2011 Four Nations - Australian squad named

[mrslong]

Only 3 props. I am going to assume Paul Gallen will be in the front row.

We can be glad to see no Kurt Gidley though. Muwahahaha.

 

[mrslong]

Did Feleti Mateo pledge allegiance to Australia?

 

[Alec]

I think we all knew that some players will be picked simply because they played in a GF winning side (similar to David Williams in 2008), but Tony Williams makes less than no sense. He was terrible in the GF.

 

[Coxy]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/australia/news/article.cfm?l_id=15&objectid=10711808

He might look like a Kiwi and play like a Kiwi - but don't expect to see Feleti Mateo in a Kiwis jumper any time soon.

An Australian league publication this week pointed out that the Warriors' star recruit would qualify for the Kiwis on residence grounds before the next World Cup, in England in 2013.

Mateo refused to rule out such a possibility but the reality is the Kiwis are, at best, fourth choice for the Australian-born son of a Tongan father and English mother.

"There is zero Kiwi in me," Mateo said. "I've been asked before.

"Seeing what the Kiwis are doing now is amazing. They are the champions of the world undoubtedly. People might have said the World Cup was a fluke and then they won the Four Nations.

"But I was born and raised in Australia. My dad's Tongan and my mum is English. I've got a UK passport not many people know about. I can play for England, so I've got a lot of doors that can be opened. At the moment I'm captaining Tonga and I'm very proud of that. It's one of my proudest achievements so far."

That may be so but, like most Australians, Mateo's burning ambition is to play State of Origin.

To do so he would have to make himself available for Australia.

"I've said it before, I'd love to play for New South Wales," he said.

Translation: who the #### knows who he is eligible for?

 

[m1c]

Geeze Lillyman was unlucky.

 

[Fozz]

Transylvania if I read that right.

 

[mrslong]

I would have had Feleti Mateo in front of Tony Williams that's for sure!!!!

 

[Steve]

McGuire completely dudded. I'm bewildered.

 

[Je$ter]

Ummmmmm Keith Galloway?

I hope we lose so Sheens gets sacked.

 

[Porthoz]

Ummmmmm Keith Galloway?

I hope we lose so Sheens gets sacked.

That's what I said last year...

Galloway isn't the most shocking choice though.

 

[Coxy]

Nah, lack of fit prop options made life tough, and Galloway has been strong this season.

Tony Williams is the biggest joke of a selection though.

 

[Je$ter]

Nah, lack of fit prop options made life tough, and Galloway has been strong this season.

Tony Williams is the biggest joke of a selection though.

Shillington has been there, done that. I'd have Lillyman over Galloway, let alone McGuire or Hannant!

 

[Coxy]

Shillington has been there, done that. I'd have Lillyman over Galloway, let alone McGuire or Hannant!

Yeah, Shillington has been there done that, and spent most of 2011 injured.

Lillyman had a case, as did McGuire. Hannant's been disappointing, but on the "incumbent" scale you'd think he'd be ahead of Galloway.

Still, apart from club coach connection aside, I don't have any real issue with him being picked.

 

[user_nat]

Maybe not being called up will give Hannant a kick in the backside to start performing again next year.

McGuire can't do much more though. If you are going to pick a bunch of players for winning the GF, why not pick the form player of the comp who was 1 week from the GF.

 

[Coxy]

Maybe not being called up will give Hannant a kick in the backside to start performing again next year.

McGuire can't do much more though. If you are going to pick a bunch of players for winning the GF, why not pick the form player of the comp who was 1 week from the GF.

I think McGuire just has to suck it up, be happy he was mentioned in selection talks, go away, have a good offseason and come back and continue where he left off. If he does that, Test and Origin honours await next season for sure.

 

[Jeba]

Yeh I'm not that upset McGuire missed out to be honest. Sure, he deserved it, but it'll be good for him to try and earn it by putting in a season of equal or better performances.

 

[user_nat]

Fair enough.
I just wish they were more consistent with the selections. Seems they can't make up their mind whether they pick players based on form or incumbency. Or out of a hat.

 

[Big Pete]

It does seem like a squad of compromises.

Sheens had to get his men in.
Manly had to have their token selections
Then you had the old men screaming for incumbents.

In the end, Australia are at least one centre and prop short and could pay dearly in the back-end of the series.

With that said, as much as I would have liked to of seen The Big Show on the big stage, I'd hate to see him end up like a Brad Meyers or a Dane Carlaw who's form catapulted them into Test selection well before their time and they struggled to live up to the pressure of being a rep. player.

I'm also glad that I can support a player like Uate. The guy has given me so many nightmares in the NRL and at Origin it'll be fun to see him do his thing at this level. Sure as hell beats B. Moz.