Internationals Anzac test

[LeagueSuperstar_old]

Last time we won the anzac test was back in 1998 the last time the matchwas held in NZ so it sure has been awhile

 

[insulinboi_old]

Official Ozzie Team:

Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Jamie Lyon, Jarryd Hayne, Darren Lockyer (capt), Cooper Cronk, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, David Shillington, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Michael Weyman.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Few surprises in kiwi team...Alex Glenn, Zeb Taia, Aaron Heremaia, Ben Matulino

 

[insulinboi_old]

Wow... that kiwis team. Pretty dissapointing actually.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Benji Marshall (c)
Adam Blair
Kieran Foran
Alex Glenn
Bronson Harrison
Aaron Heremaia
Lance Hohaia
Issac Luke
Sika Manu
Ben Matulino
Steve Matai
Jason Nightingale
Frank Paul Nuuausala
Sam Perrett
Sam Rapira
Junior Sau
Zeb Taia
Jarrod Waraea-Hargreaves

 

[daj3_old]

Alex Glenn had to be there, he's been awesome. Interesting that Kenny-Dowell didn't make the squad, still plenty of cover in the backs I guess.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

We have the better halves... but can we get enough ball and go forward for Foran and Marshall

Kearney really rates Matulino,wonder if the warriors could trade Matulino to the Storm

 

[playdaball_old]

Benji Marshall (c) - good
Adam Blair - good
Kieran Foran - good
Alex Glenn - good well earned
Bronson Harrison - good
Aaron Heremaia - is he up to international form
Lance Hohaia - form not 100%
Issac Luke - good
Sika Manu - hardly played this year
Ben Matulino - form not 100%
Steve Matai - good
Jason Nightingale - good although is SKD better
Frank Paul Nuuausala - good
Sam Perrett - good
Sam Rapira - good
Junior Sau - good
Zeb Taia - unsure of his right to play for NZ
Jarrod Waraea-Hargreaves - hardly played

Alot of utility and impact players there
I'm happy that Goodwin is not there as I dont rate him
No Moi Moi (injured along with Pritchard), Lima, SKD HMMMMM

 

[Magic Stick_old]

id like to see Glenn on the bench instead of Heremaia.Heremaia has no business being there

 

[Viking_old]

How good is Zeb Taia? Only watched one game of the Knights this year and don't remember him, Mark Taufua stood out more.

Glenn should always be in the reckoning for the Kiwis from now on.

Heremaia's the only real halves cover in the team named but he would be in the top three Kiwi hookers on current form and Hohaia will probably go to fullback. Aaron can do the dirty work for the first 25mins then let a fresh Luke pick the Aussies off then Aaron can go to the bench as halves cover.

How Matulino gets close to the team is a bigger mystery. JWH and Matai can provide enough big hits and that's all Ben's really provided this year. Maybe the passion the other two provide in every game they play might rub off on Ben. Hope so, the boy needs an angry pill to complement his natural ability.

 

[Kaiaua krusher_old]

I am mystified by this team selection and I had trouble even guessing why some of these guys are here.

Then I think back to last years tri nations. The game against Australia was a ripper, struggled at times against France and looked well off the game for the English Test and subsequently lost.

Some time later we hear that the Kiwi Manager was not reappointed due to domestic league duties. A little later the grapevine suggested(at times publically) that there was a little too much of the drinkies.

I just wonder if the players not selected were the ring leaders and Coach Kearney is teaching them a lesson.

Perhaps he is just giving them a run with this years quad series in mind in view of the fact that Simon and Manu would have been there if not injured.

 

[Kaiaua krusher_old]

Ben Matulino was not on the horizon last night, but was in todays Sunday Herald

 

[Tajhay_old]

matulino???? surely thats a joke! hes been playing like a whipped pussy this year.

 

[teariki_old]

matulino???? surely thats a joke! hes been playing like a whipped pussy this year.

Different team, different coach, different environment. Who's to say Matulino won't thrive under these conditions? Maybe he's being stifled at the Warriors. Could be the Logan Swann syndrome though; Swann was picked numerous times for the Kiwis even though he didn't deserve to.

 

[Viking_old]

Only two players in Rapira and FPN who are out and out props this year with Blair now playing second row and looking better for it. At best it'll be a one prop, two second row bench. Could be a hint that Kearneys playing away from the usual physical game plan.

Who marks up on Inglis is my biggest concern. Matai has struggled with him in the past and would be better against Lyon IMO. We don't have a centre that can outplay Lyon but we do have one that can scare the shit out of him and knows him well. I'm guessing the Inglis factor might be why SKD has overlooked, it could be a horses for courses thing. Mannering has had the most luck containing Inglis in the past and Soliola hasn't looked bad in that role but can Sau handle it? I don't know that Glenn can physically do the job if the plan is to play him there.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Sau got smoked in the weekend.but he was one of our best in the 4nations last year

 

[Viking_old]

Sau got smoked in the weekend.but he was one of our best in the 4nations last year

Who was Sau up against cos he's going to have to try and stop the best player in the world!

If they're smart they'll run as much as they can at Lockyer, I still don't reckon he's 100%.

Is JWH considered a prop?

 

[Spence_old]

I think Matulino is a great prospect, just not being used correctly as the Warriors. Just because he is big doesn't mean he should be a battering ram, I think Ivan should have a look how Penrith use Pritchard. Similar players, in my opinion. Of course Frank is much better, but thinking towards the future.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Who was Sau up against cos he's going to have to try and stop the best player in the world!

If they're smart they'll run as much as they can at Lockyer, I still don't reckon he's 100%.

Is JWH considered a prop?

Israel Folau destroyed Sau in the Knights/Broncos.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Mark Taufua and Eddy Pettybourne must have gone close to making the team