Representative Rugby League

Filed in Uncategorized by on May 2, 2011

In classic rugby league fashion we have quickly shifted our focus from the NRL’s opening rounds straight towards the rep footy season. Let’s have a look at who the big winners are, who have been forgotten and what we should expect in the big matches, starting with Friday Night's Test:

ANZAC Test

Australia

Not many surprises here.  The side essentially picks itself, particularly the QLD contingent, but the selectors would have been forced to deliberate long and hard over a few positions. I have come to the conclusion that the Australian selectors have pulled the right reign in almost all instances.

Fullback: Billy Slater has no peers at custodian and was an easy selection. Since his State of Origin selection way back in 2004 he has been consistently brilliant and even during Jarryd Hayne’s stellar run of form in 2009, was rightfully able to hold his spot in the Australian team. Is playing some of the best football of his career and will one day be looked back upon as a true champion of the game.

Wingers: Despite his unhealthy off-field antics in the Four Nations, Darius Boyd would have been a certainty but his injury left a spot open on the right flank. I have no dramas with Yow Yeh’s selection but it must be said stocks are rather thin on the wing. Brett Morris is not playing anywhere near his best but with Tim Sheens sticking solid to his preference for specialists, Hayne was not going to take either man’s spot in the team. Lote Tuqiri’s injury ruled him out and while I expect one of Michael Gordon of Akuila Uate to one day achieve national honours; the selectors have got this right.

Centres: Inglis and Hodges are the two best centres in Australia. Not much more to add here. Idris is almost next cab off the rank and more versatile than Gasnier, hence his spot on the bench. We clearly missed all three in the Four Nations last year.

Five Eighth: While he is not the leading five eighth in the NRL anymore, Lockyer is still the best option in QLD and Australia and he was never going to miss out. At top form, something we sadly may never see again, Todd Carney may have challenged Locky but that is a moot point now.

Halfback: JT may not be the best player in the competition anymore but he is not far off and he is clearly the best halfback still running around. His absence was highlighted in the unsuccessful 2010 Four Nations campaign and his combination with Lockyer and the rest of the backline is first class.

Backrow: Paul Gallen picks himself. Despite his ongoing handling problems he is the best backrower in the country thanks to his uncompromising play and amazing workrate. He should be NSW captain in my opinion – I can’t believe I am so vocal in my support of him but I like the bloke these days. Sam Thaiday is also a certain selection these days which leaves the final starting spot…Luke Lewis is injured and so is Anthony Watmough (but his Four Nations drinking form may have seen him overlooked anyhow) which led to Ben Creagh’s selection. For mine, this was almost the biggest shock. I like Creagh as a player but was led to believe he was not what the NSW or Australian selectors were after. Ricky Stuart doesn’t seem like someone pressured into any decision but would almost have to pick Creagh for NSW now. For the record, the belief that Creagh drops too much ball under pressure and cannot handle the physicality and intensity of Test Match/Origin football is not a view I share but I can see why certain figures in the game feel this way. Greg Bird’s omission is noteworthy considering his player’s player award in the final Test of 2010 and Beau Scott’s selection as 18th man leaves us in no doubt who the selectors feel is closest to sneaking into the squad. Nate Myles must have figured in discussions but his form does not warrant any favours and I could have made an argument for Glenn Stewart. However it is fair to say the likes of Braith Anasta, Corey Parker, Dave Taylor, Nathan Hindmarsh, Dallas Johnson, Ashley Harrison, Anthony Tupou and Trent Waterhouse are now certainly out of favour. Upon reflection, I think the selectors have done well with their backrow options.

Props: Matt Scott was a certainty so let’s move on to Petero. He was rested for the Four Nations final and has been only solid in 2011 but clearly deserves to be in the starting line-up due to his experience and also the lack of form shown by other leading props in the game. Ben Hannant and Kade Snowden are the other two leading props in Australia so the four selections are no-brainers. What I was concerned with was the initial selection of David Shillington before he succumbed to injury. He is clearly out of form and should have been dropped just like they did with his Raiders teammate Tom Learoyd-Lahrs. I must say that there don’t seem to be many other props knocking on the door at this stage.

Hooker: Cameron Smith is almost first-picked in the team. Mind you, I will say he battled his way through the Four Nations tournament but that probably had more to do with the season he had to ensure with Melbourne. He is not under pressure from any rivals.

Bench: As stated above, the selections of Hannant, Snowden and Idris are well deserved. Cooper Cronk will fill Kurt Gidley’s role and he deserves his spot.

