League greats call for permanent Ponga switch

1 year ago 79

Rugby league legends Paul Gallen and Darryl Brohman person revealed their preferences for Kalyn Ponga to enactment astatine fullback aft helium produced a vintage 2nd fractional show against Manly connected Sunday to seal victory.

Ponga had one effort assistance and 2 enactment interruption assists connected his instrumentality to the No.1 jersey, aft switching to five-eighth during pre-season.

Regular fullback Lachie Miller was dropped to the seat successful a important shake-up with Tyson Gamble astatine five-eighth, and it appears that spine whitethorn beryllium the champion for Newcastle arsenic a team.

Former Queensland prop Brohman believes the No.1 jersey is perfect for Ponga, not lone for what helium offers successful attack, but besides protecting him from caput knocks successful defence.

"If I was coaching yes, I deliberation he's a fullback," helium said connected Nine's 100% Footy.

Kalyn Ponga showed wherefore helium is 1 of the astir unsafe fullbacks successful the contention against Manly. (Getty)

"When he's copped the caput knocks, this twelvemonth successful particular, it's chiefly been erstwhile he's defending, helium doesn't person to bash excessively overmuch defence astatine fullback."

Gallen agreed that defence is proving to beryllium the main contented for Ponga erstwhile playing five-eighth, having already been ruled retired for a fig of weeks this play with a concussion.

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The typical prima was overlooked for the Maroons up of the State of Origin opener with Queensland manager Billy Slater stating Ponga needs to play much football.

"A batch (of his concussions) are successful defence arsenic (Darryl) said ... Kalyn Ponga's a feline that's beauteous overmuch played fullback each done his inferior grades truthful helium hasn't had beryllium successful the frontline having to making 25 tackles a crippled truthful he's conscionable not utilized to it," Gallen told 100% Footy.

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"He astir apt hasn't learnt to tackle decently to beryllium honorable ... truthful putting him backmost to fullback, I hold with (Darryl), I deliberation it's astir apt the champion happening for his career."

Brohman went connected to praise Ponga for his 2nd fractional showing against the Sea Eagles.

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"I thought helium was a spot dilatory successful the archetypal fractional but his 2nd fractional he was outstanding for them and helium was intelligibly the champion subordinate connected the field," helium said.

"He's specified a large mover, I deliberation they've got to effort prevention him arsenic champion they can, he's progressive successful each effort they've scored conscionable astir ... but he's conscionable a ace subordinate and helium did bull a mates of knocks earlier successful the crippled and I deliberation a mates of america held our breath."

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