Internationals 2016 Anzac Test Match - Gameday Chatter

[Jordan G]

Vossies idea last night was an interesting one.

While Origin is happening, Tonga, Samoa, NZ have their own Tri-series where players can play for their heritage (I'm assuming he means Manu playing for Tonga as opposed for NZ etc) and then once Origin and that series are finishes we have a genuine NZ/Australia test match so essentially the Tri-series allows NZ players to still represent their heritage without effecting their chances to play for NZ.

It might murky the international eligibility further, but it does have some merit. That Tonga/Samoa game last night was damn entertaining. I think the public would eat it up.

 

[Jordan G]

I guess you only took from those posts what you wanted to...the problem as i see it is we aren't going to get the best out of Tui as a half this year or even next, he's far too green, not to mention being surrounded by a head case of a side...sure he looked good in his 15 minutes, but that was an unusually dominant 15 minutes for the Warriors, we all know it's more often than not the other way around.

I would have liked to see him eased into first grade on the wing for a couple of seasons, where he's an absolute natural in both attack and defense, allowing him to become very comfortable with the pressures that come with the week to week grind and the scrutiny that goes with top flight footy, and then hopefully moving him to the halves where we would, if we're lucky, get a couple of quality seasons out of him before he's head hunted by another club.

All i can see happening here is he's chucked in the deep end, the Warriors follow their usual downward spiral after the origin period, both he and Johnson cop the blame as the halves always seem to, and Tui goes backwards confidence wise, but we still lose him to another club quicker than we otherwise would as other coaches will see flashes of what he can produce on the field with the six on his back.

Of course the coaching staff could miraculously dump the dumb ass players who cant tackle or hold onto the ball, convince their team that defense is the most important part of the game, and how they should try it now and then, make good positional selections, pick and use their bench effectively and maybe instill a will to win in their players, oh and maybe somehow convince them to play smart footy for the full 80 minutes. Then Lolohea will no doubt look like a world beater, and my prediction will be way off the mark.

All you Lolohea to the halves supporters do realize that if he is successful transitioning into the 6 or 7 jumper, we will lose him to another club very quickly...we will have to pay Johnson an obscene amount just to compete with offers from other clubs, and if Lolohea can get his head around the pressures that come with being a halfback, he will attract some large offers as well, offers i doubt we could match.

Yes, you're right. On reflection I now clearly see how quote 2 should have been interpreted as quote 1. In future I'll take the time to read between the lines (or in this case, each word) rather than just taking what I want.

BTW, your argument is still flawed. You say if Tui succeeds he'll get poached, but if he fails he'll get pocahed bcause he'll still produce flashes of brilliance, and yet if we don't put him in the halves or spine then he gets poached as soon as someone offers more money and a spot in the spine.

He's sigjned until 2018/19, we can't lose him quicker than we otherwise would because when he's off contract next he's getting offers plain and simple. It all comes down to what we're prepared to offer (and that may come down to what Luke/Roger Tuivasa-Sheck do at the end of their contract rather than what Shaun Johnson does.

 

[Leaguegod]

Benji has showed in the last 2 years that Benji has a higher opinion of himself than the rest of the world do. Declined a resign at the Tigers and now Dragons because he believes he is worth far more than $300k. Such high-mindedness is not what the Kiwi team is about these days.......... So i don't think Mooks is going to regret leaving out Marshall. For the sake of the overall culture and future legacy of the Kiwis he forfeited one less significant game. Maybe if Marhsall and Luke were there we could have won. But I think Mooks retained his and the teams integrity. And look at how they played for him![/QUOTE]

Bro if Lousi is worth 400K then Benji is worth 4 million as he is 10 times the player Sione could ever be!!! and don't ever condone Forfeiting a test again!!! NZ is not built on that and an ANZAC test to boot! bro did we forfeit on the Somme? did we forfeit at Gallipoli? take that back please.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Why don't we say to the Aussies.... Well fuck ya...we will organise a game against England or Samoa or Tonga in NZ. Let the Aussies play against Fiji seeing as though they are sooo fascinated with Radradra

I don't understand why we have bent over to the Aussie again and play them in Perth on the way to the 4 nations.

 

[drake83]

Good thoughts on the 4 nations.

The ARL and NRL need to shift their control of the game to even the balance of power so Australia and NZ can't monopolize the best Pacific players.

You mean the ones born in NZ and Australia?

 

[drake83]

Yes, you're right. On reflection I now clearly see how quote 2 should have been interpreted as quote 1. In future I'll take the time to read between the lines (or in this case, each word) rather than just taking what I want.

BTW, your argument is still flawed. You say if Tui succeeds he'll get poached, but if he fails he'll get pocahed bcause he'll still produce flashes of brilliance, and yet if we don't put him in the halves or spine then he gets poached as soon as someone offers more money and a spot in the spine.

He's sigjned until 2018/19, we can't lose him quicker than we otherwise would because when he's off contract next he's getting offers plain and simple. It all comes down to what we're prepared to offer (and that may come down to what Luke/Roger Tuivasa-Sheck do at the end of their contract rather than what Shaun Johnson does.

Exactly if Roger Tuivasa-Sheck goes to rugby at the end of 2018 then we have tui for full back and Ara for 6

 

[facefacts]

Yes, you're right. On reflection I now clearly see how quote 2 should have been interpreted as quote 1. In future I'll take the time to read between the lines (or in this case, each word) rather than just taking what I want.

BTW, your argument is still flawed. You say if Tui succeeds he'll get poached, but if he fails he'll get pocahed bcause he'll still produce flashes of brilliance, and yet if we don't put him in the halves or spine then he gets poached as soon as someone offers more money and a spot in the spine.

