Rumoured Targets 3

[Haffa]

Whoosh is the biggest troll if I've ever seen one. We gotta stop feeding the troll guys... He feels like he has something to prove to random on some online forum. Just let him be.

He’s the worst troll I’ve ever seen.

 

[Spot On]

Iqaz considers Pete Badel to be his 'source'.

Enough said.

 

[perverse]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ne...k4IuHnzBjVwHUaX5GdqbPsNAS7jnWV4M_6ewYptcOok5U

Shaun Johnson might be on the outer at the Warriors. I know we need forwards, but this could keep Kalyn at fullback for the right price. It would be quite a spine. We've got the cash for a couple of marquees, I wouldn't be totally upset if Johnson was one of them.

 

[Spot On]

Been saying for a while the Warriors need to move him on.

It's no surprise it may finally happen although they are most probably putting a final rocket up him.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Johnson would benefit from being at another club imo. He’s been in his comfort zone for too long and could also benefit from not being the chief playmaker. I doubt we’ll pursue him but the following spine would be ridiculously talented.

1. Ponga
6. Johnson
7. Pearce
9. Levi/Watson

 

[Apey]

I think he'd be a great 6 for us.

 

[Knight Vision]

yep he's always been a 5/8 and not a halfback. That would be a Premiership winning spine with the Pong at the back and Watson at 14.

 

[Frederick]

yep he's always been a 5/8 and not a halfback. That would be a Premiership winning spine with the Pong at the back and Watson at 14.

Not without any props it's not

 

[Matt23]

I'm guessing I'm in the minority here, I'm not sure Johnson is someone we should be looking at, we need middle forwards before signing another half.

 

[Swarzey]

Would gladly sign him, just nowhere near the coin he's currently on.

Fantastic player on his day but rarely finds consistency and follows every great performance up with 2-4 real duds.

 

[perverse]

I'm guessing I'm in the minority here, I'm not sure Johnson is someone we should be looking at, we need middle forwards before signing another half.

Possibly in the minority, but it's a fair argument. My counter would be we have 2.2 million sitting there, and I think it's at least somewhat possible that you could have both. If the Warriors want to move him on, then he's going to be limited on options if his price is too high.

I'm generally fairly against putting Ponga at 5/8th this early in his career, too. He's not fully physically developed yet, and as much as he coped with the workload in Origin - it probably contributed to busting him up for the rest of the year. I think there's a real possibility he goes all the way on his line break if he wasn't gassed from all the extra defence, too. I think Kalyn can play anywhere in the backline and be effective, but it's about where he can be most effective - and I think for the next few years that's definitely fullback. It's also where he wants to play himself... and I feel like we risk losing him long term putting him at 5/8th right now. I just don't see it as a smart decision, yet.

Lastly, it's hard to argue that Johnson wouldn't significantly improve our team... even with his inconsistency. He is a freak talent... and I like having as many of those in my team as possible. Given the cash we have free, I don't see why having a serious look at him should preclude us from also getting some quality middles. Kalyn Ponga and Shaun Johnson playing off each other in the same team is an absolute nightmare for any opposition team. I think SJ would thrive in an environment where he didn't have to steer the ship and could play as an opportunist.

In fact, the more I think about it and the more I type - the more I love the idea. It could be a real boon for us on the market if we could get a name like SJ over the line. What prop wouldn't want to play in front of that spine?

 

[Knight76]

What prop wouldn't want to play in front of that spine?

We already have Pearce, a quality half, and one of the best players in the game in Ponga that just fell short of winning the Dally M in his first full NRL season. Still can't attract decent forward signings.

Personally I like the idea of having KP at FB for longer in his career, not sure he wants to move to 5/8 really and may be just accommodating the coach.

I doubt we are likely to sign any top quality forwards anyway, no point having the money sitting there doing nothing, worth a look at Johnson.

 

[Knight Vision]

I'm generally fairly against putting Ponga at 5/8th this early in his career, too. He's not fully physically developed yet, and as much as he coped with the workload in Origin - it probably contributed to busting him up for the rest of the year. I think there's a real possibility he goes all the way on his line break if he wasn't gassed from all the extra defence, too. I think Kalyn can play anywhere in the backline and be effective, but it's about where he can be most effective - and I think for the next few years that's definitely fullback. It's also where he wants to play himself... and I feel like we risk losing him long term putting him at 5/8th right now. I just don't see it as a smart decision, yet.

I agree with you. We're on a hiding to nothing in the media with his positional change. Anything less than another Daly M runner up next year ( or us making the 8) and the decision to move him will be viewed as a failure. If it aint broke dont fix it. Would of preferred we went after a quality 5/8 to partner Pearcey if theyre not happy with Watson. The Pong has stated many times he views himself as a FB.

Regards Johnson he would be ideal if we had the Roosters sombrero, although it's pointless having a Ferrari with a Datsun 180B under the hood. We need mongrel props.

 

[Burns]

Shaun Johnson alongside Ponga?

The potential.

 

[Spot On]

I thought Ponga has said he wants to shift to 5/8 after his origin experience???

True or false??

Good chance now of a bit of player movement, especially if Bennett and Seibold swap for 2019.

Maybe we'll fluke it again???

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Is Watson injured or just playing badly?

I didnt know Ponga was going to move. Sounds like a shit idea...

 

[Knight Vision]

I thought Ponga has said he wants to shift to 5/8 after his origin experience???

false, - he did say he would do whats best for the team, after talks with Pearce and Browny it was decided he'd make the move to FB.

I hope the kid has a blinder next year - with his skill set he no doubt will. At this stage the only people that would be happy with his move to 5/8 would be Valentine Holmes and Tedesco.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Ponga was on the Knights app saying he wanted to play at fullback (with the underlying “whatever is best for the team” attitude) less than a fortnight before the Herald claimed he would be playing 6.

Either way, I would have liked Watson to get more opportunity outside Pearce. Of course, it’s the Knights, so he got to impress outside Jack Cogger.

Ponga at the back just gives him more freedom. Hope I am wrong.

 

[mozza91]

I think that Watson at fullback and Ponga at pivot is what will work best for us.

 

[True blue knights]

I am a bit torn about ponga 5/8 but lets be honest watson only strength is his running game which suits him playing fullback and ponga is a freak and can make something happen out of nothing.i think it could work better as a whole. Tired defence will get torn up by ponga playing in the halves,but we need a descent middle forward or two for this to work.