Internationals 2016 Australia v Kiwis Test, Perth

[mt.wellington]

Why else would SK select so many Warriors before quitting the Kiwi role ?

A possible reason that counters that argument...is that he used his powers as the departing Kiwis coach....to give his new club charges an endorsement to help him win over a Warriors dressing room.

The comparisons between this years and lasts makes interesting reading...

2015

Gerard Beale (Cronulla Sharks)
Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Lewis Brown (Penrith Panthers)
Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers)
Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Sosaia Feki (Cronulla Sharks)
Bryson Goodwin (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm)
Peta Hiku (Manly Sea Eagles)
Shaun Kenny-Dowell (Sydney Roosters)
Isaac Liu (Sydney Roosters)
Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers)
Manu Ma’u (Parramatta Eels)
Sam McKendry (Penrith Panthers)
Matt McKilwrick (Sydney Roosters)
Sam Moa (Sydney Roosters)
Jason Nightingale (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm)
Curtis Rona (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Tim Simona (Wests Tigers)
Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters)
Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers)
Elijah Taylor (Penrith Panthers)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters)
Dean Whare (Penrith Panthers)
Bodene Thompson (NZ Warriors)
Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors)
Tuimoala Lolohea (NZ Warriors)
Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors)
Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors)

2016

James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Panthers)
Suaia Matagi (Panthers)
Te Maire Martin (Panthers)
Adam Blair (Broncos)
Jordan Kahu (Broncos)
Lewis Brown (Sea Eagles)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Sea Eagles)
Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles)
Manu Ma’u (Eels)
Brad Takairangi (Eels)
Jason Nightingale (Dragons)
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Isaac Liu (Roosters)
Sam Moa (Roosters)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
David Fusitua (Warriors)
Shaun Johnson (Warriors)
Solomone Kata (Warriors)
Thomas Leuluai (Warriors)
Sam Lisone (Warriors)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors)
Issac Luke (Warriors)
Simon Mannering (Warriors)
Jazz Tevaga (Warriors)
Bodene Thompson (Warriors)
Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
Elijah Taylor (Tigers)
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/85173656/simon-mannering-ruled-out-of-transtasman-test-in-perth

The Kiwis most experienced player, former Warriors captain Simon Mannering, has been ruled out of Saturday's trans-Tasman test with the Kangaroos in Perth as he continues to recuperate from knee surgery.

Mannering, who has been capped 41 times, has remained in Auckland in order to be fit for the Kiwis upcoming defence of the Four Nations tournament in England.

The 30-year-old had a knee tidied up last month and has been given an extra week to rehab the joint before linking up with the 24-man squad ahead of their departure for Huddersfield.

Mannering has missed the Kiwis last two assignments - last year's 2-1 series loss to England through illness and May's Anzac Test due to injury.

Jesse Bromwich has been retained as captain while his Melbourne Storm teammate Kevin Proctor is the last squad member to arrive in Western Australia on Tuesday.

The squad returns to New Zealand on Sunday and have a three-day break before reassembling in Auckland.

They launch their Four Nations campaign against England on October 30 (NZ time) in Huddersfield, before games against Australia on November 6 and Scotland on November 12.

Kiwis squad [for trans-Tasman test]: Gerard Beale, Adam Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, David Fusitua, Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson, Jordan Kahu, Solomone Kata, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Te Maire Martin, Manu Ma'u, Jason Nightingale, Kevin Proctor, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

 

[1995Warriorsfan]

 

[1995Warriorsfan]

With both Kata and Rapana having a good season with their NRL clubs they have both been rewarded with a Kiwi Cap.

 

[Brother Faisal]

Pretty predictable side.

Not sure on Kata but this would be the best chance to give him a crack and see if hes up to test level. What would be funny is if he started passing to his wing. We just realise he hated manu all that time lol.

The forward pack is good. Thought Beastwood wouldve found a spot. Not sure how much gametime Mau will get but there looks a good balance of forwards.

Not sure where the points are gonna come from. Our backs just look to be lacking points in them. Tommy will have to play big in order to free Shaun Johnson up.

Rapana and Nightingale is a solid wing combo.

I like that Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has to fight his way back in for a spot, there will be some healthy competition for young guys like Tapine, Fusitua and Martin biting at the nails to get a spot on the team.

I see a good solid defensive team but I need to see points from this team and obviously forwards need to lay the platform. Not sure what the weather will be but we do struggle in the heat so hopefully we can handle it.

Bromich needs to step up as captain, didnt see much talk from him at the anzac test but need him to start leading this team.

Pretty solid, not the best due to foran, whare, hiku being out but maybe enough to keep close or sneak a victory.

 

[Danpatmac]

I'm not a fan of Kahu.
Kata shouldn't even be in the squad... but he has good form behind him.

Bench is a bit thin for me. Would prefer to start Blair and bring JWH off the bench for impact.

 

[Brother Faisal]

I'm not a fan of Kahu.
Kata shouldn't even be in the squad... but he has good form behind him.

Bench is a bit thin for me. Would prefer to start Blair and bring JWH off the bench for impact.

Yeah i like the idea of JWH coming off the bench with taupau. I thought beastwood would crack the team because historically the kangaroos have found it hard to deal with him.

 

[unclesteve]

Good side. Rewards for NRL form with the exception of Luke and Shaun Johnson who are there on reputation. Luke did show enough towards the end I guess. Personally I was swaying to the camp of letting Shaun Johnson rest up but that the selfish Warrior fanboy talking. If TMM hadnt been injured and kicked on with the early promise he showed then maybe we would have had options there.

JT the bigger, Taupau, Mau, Bromwich, JWH...thats a pretty mean platform to build on. Even Blair whom i would normally not rate has had a 2nd wind under Bennett.

