Why do we lack serious POD players?

[ism22]

With all this talk of players being moved on (or already having moved on) I wanna reflect on why a bunch of key players struggled to pull big moments out of their hats. I feel as though we were scary kinda good against bottom-8 teams, as demonstrated by our PD. However against big teams we seemed to be content just doing standard tackles/hit-ups without being able to break the arm wrestle.

I theorise that a stack of POD players (e.g. Sua'ali'i, Manu, Cheese, Keary and Collins) didn't have any BIG moments where they stole the show.

While I appreciate that you can't just pull a rabbit out of your hat every game... I think fans were expecting Sua'ali'i to throb some big carnts into the grandstand, Cheese to pluck tries outta nowhere withbhis evasive runs or Keary to manage us back into games.

Is it the players or do we have a structure that (while improves) prevents these guys from showing their best? Any other theories?

["gaz"]

What do you call a POD player? I assume if referring to the Rooters you mean players like Latrell, Cronk and SBW

POD players along with a quality team will win a premiership/. Like Cleary and his team. Cam Smith and his team
POD players are usually spine players however back rowers and centres can claim that title too.
There are very few POD players currently playing, (Only 4 off the top of my head)
1. Cleary
2. Ponga
3 Turbo
4, Latrell

The best way to get a POD player into your team is by astute scouting and development

So do you see Sam Walker as a potential POD player?
If so what team would you build around Sam Walker?

That is what the Roosters will likely do.
Build a team around Sam Walker that can win multiple premierships

Lets hope our recruitment team can find more POD players through our academy to support Sam
Hopefully Robert Toia is destined to become better than Latrell or Moriarty better than Cameron Smith.
They don't all have to be Pods. A Jake Friend or Boyd Cordner or Adrian Morley will all help support the POD player

Rarely does a POD player come on the market for example Ponga, Cleary, Cam Smith etc
So hopefully our academy can not only fast track but identify the talent that can become POD players

It raises an interesting question. Who were the best PODs ever.Those who dominated the game itself?

Cam Smith
Cooper Cronk
Nathan Cleary
Peter Sterling
Wally Lewis

[Rooster90]

With less Cooks in the kitchen next year, I'm excited to see what the likes of Rob Toia and Dom Young can do as focal points of our attack

["gaz"]

With less Cooks in the kitchen next year, I'm excited to see what the likes of Rob Toia and Dom Young can do as focal points of our attack

Rob Toia looks like he could be a gun, good fend and bounces out of attempted tackles. Hopefully the injury's have passed
I think he came back for the last 6 rounds after his second ACL in the opposite knee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z91utJq5lPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUMjsSjnmbc

[A Country Member]

What the feck is a POD?

• Player of difference
• Position of depth
• Piss off dickhead

[Crab]

What the feck is a POD?

• Player of difference
• Position of depth
• Piss off dickhead

Yes .. please explain POD ?!

[mightyrooster]

Yes .. please explain POD ?!

Pay on delivery? Proof of delivery? Who knows!

[Bansai Pipeline]

Mate if you're going to throw the term POD about at least define it for us morons.

["gaz"]

Point of Difference
It's a term that comes from Fantasy Football. which basically means a gun player that not many other players have,or can afford
Maybe in real Rugby League that would mean a player that has the potentially to win you a GF ie Cleary, Cronk
The origin of this Topic was posted by ism22 - their definition may be different

[Bates]

We used to rely on our POD players to get us out of the sh+t in tight games. Long time no see.

[The Brain]

With all this talk of players being moved on (or already having moved on) I wanna reflect on why a bunch of key players struggled to pull big moments out of their hats. I feel as though we were scary kinda good against bottom-8 teams, as demonstrated by our PD. However against big teams we seemed to be content just doing standard tackles/hit-ups without being able to break the arm wrestle.

I theorise that a stack of POD players (e.g. Sua'ali'i, Manu, Cheese, Keary and Collins) didn't have any BIG moments where they stole the show.

While I appreciate that you can't just pull a rabbit out of your hat every game... I think fans were expecting Sua'ali'i to throb some big carnts into the grandstand, Cheese to pluck tries outta nowhere withbhis evasive runs or Keary to manage us back into games.

Is it the players or do we have a structure that (while improves) prevents these guys from showing their best? Any other theories?

I prefer mars bars Pod's.
Sua ali was still Green and was just starting to show his wares this year..next year could have been a giant..bad luck.
Manu was always a pod player dropped down in form after breaking his hand .Prefers Tapinyaki.
Cheese thought went well ..not enough petrol.Went better as a combo back rower hooker at Melbourne.
Keary was far better than you thought .
Collins club form was down a bit too many headbutting coconuts for a day job.

What has me interested if the young Smith does not come good at 5/5th I would seriously look at that Bevan in England ...