Round 25 V Newcastle

[Flashstep]

Ponga has actually performed in Origin though...

Look I know Nathan is a touchy subject in our fanbase but lets be honest, Ponga is probably the most talented player the NRL has seen since Hayne, he was poor today but Ponga at his best is miles ahead of Cleary at his best.

 

[Panther_Daz]

What did the almighty Ponga do today?

Got f**king steamrolled by Nathan for a try.
View attachment 32855

Ponga has never had a game like that.

Ponga has had some decent games in his career but like the rest of his team he was bad today.

 

[franklin2323]

Wrong sir.
A tick over 12k and I am happy to say I was one of them.

I must say it was a pleasant surprise

 

[age.s]

What did the almighty Ponga do today?

Got f**king steamrolled by Nathan for a try.
View attachment 32855

Ponga has never had a game like that.

And jumped out of To'os way a few minutes earlier.

Boydesque performance.

 

[franklin2323]

Ponga has actually performed in Origin though...

Look I know Nathan is a touchy subject in our fanbase but lets be honest, Ponga is probably the most talented player the NRL has seen since Hayne, he was poor today but Ponga at his best is miles ahead of Cleary at his best.

Look at his record overall not just one game

 

[Panther_Daz]

Of which he had one try assist though. He won't score 4 tries every week so needs more to his game

I know we are very excited about towelling up a team today but we need to look back at the season as a whole.

We had more touches in the opposition's 20m zone than any team by a country mile for example.

 

[Fangs]

If its Ponga v Cleary I'll take stinky every day of the week.

Though right now its a classic tortoise and the hare scenario. One is just a superior player but has had an awful end to the season. Will catch up with him eventually unless his attitude changes.

 

[Panther_Daz]

I must say it was a pleasant surprise

Growth of the membership base is the key. Fans that have converted to members may not have gone to a game like that before.

Now they are members they have their ticket so they make the effort.

 

[Fangs]

I know we are very excited about towelling up a team today but we need to look back at the season as a whole.

We had more touches in the opposition's 20m zone than any team by a country mile for example.

Prior to todays game we were second last for tries scored.

https://www.nrl.com/stats/teams/?competition=111&season=2019&stat=38

Still bottom 4 for tries scored despite todays demolition job.

 

[mxlegend99]

Nathan Cleary stats:
4 tries
9/9 goals
3 linebreaks
1 try assist
143m gained
9 tackle breaks
2.91s play the ball speed when merkins actually stopped him


Broke a record which was set 9 years ago and is unlikely to be broken in the next decade.

He's not perfect. No player is. But f**k me dead that's a hell of a game.

 

[Marky Mark]

Nathan Cleary stats:
4 tries
9/9 goals
3 linebreaks
1 try assist
143m gained
9 tackle breaks
2.91s play the ball speed when merkins actually stopped him


Broke a record which was set 9 years ago and is unlikely to be broken in the next decade.

He's not perfect. No player is. But f**k me dead that's a hell of a game.

Yeah, he had a great game but should be doing that more often than not on 1 million a season.

 

[franklin2323]

I know we are very excited about towelling up a team today but we need to look back at the season as a whole.

We had more touches in the opposition's 20m zone than any team by a country mile for example.

Not just inside the 20. I can't remember Cleary kicking for the corner or anything. Seems a bomb or grubber or to someone in the back 3.

Still has plenty of time to improve but personally I think he better last year than this year which is a concern

 

[franklin2323]

Yeah, he had a great game but should be doing that more often than not on 1 million a season.

That and the Sharks game were great but it needs to be most games not twice a season

 

[franklin2323]

Growth of the membership base is the key. Fans that have converted to members may not have gone to a game like that before.

Now they are members they have their ticket so they make the effort.

Whether they stay if next year is poor again

 

[Panther_Daz]

Whether they stay if next year is poor again

Yeah money is tight out west for a lot of families. It's not cheap to have a family membership with reserved seats.

If we have a bad year, footy memberships will be one of the first things taken off the family budget.

 

[OldPanther]

That and the Sharks game were great but it needs to be most games not twice a season

Context. Whenever he is the truly dominant player we see it.

 

[Kilkenny]

I know we are very excited about towelling up a team today but we need to look back at the season as a whole.

We had more touches in the opposition's 20m zone than any team by a country mile for example.

Today was nice, it was enjoyable, but at the end of the day it meant nothing.

 

[10Grand]

Fans like you are the reason we've been so bad for most of our history.

We do not demand excellence enough and posts like this sum it up.

The people on here, like me, analysing Nathan's game have been highlighting things he needs to improve on for us to win a premiership. That should be the goal. His running game and effort has always been strong and he showed that today.

But then we have fans like you getting excited about winning a playoff for 10th against a team who clearly did not try today. It was one of the most diabolical defensive efforts I've ever seen.

They also went down to 12 men at one stage and played the whole second half with 15 fit blokes.

Mate You have criticised Nathan and Ivan repeatedly at every opportunity,we think we fans don't realise that it was a nothing game against Knights but I can bet you if knights wom you would be calling for their heads like you do every frikin day even when Ivan had not coached a game this season,your bias towards them is legendry.Iam upset and hurt by what our season has dished out and there has been so many reasons but you on the other hand just have a go at Clearys,You think the sun shines out of Maloney's you know what but as much has his a very likeable dude he has issues that hasn't helped us.Junior Paulo has a try assists and you mock Nathan.You make me laugh with fans like me jab maybe we should all become like you and not be happy with a good win where our 21 year old half played out of his skin.Do you know why Iam 10 Grand its because when the rest of the world gave us no chance to win the GF in 2003 I put a lazy hundred at 100 to 1.I might be a better judge then you give me credit for.

 

[Flashstep]

Mate You have criticised Nathan and Ivan repeatedly at every opportunity,we think we fans don't realise that it was a nothing game against Knights but I can bet you if knights wom you would be calling for their heads like you do every frikin day even when Ivan had not coached a game this season,your bias towards them is legendry.Iam upset and hurt by what our season has dished out and there has been so many reasons but you on the other hand just have a go at Clearys,You think the sun shines out of Maloney's you know what but as much has his a very likeable dude he has issues that hasn't helped us.Junior Paulo has a try assists and you mock Nathan.You make me laugh with fans like me jab maybe we should all become like you and not be happy with a good win where our 21 year old half played out of his skin.Do you know why Iam 10 Grand its because when the rest of the world gave us no chance to win the GF in 2003 I put a lazy hundred at 100 to 1.I might be a better judge then you give me credit for.

Damn you have the best backstory for a forum alias I have ever seen

 

[Kilkenny]

I really enjoyed today, it was great in a nothing game.

Does it mean anything going into 2020 not one iota.

There are positives going forward but at the end of the day the brains trust now in charge are a major concern.