He's sigjned until 2018/19, we can't lose him quicker than we otherwise would because when he's off contract next he's getting offers plain and simple. It all comes down to what we're prepared to offer (and that may come down to what Luke/Roger Tuivasa-Sheck do at the end of their contract rather than what Shaun Johnson does.

You're kind of all over the place with your quotes and posts issue, but i'm sure it makes sense to you.

As for Lolohea being contracted until 2018, well lets hope he treats his contract with more respect than most of the players and agents in the NRL do...how many times have we heard "if he doesn't want to be here, it does neither party any good forcing him to stay"

Nothing like massive stacks of money being waved under a persons nose to bring about a change of heart.

 

[facefacts]

Exactly if Roger Tuivasa-Sheck goes to rugby at the end of 2018 then we have tui for full back and Ara for 6

Elite fullbacks are going to be earning as much as halves do, if they dont already, so Lolohea probably has the option of picking which position will suit him best.

 

[Run_it_str8]

You mean the ones born in NZ and Australia?

Good point.

 

[phil.kingston]

Has the NRL go this weekend the wrong way round? Shouldnt we build up throughout the weekend to sunday afternoon aus nz test match...

Had to rush home from work on friday so I wouldn't miss the start of game...and in 1.5hrs after that i have no relevant football left for the wekeend...not so much into the other test matches and i certainly dont care about city/country

im not expecting an origin like build up...but atleast for the two days on the weekend we could build towards it aye...city country on friday night....png/fiji...tonga samoa on saturday evening...and all 3 aus nz matches on sunday...wouldnt that make more sense

 

[Five&Last]

Just on the Jnr Kiwis v Jnr Roos:

- Ata is just flat out unbelievable, haven't seen a player like him coming up in a long time. Im just going to put this out there, I would rather have Ata than Lolohea if we were forced to choose between them, but hopefully it never comes to that. Ata is more valuable to this team long term than Tui is IMO.
I think people just think Ata is a steady half that does the basics well but he's way more than that, this dude can create something out of nothing, he has a crazy good step and definitely has that x factor that Shaun Johnson has and this game showed. Was interesting that the commentators were comparing him to Anthony Milford..

- Shout out to Isaiah Papalii for making junior kiwis as a 17 year old and playing big minutes, warriors have yet another strong prop prospect with massive potential
- One of the best players on the field was Siosifa Talakai for the Kiwis, reminds me of a young Konrad Hurrell when he was actually good, Rabbitohs are lucky to have him, still eligible for next year as well.
- Anyone know why Ofahiki Ogden and Bunty Afoa didn't play? Injured or just not selected?
- Other top kiwi prospects on the field imo: Brandon Smith, Greg Leleisiuao, Poasa Faamausili, Reimis Smith

 

[warriors4eva]

regardless of how luke was playing for the warriors ( which i still think was getting better game by game )

i think he would have made a difference friday night. i dont care if he was saying he wouldnt pick himself

Once he puts that black jersey on he goes up another level

Just my humble opionion.....bring on the road trip to NP...CANT WAIT !!

 

[warriors4eva]

Sorry slightly off topic but when is the draw out for the world cup

im assuming the fnal will be played in Oz, so i have to start saving some pingers now.

 

[eudebrito]

Just on the Jnr Kiwis v Jnr Roos:

- Ata is just flat out unbelievable, haven't seen a player like him coming up in a long time. Im just going to put this out there, I would rather have Ata than Lolohea if we were forced to choose between them, but hopefully it never comes to that. Ata is more valuable to this team long term than Tui is IMO.
I think people just think Ata is a steady half that does the basics well but he's way more than that, this dude can create something out of nothing, he has a crazy good step and definitely has that x factor that Shaun Johnson has and this game showed. Was interesting that the commentators were comparing him to Anthony Milford..

Have to agree, might be a bit sacrilegious, but this kid looks like the second coming of Stacey Jones, even his chat to the ref as captain was really impressive.

Lolohea is a great ball runner, but guys like that will come along again, we’ve been waiting 20 years for another all around half to come out of Auckland. Johnson being more the Benji type.

 

[eudebrito]

The kangaroos aren’t what they once were, but I think yous are expecting a lot if playing a real hooker and a washed up benji would have changed the result.

While we have far greater depth of NRL players, outside of 2nd row and prop, they are mostly just decent to average, they won’t embarrass themselves, but they are hardly going to rip up at test match level. That game looked a lot like the England series, forwards struggled for traction with 1 ref allowing a slower ruck speed, and a makeshift backline posed bugger all threat.

Having said that, hopefully Kearney swallows a bit of pride and realises that you can’t just shove your 17 best available players into positions they don’t usually play and expect miracles, specialists are important, if only to build depth. Havili was a bit of comedy selection 2 years ago, but he did a better job of bench hooker in that game than K.Bromwich trying it on.

If we send out a full strength team in the four nations and loose, I’ll jump on the sack mooks bandwagon, but he hasn’t lost with his preferred team since the world cup, so will wait until that happens.

 

[Blain]

Isaac Luke clearly didn't want to play. His family issues would have taken a toll, and I'm sure he would have wanted time off to take a break and spend time with his kids.

Coming out in the media saying he didn't deserved to get picked was a ploy IMO, wouldn't be surprised if he told Kearney not to pick him, and Isaac blamed his form.

 

[Run_it_str8]

Wow, I don't condone Blairs chicken wing on Thaiday but Gallens elbow to Maguires throat got bugger all mention