North Queensland sensation Kalyn Ponga has made an irrepressible case for NRL selection in round one after scoring a hat-trick in a reserve grade trial on Friday night.
Ponga is certain to come into calculations for the Cowboys’ season-opener against Canberra after Antonio Winterstein came off early in his team’s NRL trial win over the Wests Tigers.
Cowboys coach Paul Green played down the seriousness of Winterstein’s injury before shying away from Ponga’s prospects of a first-grade call-up.
“It’s an ankle thing. It doesn’t seem to be too bad but we’ll get it checked out tonight. Don’t want to take any unnecessary risks,” Green said of Winterstein.
“See what the scans say but at this stage, it doesn’t look too bad.”
Ponga took the NRL by storm when he deputised for an injured Winterstein during last year’s finals series, before signing a lucrative deal to join the Newcastle Knights in 2018.
Pressed on whether the 18-year-old would again be in line to replace Winterstein on the left edge, Green said: “I don’t know – that’s two weeks away.”
The premiership-winning coach was disappointed in his team’s performance in Campbelltown, where they needed a last-ditch try to steal a scratchy victory despite being at full-strength.
The Cowboys were outplayed for most of the match before Kane Linnett scored with five minutes left, allowing skipper Johnathan Thurston to win it with a sideline conversion.
“It’s always good to win, don’t get me wrong. It gives you a bit of confidence when you win, but there’s probably a couple of areas we’ve got a bit of work to do,” he said.
“Probably not as happy as I would’ve liked to have been. There were some pleasing things to take out of the game, a couple of things we wanted to try and get out of it.
“But we were a bit off on some of our basic stuff too.”
Scott Bolton all but secured the previously vacant front-row spot alongside co-captain Matt Scott with a typically industrious effort, but Green was less than impressed with his bench.
“Our young guys, they had a couple of errors around them tonight, so they’d all be disappointed in their game. But their effort was good.”
The Cowboys open their season against the Raiders in Townsville on March 4.
Rob
Guest
Ponga is a once in a generation player without major injuries. Coote made 30 errors last year, while Barba made 18, Boyd 8, and Munster 8.
Rob
Guest
What is the average age of outside backs? I'm sure they are older than average. Linnett and Winterstien are not great players that have had long serving Rep careers. They will not be Rep players in the future. The Cowboys have an ageing squad of experienced Rep players. Mosby could be a future Rep player. Ponga is possibly a once in a generation player with fantastic hands and footwork. Coote (safe as a bank) made 30 errors. Barba 18, Munster 8, Boyd 8, Hopoate 11 in 2016 season. Linnett played 22 games scoring 5 tries, 24 tackle busts with 27 missed tackles. Bowen played 10 games scoring 4 tries, 38 tackle busts with 9 missed tackles. Linnett made 15 errors while Bowen made 6 errors.
Bart
Guest
You may be right, but that seems unlikely given how Greeny likes to stick with the same guys. Having said that, as much as I like Coote, hopefully he's not on a very long leash: if he can't get the job done, then let the young kid have a crack at it.
joel
Guest
I would be playing Ponga at fullback, after that trial match with Coote, has happened too many times now and every win in a season is too important in the NRL for 1 player to have a barry crocker every thired game which completely destroys the efforts of his team mates.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Ijus think Asiata is getting overlooked completely in the media. Our forward pack is weakened, but im not worried, i Think 2018 is our year.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
You realise those 3 players arent that old right? Winters and Linnett are 28 and Coote is 26.
Bart
Guest
Not wrong, Jimmy. Hess is a stud and should help to fill the gap, at least somewhat. It would be nice if someone else stepped up, too, though. I'm in the US, so I am not able to follow the preseason games. Thus, just wondering whatever happened with Johnny Asiata? He has pretty silky skills and provides a bit of a punch. Is he just not playing up to snuff? Also, we would benefit MASSIVELY from Jakey Granville finding his 2015 form again. He was just not backing himself running out of dummy half last year. Wonder why. And then there's the more or less perennial issue for the Cowboys of needing to start fast and play well on the road. The good news is that we will find out in just two weeks where we stand! Mercifully, we have them at home ( ! ), but Canberra will really test us none the less. Can't wait for it all to start. GO COWBOYS!!!!
Jimmmy
Guest
Agree with you there Bart. Hannant and Bolton were great off the bench. Overall I think we may have slipped a little in the forwards but Hess will have a stellar season so all is not lost. I also agree we need to go for it this year. We weren't far away in 2016 . That Broncs game flattened us completely. Good enough if close enough.
Rob
Guest
Kane Linnett is rubbish. I know he is there to truck the ball up and help JT in defence but his in ability to do anything in attack has been hurting the Cowboys for a long time now. How Green has stuck with him over Javed Bowen is beyond belief. A position has to be found for Ponga and Lachlan Coote will have to regain his best form to hold his position. The playing group is advancing in age and an injection of youth is well over due. There are several options for Green with Mosby, Bowen and Ponga coming in for Winterstien, Linnet and Coote.
Kevin Malone
Guest
they are not sweating at all
Bart
Guest
My biggest concern regarding the forwards has, since the beginning, not been the starters: full faith in Scott and Bolts; it's been what we're missing from our bench (Hannant and Bolts were always REALLY solid coming in for their stints). Sounds like it's still an issue! Also somewhat unsettling to hear that Coote is struggling. He'll come right, though. As for Ponga, could not agree more: this might be our last best chance to win another Premiership for a while. Thurston is getting older and we might be losing Scott and some other guys after this year, anyway. Sure, you don't want to mortgage the future by totally putting off one of your past and future starters like Winterstein, but if we can get the brass ring again this season by having Ponga (or Gids or Bowen) doing it out on the wing, why not? Having said all of that, I have nothing but admiration for Paul Green and the job he's done. I trust him to get it right again this year.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Linnent is picked on defensive I reckon. I guess Greeny is just showing a little bitvof loyalty. Kane should have beefed up a bit and made the move into the 2nd Row.
Jimmmy
Guest
I have no idea why Green refuses to pick Ponga. I know he's leaving but he is definitely in our top 17 and should play. My outside backs would be O Neill , Bowen, Ponga, Feldt and Coote at the back. Kane Linnett has been very good for us overall, but he is a liability in big games. It could easily have been him, not Hunt who dropped the 2015 GF. Take advantage of Ponga while we have him I say.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I also have to agree with Green. The step down from the starting forwards and the bench forwards was pretty noticeable. They'll have their work cut out for them.
Joe
Roar Rookie
If there's one position the Cowboys can afford to have injuries its wing. Not only Ponga but Gideon Gela-Mosby and Javed Bowen are ready made first grade wingers. I have to say though I've enjoyed the live streaming of all the trial matches so far. The Tigers were very good last night with their two halves missing. Cowboys looked a bit disjointed and Coote looks like he still hasn't overcome his rocks and diamonds performances. Tigers fans would be very happy after seeing last nights performance. I thought Littlejohn was best on park and he's not even pencilled in to the best 17.