Cces
*Not to be considered in voting*
I was slightly late to the party but decided to take the unofficial 11th pick in Rounds 1-10 then the 6th picked onwards (alternating between a & b) and sent them through to Wrighty for my own amusement. Just 1 of my picks, Thomas Leuluai, was picked after I had unofficially drafted them. Thanks for arranging the game Wrighty & here's my team:
The Unwanted Squad:
1. Kevin Locke (Warriors U20's)
2. Charnze Nicholl-Klockstad (Hyphenated)
3. Clinton Toopi (Yorkshire)
4. Darren Smith ('99 Tri-Nations)
5. Taniela Tuiaki (Matching initials)
6. Matthew Johns ('95 Kangaroo Debut)
7. Scott Prince (QLD 8 in a row)
8. Josh Papalii (Polynesian descent)
9. Thomas Leuluai (Hooker)
10. Roy Asotasi (ABC)
11. Hugh McGahan (1 Club)
12. Matt Gillett (Bennett coached)
13. Jason Smith (NQ Cowboy)
14. Tea Ropati (Original Warrior)
15. Trent Merrin (Panthers Kangaroo)
16. Peter Tunks ('83-85 Kangaroo debut)
17. N/A ('99 Storm)
Coach - Cces
Home Ground - Bradford Park, Sydenham, Christchurch
Players of note:
Clinton Toopi - Tri-Nations & Super League winner. x2 Hatricks against the Kangaroos.
Darren Smith - Australian Super League & NRL winner. Dally M Centre of the Year. Ken Irvine Medalist. Ron McAuliffe Medalist.
Taniela Tuiaki - reigning Dally M Winger of the Year before never playing again due to injury.
Scott Prince - Clive Churchill Medalist, Dally M Captain of the Year, Dally M Halfback of the Year, x2 RLIF Halfback of the Year & NRL winner.
Josh Papalii - World Cup winner. Dally M Prop of the Year.
Thomas Leuluai - Youngest ever Kiwis representative. World Cup, 4 Nations & Challenge Cup winner. x2 Super League Grand Final victories including a Man of the Match performance. 476 First Class games to date.
Roy Asotasi - NRL & Tri-Nations winner. Dally M Prop of the Year.
Hugh McGahan - NZ's first Golden Boot winner. Dally M Second Rower of the Year. 6 tries in a Test (still a Kiwis record).
Matt Gillett - Unbeaten in all 12 Tests. World Cup & 4 Nations winner. x2 Dally M Second Rower of the Year. Dally M Rookie of the Year.
Jason Smith - ARL & World Cup winner. Dally M Lock of the Year. Won at 65% across his 305 game career.
Tea Ropati - English Championship Player of the Year recipient in Premiership Trophy winning season. Inaugural Warriors Player of the Year.
I was slightly late to the party but decided to take the unofficial 11th pick in Rounds 1-10 then the 6th picked onwards (alternating between a & b) and sent them through to Wrighty for my own amusement. Just 1 of my picks, Thomas Leuluai, was picked after I had unofficially drafted them. Thanks for arranging the game Wrighty & here's my team:
The Unwanted Squad:
1. Kevin Locke (Warriors U20's)
2. Charnze Nicholl-Klockstad (Hyphenated)
3. Clinton Toopi (Yorkshire)
4. Darren Smith ('99 Tri-Nations)
5. Taniela Tuiaki (Matching initials)
6. Matthew Johns ('95 Kangaroo Debut)
7. Scott Prince (QLD 8 in a row)
8. Josh Papalii (Polynesian descent)
9. Thomas Leuluai (Hooker)
10. Roy Asotasi (ABC)
11. Hugh McGahan (1 Club)
12. Matt Gillett (Bennett coached)
13. Jason Smith (NQ Cowboy)
14. Tea Ropati (Original Warrior)
15. Trent Merrin (Panthers Kangaroo)
16. Peter Tunks ('83-85 Kangaroo debut)
17. N/A ('99 Storm)
Coach - Cces
Home Ground - Bradford Park, Sydenham, Christchurch
Players of note:
Clinton Toopi - Tri-Nations & Super League winner. x2 Hatricks against the Kangaroos.
Darren Smith - Australian Super League & NRL winner. Dally M Centre of the Year. Ken Irvine Medalist. Ron McAuliffe Medalist.
Taniela Tuiaki - reigning Dally M Winger of the Year before never playing again due to injury.
Scott Prince - Clive Churchill Medalist, Dally M Captain of the Year, Dally M Halfback of the Year, x2 RLIF Halfback of the Year & NRL winner.
Josh Papalii - World Cup winner. Dally M Prop of the Year.
Thomas Leuluai - Youngest ever Kiwis representative. World Cup, 4 Nations & Challenge Cup winner. x2 Super League Grand Final victories including a Man of the Match performance. 476 First Class games to date.
Roy Asotasi - NRL & Tri-Nations winner. Dally M Prop of the Year.
Hugh McGahan - NZ's first Golden Boot winner. Dally M Second Rower of the Year. 6 tries in a Test (still a Kiwis record).
