A number of things from the game;
A) I thought it was supposed to be neutral refs? That was a joke, Ashley Klein MAY referee in the English Super League... but where is he from? He's an Australian. So it's only neutral refs when it suits the Austral.. I mean RLIF (as if there's any difference between the two). Klein was appallingingly one sided.
B) Ropati should have had a penalty try. Billy Slater was formally warned after the grand final about the kamikaze baseball stud dive. It seems everyone knew about it, except the officials (suprise surprise).
C) The Kiwis were outplayed in practically every position. Up front they were soft, Fien was atrociously laboured, Leuluai plays the game at 1/4 speed... there were three blokes who only who looked like they could split their line. Perrett, Adam
Blair and Sika Manu. The rest were average to poor.
It really is a sad indictment to say this, but IMO international rugby league is largely dead and has been for probably 20 years. Every now and then there's a once off white flag wave of mercy but generally Australia kick everyone in the teeth. They say it, but I do believe it that they could have fielded a back up XIII and demolished New Zealand last night. Even forgetting those guys who are out injured...
1) Karmichael Hunt
2) Anthony Quinn
3) Colin Best
4) Jamie Lyon
5) Denan Kemp
6) Matt Orford
7) Scott Prince
8) Mark O'Meley
9) Michael Ennis
10) Jason Ryles
11) Nathan Hindmarsh
12) Anthony Watmough
13) Terry Campese
Bench
Ben Hannant
Lagi Setu
Braith Anasta
Heath L'Estrange
That's also not including some of the other good players like Michael Jennings who are playing for other countries but could easily play for Australia. That team would demolish New Zealand right now.
PS: Can someone please gag Graeme Lowe, it's bad enough losing, it's worse still to continually be reminded about something dumb he's said pre-game that is supposed to usher in the era. It will never happen, love the passion, need a reality check though.
Team to be fair dinkum for next match (oh and for christs sakes, go with a bit of variation, dummy half running was murdered because it was the same old same old)
1 Jason Nightingale
2 Sam Perrett
3 Krisnan Inu (Steve Matai looks a shot duck to me)
4 Jerome Ropati
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Setamaita Sa
7 Benji Marshall
8 Nathan Cayless (c)
9 Isaac Luke
10 Adam
Blair
11 Simon Mannering
12 Sika Manu
13 Jeremy Smith
Lance Hohaia
Sam Rapira
David Fa'alogo
Greg Eastwood
Leuluai and Fien must go.