Im not convinced Aussie have named their strongest line up so it could get interesting.....

 

[Selector]

Would've preferred Eastwood or even Tapine over Blair on the bench. Blair doesn't suit the Kiwis strength of playing through the middle in my opinion. Also he was awful in the ANZAC test, needs to realise he's a forward not a half. And yip Kata shouldn't be in the squad at all.

 

[Mr Bob]

That forward pack man. Choice.

That backline though with the Warriors halves pairing looks like sloppy seconds.

But that forward pack man......

 

[Swanley]

Pretty predictable side.

What would be funny is if he started passing to his wing.

That would be telling....I'm predicting now he'll make more passes than normal, one will even gift Australia a try.

 

[snake77]

A pretty good team named. About as strong as we can name with who is available.

A bit different this weekend for us Warriors fans; we get to watch a forward pack that should make plenty of metres.

Hopefully they gel quickly as we know the Aussies with the Queensland spine will be well organized.

 

[Swanley]

Nice forward pack, backs are solid.

I think the things with the Kiwis recently is that our backs are there for defending and finishing. We have our flashyness with Shaun Johnson, just need the finishers, hence SKD always being picked, has his flaws, but can score a try.

I'm picking a a close game here and potentially a Kiwis victory.

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

Did Australia name their team?

 

[Horriors2014]

Would've preferred Eastwood or even Tapine over Blair on the bench. Blair doesn't suit the Kiwis strength of playing through the middle in my opinion. Also he was awful in the ANZAC test, needs to realise he's a forward not a half. And yip Kata shouldn't be in the squad at all.

For mine you've highlighted the talking points, I am absolutely worried about Kata/SKD in centres. I think SKD does alright defending alongside Whare/Kahu. But alongside Kata makes me nervous. Kahu at FB? Hmm. How often does he play that possie? He's been reliable for us, so maybe courage will get him through? That would be my concern in the backs. I'm worried also that Eastwood wasn't picked over Ma'u. I mean really? All that experience and skill? He also can prop or play 6 if needed. Brown. Hmmm. It's another team that reminds us that we have a scarcity in some positions. Kidwell has gone for aggression and pride. That's why Blair is there. We'll see how we go.

 

[The Cheap Seats]

Does anyone have a handle on why Kata is named at right centre since he has played left all year/career?
Same with SKD, he has been playing on the right side of the field but named left centre.

Seems a bit weird to me, anyone else?
Or is there a plan that I can't see? defensive combos, or experience paired with a rookie?

 

[Horriors2014]

Does anyone have a handle on why Kata is named at right centre since he has played left all year/career?
Same with SKD, he has been playing on the right side of the field but named left centre.

Seems a bit weird to me, anyone else?
Or is there a plan that I can't see? defensive combos, or experience paired with a rookie?

My money is on the highlighted words above.

 

[Horriors2014]

I'm guessing that you are a mad Kiwis fan based on your posts over the years.

In the cold logic of what is best for the Warriors, you rest Johnson and some others perhaps.

Our new Warriors coach obviously has the opposite view and believes playing for your country in the Kiwi culture he nurtured....makes you a better player ?

Why else would SK select so many Warriors before quitting the Kiwi role ?

A possible reason that counters that argument...is that he used his powers as the departing Kiwis coach....to give his new club charges an endorsement to help him win over a Warriors dressing room.

That's a pretty cynical cold move if he knowingly did that.....it polutes the Kiwi ethos he built based on deserving your place and committment to the jersey.

Conspiracy theorists could link that move to David Kidwell then declining Kearney's offer of help with the Kiwis.

I am excited by Kidwell refusing Kearney's input.

Apart from confirming Kidwell is his own man, it goes to show how well prepared Kidwell himself feels from his former guise of assistant.

But most of all, I am looking forward to trying to work out what Kidwell thinks he can do better than his old boss.....clearly Kidwell has more on his mind than focusing on past models of how to win.

I'm just saying injury is random. It's going to happen whether we wrap them up in cottonwool or not. So let's just play them when we can-injury-free of course. Interesting take on the Kidwell/Kearney story. I didn't notice it. but maybe you're on to something. Kidwell has picked mostly Maori players-the most I've seen in a very long time. The Warriors players were mostly left out. It's 2 different approaches.

Kearney basically is saying that he could have done better with the Warriors players than Cappy because he has a history of getting them to lift for the Kiwis. Kidwell has picked mostly on form and pride and aggression. He has publicly said he wants to put passion into the jersey. Well, I didn't think what we've had so far was so bad-we've had great success. I'm not so sure about Kidwell's approach. It could be a screaming success or a backward step for the Kiwis. He's sort of put all his eggs in one basket. For a coach with such limited experience, I would have played it safe.

However, I can't fault his passion and boldness. At least he knows what he wants. He's decisive. Let's hope he actually knows how to formulate a winning game plan.

 

[JBmurc]

Very Dominant forward pack ...Shaun Johnson/luke has to lift behind such a monster pack ....think on the front foot..Shaun Johnson/luke/crazy eyes can create the spark the likes of Rapana / kata/SKD size can be handful let along the likes of Manu Ma'u

....really demands on how the Aussie pack fronts

 

[eudebrito]

Was going to say its good to see specialists in the outside backs, but I think its 2 (usual) right wings and 2 left centres, could be wrong. Nightingale and SKD have probably played both sides though.

Good to see kahu retain his spot after being their best in the beaten anzac team,

The comparisons between this years and lasts makes interesting reading...

Is it? think it just shows that last years team was a depleted bunch, and depth gets better every year, as there are still some first choice players unavailable.

Only Feki from last years squad can consider himself seriously unlucky, should have had Manu's place. and i guess cos Lisone played for Samoa on the weekend, he should be struck off (not sure how he made it in the first place)