Matt Gillett - Unbeaten in all 12 Tests. World Cup & 4 Nations winner. x2 Dally M Second Rower of the Year. Dally M Rookie of the Year.
Jason Smith - ARL & World Cup winner. Dally M Lock of the Year. Won at 65% across his 305 game career.
Tea Ropati - English Championship Player of the Year recipient in Premiership Trophy winning season. Inaugural Warriors Player of the Year.
Last edited:
That’s really cool! Funny to read thru and see a few names that I was close to picking along the way - Peter Tunks was strongly considered and I was shocked that no one picked up Kevin Locke in the under 20 round.
Out of interest who does everyone think was the best player from that period not to get picked? My vote would probably go to Steve Rogers however don’t think there was ever a criteria that would have seen him eligible.
wizards rage
I was deciding between Kevin Iro and Toopi. Different eras and different styles and very hard for me to seperate.
Almost chose Matt Johns but went elsewhere as I had Stacey Jones and didn’t want him as my second half. Ironically I didn't get a chance to get any better.
Wanted Papalii - perfect opportunity in the Polynesian round but had 2 decent enough props and needed to fill the backs at the time.
I found several times I had to turn down better players to fill another position for fear of being caught short.
Several times we had a chance to get a player that had been unavailable until that point and then someone else beat me to it
Great initiative playing the game from behind the scenes!
Naumaifooty
Steve Rogers without a doubt Gavin Miller and Mick Cronin aswell was quietly hoping to somehow get Semi Radradra in the last round but the criteria threw a spanner in the works. Chose Matt Cooper for his defensive ability because some of the other backlines are stacked.
Cces
I totally agree with you about Sludge. Other players I had hoped to include but the criteria didn't allow were Terry Lamb, Jarrod McCracken & Lance Hohaia.
wizards rage
As a matter of interest how does everyone rank our top 10 Kiwi centres? I struggled with the different playing styles. Anyone want to give it a go from (in no particular order):
Dean Bell
Steve Matai
Jarrod McCracken
Nigel Vagana (centre play only)
Kevin Iro
Clinton Toopi
Ritchie Blackmore
Ruben Wiki (based only on his centre days)
Pita Hiku
Kristina Inu
Jerome Ropati
Mannering? Didn’t really play centre enough
Anyone else?
Dean Bell
Steve Matai
Jarrod McCracken
Nigel Vagana (centre play only)
Kevin Iro
Clinton Toopi
Ritchie Blackmore
Ruben Wiki (based only on his centre days)
Pita Hiku
Kristina Inu
Jerome Ropati
Mannering? Didn’t really play centre enough
Anyone else?
wizards rage
DavidMcKay1974
Paul Gallen wasn't even picked and I had him ready to go for my last pick but then I saw the criteria and that threw me out.
Then I had to scramble like mad to find another forward.
Then I had to scramble like mad to find another forward.
Cces
Shontayne Hape & Dean Whare are both ahead of Inu for mine. Willie Talau & John Timu too. Maybe I just don't like Inu
Last edited:
Defence
Craig innes was as good as any of them but never played for the kiwis due to super league- did play for the rest of the world against Australia though.
Defence
Defence
wizards rage
Defence
Similar to u- wiki a bit higher.
Dean Bell
Jarrod McCracken
Nigel Vagana (centre play only)
Ruben Wiki (based only on his centre days)
Steve Matai
Kevin Iro
Clinton Toopi
Ritchie Blackmore
Kristina Inu
Pita Hiku
Jerome Ropati
Cces
Kevin Iro
Nigel Vagana
Clinton Toopi
Dean Bell
Ruben Wiki
Jarrod McCracken
Steve Matai
Craig Innes
Richie Blackmore
John Timu
Peta Hiku (had to overlook his great performances for the Kiwis at Fullback)
Dean Whare
Willie Talau
Jerome Ropati
Shontayne Hape
Krisnan Inu
Last edited:
Wrighty
When making the final criteria my eyes were wandering over the untaken names and Jarrod McCracken stood out to me as a golden late round pick. I then thought about creating a criteria just to allow him to be picked but I didn't go that route in the end.
My favourite try of all time
*Richard Blackmore beats the first marker then runs all around Dale Shearer
* Draws the fullback and sets up Jarrod McCracken for a run to the try line
"McCracken for the corner. Here's Ettinghausen trying to run him down. McCracken. Ettinghausen. He's in! "
Rugby league golden moment.
Wrighty
I chuckled David at this in bold. Cam Smith's influence over the refs was next level humorous. The funniest part is that the refs paid attention to him and followed his instructions and suggestions. If he was the GOAT it was because he ran the whole game and officials during the 80 minutes he was on the field.
I remember one Warriors match where we were winning at half time against Storm, and then as the camera cut away it showed him just as half time started stay on the field to have a heart to heart with the refs to explain some issue or concern he had.
After the break in the second half the warriors got one dud call after another and the Storm had a come from behind victory. The refs listened and obeyed whatever he said.
Similar threads
wizards rage
Last Game
12 May
24 - 12
7.2
Total Avg Rating
10.0
Your Avg Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 8 ratings