There has been a lot of spin about the non-selection of Kalyn Ponga in the Australian side, which very few can actually believe.
Those trying to look after Ponga’s damaged reputation at representative level have been kindly saying he was not picked because the Kangaroos were looking for versatile players.
There is no doubt fullback is Ponga’s best position, but he has shown he is capable of playing in numerous other spots, including five eighth, wing and even as a middle player off the bench, which he has done at Origin level. The Blues were fearful of the impact he would have from the bench for Queensland. Plenty of planning was done around his entry into the game.
So, if we dig deeper, the real reason Ponga was not selected was his private conversation with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga; a phone call that came well after he made himself unavailable for selection on September 24, without contacting Meninga directly.
The Australia coach had a responsibility to share Ponga’s reasoning for his initial withdrawal with his selection team. And, unfortunately, Ponga did little to convince Meninga of any real desire to play for Australia. In fact, Ponga simply reiterated his reasons for pulling out in the first place. There was nothing in that conversation with Meninga that suggested Ponga had a passion to play for Australia.
And now there are more problems for Ponga. There are rumblings coming out of the NSW camp about whether he should be allowed to play for Queensland, given his reluctance to represent Australia. There is a thought he would rather represent New Zealand. Some Blues officials feel his availability for Queensland should be closely examined.
Don’t believe the spin about Kalyn Ponga’s omission from the Kangaroos squad.Credit: Getty Images
Ponga is said to be his own man, and to prove it he needs to move on from his father, Andre, as his manager. No one is saying it publicly, but that is the overwhelming view from powerbrokers in the game, and those with sway at the Knights.
The handling of his Kangaroos withdrawal, and then the backflip, was amateurish. To not realise the obligation he had to play representative football was a basic error a good manager should not make. All contracted NRL players have an obligation to make themselves available for representative selection.
The club should also have told him, but pure football knowledge is not the strength of Newcastle’s business-savvy chief Phil Gardner. It was the perfect storm of a lack of football nous, which left Ponga looking out of touch with the way the game is run and disrespectful to a jumper that so many value.
Madge backs Daley for Blues
Michael Maguire has not said this publicly, but whispers out of the Blues are that he is saying the NSW set-up is ready for a man such as Laurie Daley to walk into the job.
With strong support staff like Frank Ponissi and assistants Brett White and Matt King in place, the Maguire model is impressive. But it was Maguire who made it work.
Laurie Daley.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
The word coming out of the Jersey Flegg grand final day, which Maguire attended, was that Daley was in the picture to succeed “Madge” as NSW coach. Maguire will replace Kevin Walters at the Broncos next season.
It makes a lot of sense, and Daley has significant people in the game supporting him behind the scenes. The impact of his role as a TAB spokesman will be interesting to watch. Ivan Cleary was being pushed for the position publicly, and his record says it all, but he is not necessarily someone you associate with passion — an Origin prerequisite — and combining Origin with club coaching would be incredibly difficult. He is a coach who builds from the bottom up, not the top down.
There is no question Michael Ennis has the desire and fire to want to coach NSW; it’s just whether he has the experience in that kind of role, which is necessary when the going gets tough.
Maguire showed his years of experience when the Blues had their backs against the wall after losing their only home game of the series in game one. He didn’t panic. He made sharp selections, and the team produced arguably the most complete first half of Origin football ever seen in Melbourne when they led 34-0 at the break, and went on to win 38-18 in game two.
Maguire then relied on his ability to get under Queensland’s skin to mastermind a win in the decider on their home turf. It has been described as the greatest Blues performance ever.
Not a Tallis man
The criticism of Michael Maguire from Broncos old boys is as predictable as it is boring, and it is worth remembering when it comes from high-profile media figure Gorden Tallis that the pair have history.
Maguire chose not to have Tallis as part of his South Sydney coaching set-up when he took over in late 2011. Tallis had a role at the club before Maguire’s arrival.
Michael Maguire and (inset) Gorden Tallis.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone, Getty
The Brisbane old boys are more than entitled to their opinion and will tee off on Maguire if things start to go wrong, but if any coach is capable of turning that club around, it is him. He managed to unite the state in his role as Blues coach and got most of the media on side as well.
Agony and ecstasy
The true concern about Nathan Cleary‘s shoulder injury has been laid bare by his dad, Ivan, in the aftermath of the Panthers’ victory. Letting his guard down after a win he labelled their greatest, Ivan said of Nathan’s shoulder: “It was a ticking time bomb ... he was able to play, but it could have gone at any moment. I was nervous, but he is a pretty tough kid. The season he had, I think he has played his best footy when he has been able to play.”
Nathan enjoyed the celebrations. He and Izack Tago were the only ones who didn’t take off their sunglasses at the fan day.
The Kid Laroi performs at the NRL grand final.Credit: Getty Images
Kid in full voice
The NRL heard suggestions from Panthers great Greg Alexander that its big musical signing for the grand final, The Kid Laroi, mimed his performance. Alexander observed the singer had the microphone at hip height at times when he was singing.
This led to the NRL doing its own inquiries, and it has assured this column that Laroi did sing his songs. Some of the backing track may have been recorded.
Frank’s true Blue
In a Penrith room full of celebration, it was a quality gesture from Storm general manager Frank Ponissi to join the Panthers as they were on a high after their fourth straight title.
Ponissi was seen having a hug with Clive Churchill Medal winner Liam Martin and in conversation with Jarome Luai. He also congratulated other Blues players, including Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o. You will remember Ponissi is part of the Blues set-up and the Panthers played a huge role in this year’s series win.
Roo words
Ben Hunt’s selection in the Kangaroos has some of the Dragons organisation on edge. As I have documented, Hunt does not want to be at the Dragons any longer, but he will need to be the driving force behind an exit, as the club is reluctant to let him go.
The concern for the Dragons, who have not found the recruitment of star players simple, is that if Hunt is asked about the club by the best of the best in the Kangaroos set-up, he may not have glowing things to say. Hunt does not come across as that kind of person at all, but you will remember that part of the attraction for the Dragons in signing Shane Flanagan as coach was his reputation for being able to land significant signings.
So far, Flanagan has nabbed former Australian and Blues hooker Damien Cook and Maroons representative Val Holmes, and is in the box seat for Clint Gutherson and Josh Addo-Carr.
What is interesting is the role other heavyweights at the Dragons played in securing signatures, particularly that of Holmes.
Hunt would be entitled to say a few things about the Dragons right now. He has other things to occupy his thoughts.
Fox reconnecting
Josh Addo-Carr is expected to sit down with a couple of clubs in the next few days to work out his playing future. The Dragons are certainly interested. Addo-Carr is an Indigenous man and has been connecting with the land and his people in recent days as his partner is close to giving birth. Upon his return, discussions will ramp up.
Knight to Bunnies?
There is an interesting whisper doing the rounds that new South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has plenty of time for Jackson Hastings, and Lachlan Ilias could end up in Newcastle as a result. It’s one worth keeping an eye on.
Go well mate
Andrew Webster is a man of many beautiful words. I’ll try to sum him up in a few because he hates the attention being on him.
I’m lucky enough to get to talk to “Webby” regularly. I won’t share the nature of our chats, but it’s fair to say the columns we discuss over the phone could never be written. But I wish they were.
We don’t agree on everything – some of my favourite people are his most disliked, and vice versa – but no one sums up a situation with greater insight or humour. Webby is a brave and intelligent man. He filed his final column for the Herald during the week.
Looking forward to our friendship continuing and your next chapter. Full stop. New par.