 if you guys think you can find better than Sims on the open market for 2017. We're in no real rush for Ponga, from a fans perspective it would just be nice to watch him play for us sooner rather than later. Having him play with JT up there is hardly the worst consolation prize for us.

You won't be getting a Saifiti, lol. If we have to wait, we have to wait.

It can't hurt to ask

We have some decent props as back ups

If there is nobody on the market to replace Hannant & Tamou then so be it

 

[Burwood]

What happens if this type of rookie signing becomes a problem in the near future? It's easy to dismiss now, but if this were to happen with another 3-4 players who are all touted as being the next big thing, there are going to be quite a few experienced rep players disgruntled that they are getting paid less than an 18 year old kid with potential.

 

[The Charlatan]

What happens if this type of rookie signing becomes a problem in the near future? It's easy to dismiss now, but if this were to happen with another 3-4 players who are all touted as being the next big thing, there are going to be quite a few experienced rep players disgruntled that they are getting paid less than an 18 year old kid with potential.

That's a risk for Newcastle to evaluate and decide whether the potential reward outweighs it.

Clearly signing on any local player who showed some promise in the U20's hasn't panned out for them, so they're trying a different approach.

 

[Caped Crusader]

I'd just about bet my left nut that once the 10 day cooling off period has expired, a deal will be done to get Ponga to Newcastle for 2017 in a matter of days

 

[Apey]

Ramifications of the Knights potentially signing someone good has sent the CM and others into a meltdown.

 

[Knight76]

I dont know if the Cows have anything to do with the CM's smear campaign against the deal. Personlly I think this barrage would have happened against any NSW side. If he signed with Brisbane I doubt there would have been a murmur, or Gold Cost for that matter, or Melbourne.

It's because a NSW side signed him. The CM turns a bit rabbid over all things NSW.

 

[CowboyFuriousFury]

Newcastle are taking a chance but in order for it to pay off, the rest of the team needs improvement. Newcastle is thinking the long run by recruiting Ponga now and if he successfully develops they got a great talent apart of there squad.

 

[_Johnsy]

You're not hearing us whinge now

Also I don't recall Thurston having the wraps on him when we signed him that Ponga has at the moment

2004 GF, pretty sure he had much bigger wraps at the time. He was widely regarded as the best young 1/2 & by some distance.

 

[elyod138]

2004 GF, pretty sure he had much bigger wraps at the time. He was widely regarded as the best young 1/2 & by some distance.

Brett Firman and Matthew Head were all the rage back then, they were rated a lot higher than JT.

JT barely got a mention, the most notable attention he got was from giving his GF ring to Steve Price.

The buzz for Ponga is a lot higher, a lot is probably due to social media. He already has a youtube highlights video with over 700k views and he has 20k followers on instagram.

 

[_Johnsy]

Brett Firman and Matthew Head were all the rage back then, they were rated a lot higher than JT.

JT barely got a mention, the most notable attention he got was from giving his GF ring to Steve Price.

The buzz for Ponga is a lot higher, a lot is probably due to social media. He already has a youtube highlights video with over 700k views and he has 20k followers on instagram.

It's funny, in my mind I had both BF & MH at least 3-5 years older than JT. To be fair injury killed MH career. BF on the other hand just fizzled away.
BF - 34
MH - 34
JT - 33

Just shows how resilient JT is.

 

[Basil Brush]

What happens if this type of rookie signing becomes a problem in the near future? It's easy to dismiss now, but if this were to happen with another 3-4 players who are all touted as being the next big thing, there are going to be quite a few experienced rep players disgruntled that they are getting paid less than an 18 year old kid with potential.

This, imho, may be the biggest problem for the Knights.

They need established first graders to be successful. Buhrer and Kostjasyn are good NRL signings. Ponga is a risk signing, especially at 600k for his age and experience.

Can you imagine the next established player the Knights try and sign after paying a 2 game player 600k. They might be laughed out of the room.

However, as a punter myself, i hope the gamble pays off. It is about 8/1 at the moment taking into account his experience and the money offered.

Just to clarify, a lot of 8/1 horses get up.

 

[butchmcdick]

The knights should sign Wayne Bennett

Then they'd be specials for a title in the next few years …

 

[Spot On]

This, imho, may be the biggest problem for the Knights.

They need established first graders to be successful. Buhrer and Kostjasyn are good NRL signings. Ponga is a risk signing, especially at 600k for his age and experience.

Can you imagine the next established player the Knights try and sign after paying a 2 game player 600k. They might be laughed out of the room.

However, as a punter myself, i hope the gamble pays off. It is about 8/1 at the moment taking into account his experience and the money offered.

Just to clarify, a lot of 8/1 horses get up.

By that logic every 'established' first grader, good or ordinary, made an offer by any club will be demanding 600K plus or walking.

Aint gonna happen. They won't get a gig atm.

That said, if the cap goes to 10 million in years to come, as has been reported recently, the 'average' deal will be closing in on the number you have suggested ie 10 mill divided among 25 players is 400K each. Therefore some pretty average footballers, many who warm the bench and play bugger all minutes out of an 80 min game, will be on ridiculous money imo. Many already are and play half a game a week. They do not play in the all important 'spine' positions either.

The players have absolutely nothing to whinge about if that becomes fact.

 

[macavity]

Crisis averted, according to the quality journalists at the Newcastle Herald it is Quentin Ponga we are signing.

Makes more sense, we need senior players.

 

[Canard]

It's funny, in my mind I had both BF & MH at least 3-5 years older than JT. To be fair injury killed MH career. BF on the other hand just fizzled away.
BF - 34
MH - 34
JT - 33

Just shows how resilient JT is.

JT wasnt rated as a junior. Ponga has had hype about him since he was 14, and has been chased by all three codes.

 

[Spot On]

Crisis averted, according to the quality journalists at the Newcastle Herald it is Quentin Ponga we are signing.

Makes more sense, we need senior players.

That or IBM works as a journo for the Newcastle Herald.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

JT wasnt rated as a junior. Ponga has had hype about him since he was 14, and has been chased by all three codes.

Are you serious? I can remember this guy touted as the next big thing for a couple years when playing U20's and reserve grade (the Bulldogs played he and SBW there instead of 20's in 2014 when not in Firsts). He had absolutely massive wraps and the Roosters were rumoured to be after him when it appeared the Bulldogs were not going to keep him. The Bulldogs themselves were only letting him go due to 'off field' issues as they were trying to repair their damaged brand and saw him as too much of a loose cannon.

 

[Caped Crusader]

JT wasnt rated as a junior. Ponga has had hype about him since he was 14, and has been chased by all three codes.

Hahaha bullshit

JT was a junior NSW rep. He was well sort after

 

[Canard]

Are you serious? I can remember this guy touted as the next big thing for a couple years when playing U20's and reserve grade (the Bulldogs played he and SBW there instead of 20's in 2014 when not in Firsts). He had absolutely massive wraps and the Roosters were rumoured to be after him when it appeared the Bulldogs were not going to keep him. The Bulldogs themselves were only letting him go due to 'off field' issues as they were trying to repair their damaged brand and saw him as too much of a loose cannon.

Hahaha bullshit

JT was a junior NSW rep. He was well sort after

Thurston signed a deal with the Dogs at virtually the same age as Ponga is now (18) for a "nil" playing fee.Several NRL clubs didn't even want him for free, and thought he was too skinny.

It's only once he started playing with the Dogs that he made QLD u19s etc.

Ponga has been offered huge deals from the age of 14.

 

[Caped Crusader]

No one said they were attracting the same level of interest but to suggest JT was not rated at all is complete BS