 

New Zealand

Not surprisingly, Stephen Kearney has opted to stick largely to the side that scored a wonderful victory up the road in Brisbane late last year. Injuries will see the side not as strong as it could be but some of his omissions are very notable. I believe he is trying to stick with a solid core of players to enable the side to consistently compete against the Kangaroos and it is obvious a few big names do not fit into his plans. The 19-man squad means the final make-up of the side is not yet confirmed.

Fullback: Lance Hohaia is slowly working himself into form after being dropped earlier this year and has rarely put in a bad performance for the Kiwis. In saying that, his game is limited.

Wingers: Jason Nightingale is probably the form winger in the NRL so his selection was an easy one.  Manu Vatuvei would have been the first player picked in the side, but like last year, is unavailable through injury. So is Sam Perrett. Matt Duffie and Gerard Beale are surprise selections in their place but there were not many alternatives. Kearney is clearly not a Krisnan Inu fan and nor should he be while Kevin Locke is only just working his way back into form and didn’t deserve to be picked either. Whoever ends up on the left wing will be under plenty of pressure and it will be interesting to see how they respond.

Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall is not in great form but has a mortgage on a Kiwi jersey. I wonder if this occasion and the opportunity to play outside a quality playmaker will bring the best out of him. Simon Mannering will fill the other centre position (unless Kearney opts for Beale in the centres) and he is a solid performer who is not daunted by any occasion. However, he does not have many tricks he can pull out of his sleeve and I would have thought Steve Matai was the better option. Clearly coach Kearney does not agree and may feel Matai is a liability – after all, he did get sent off in a 2007 Test match.

Five Eighth: Kieran Foran has played a few Tests for the Kiwis at both centre and five eighth. He is slowly maturing as a footballer and will be confident in his ability to take on the line. He deserves to be in the starting line-up and a good performance may keep Thomas Leuluai on the outer at the end of the year.

Halfback: One word…Benji. Need I say more?

Backrow: Jeremy Smith has a mortgage in the lock position for the Kiwis. Ben Matulino and Bronson Harrison started in the Four Nations final last year and will probably get the nod once again. Both are solid players with Matulino more of an enforcer and Harrison the ballplayer. The other option is Lewis Brown who is a mixture of both. Interestingly, Frank Pritchard did not even make the squad. I cannot fault his form with the Bulldogs but perhaps his omission is not just related to football ability alone. That was the biggest shock in my opinion.

Props: I’m very happy to see Fui Fui Moi Moi selected. Clearly there was an issue between he and Kearney but the coach’s arrival at Parramatta must have put an end to that. Moi Moi is one of the form props in the NRL. Adam Blair and Sam Rapira are obvious selections and will probably start the match. Greg Eastwood is only just returning from injury but if he makes the final squad he will be used primarily as a prop. I dare say he will fight it out with Sam McKendry for the final spot on the bench. Roy Asotasi had arguably done enough to be considered for selection but a wrist injury saved any tough decisions. New Zealand will not be outclassed up front.

Hooker: Nathan Fien will probably get the nod to start the match with Issac Luke on the bench. At top form, Luke would expect to be one of the clear playmakers in the side but he is just not firing on all cylinders this year. Fien is a far more reliable option and with Benji and Foran strong runners of the football, his kicking and organisational game will be required.

Bench: As alluded to above, the Kiwis will actually be able to call on some classy footballers as the match progresses. Moi Moi and Luke will be welcome additions if points are required.

 

Synopsis

While New Zealand are more or less the same side that defeated Australia in Brisbane last year, Australia are much improved. Being able to call upon Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges and Johnathan Thurston is a luxury that no football side in the world can match so I expect the game to take a far different route. Credit must be given to Stephen Kearney for picking a settled squad to help them overcome their horrendous record in mid-season Tests in Australia however I just cannot see them competing over 80 minutes. Benji will ensure the game is an exciting one with plenty of opportunities but I can see this going only one way. Australia by 16.

 

Next week I will be back to review the City v Country match and by then I would have settled on my Origin teams. Here is how they stand at present in my humble opinion:

QLD: Slater, Yow Yeh, Inglis, Hodges, Boyd, Lockyer, Thurston, Harrison, Myles, Thaiday, Petero, Smith, Scott. Hannant, Johnson, Cronk, Shillington.

NSW: Hayne, Morris, Gasnier, Idris, Uate, Soward, Pearce, Gallen, Scott, Bird, Snowden, Ennis, Tolman. Young, Creagh, Learoyd-Lahrs, Merrin.

 

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

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