Australia - Too Old?

[Big Pete]

After an underwhelming 16-0 victory over an understrength Kiwis side, the Australian team has come under fire by several critics, calling for a new era.

First off, are these criticisms fair and what changes if any would you make?

 

[Sproj]

No, the team was pretty spot on. Only changes I would make are Thaiday out for someone, probably Fifita, Papalii on notice to step up and Dugan left right out, Fergusen to centre and Oates on the left wing shifting Radradra to the right.

 

[Smartseal]

Considering the limited prep time i thought it is was ok. Some guys are going to be retiring soon anyway.
I was actually impressed with the comraderie between the qld & nsw players.

 

[Porthoz]

After an underwhelming 16-0 victory over an understrength Kiwis side, the Australian team has come under fire by several critics, calling for a new era.

First off, are these criticisms fair and what changes if any would you make?

I still have to watch the game, but regardless, I think we're at a transition stage, due to many players' age.

Both halves, Gallen and Parker are edging close to the end of their careers, and are important cogs in the wheel, which will need replacement soon.
Fortunately, we are well served of young halves and forwards to take over, albeit most are out of contention for now...

 

[Nashy]

I still have to watch the game, but regardless, I think we're at a transition stage, due to many players' age.

Both halves, Gallen and Parker are edging close to the end of their careers, and are important cogs in the wheel, which will need replacement soon.
Fortunately, we are well served of young halves and forwards to take over, albeit most are out of contention for now...

It's so much easier now that we can just pick someone from any country on Earth too.

I think the biggest issue was the fact that the non QLD guys hadn't played with the rest of them, so didn't know what they were meant to be doing.

 

[Tunza's Chin]

I don't think they were too old at all and its a bit of a media beat up if you ask me. Thurston, Smith, Cronk, Thiaday, Gallen and Parker are all getting on, but we have just as many international rookies in the team with limited experience: Semi, Dugan, Fergusson, Morgan, Gillet and Moose.

Under Mal I will be highly surprised if any player gets selected without playing origin (if their eligible), which is great imo, so I would rule them all out of consideration. I don't think any younger origin player deserves to feel hard done by that one of those old heads got selected ahead of them. Thiaday I think has probably done his dash in the green and gold, but the Guerra's or the Jackson's didn't do enough to take if off him.

Whats more I don't get why Gus and the rest are blowing up about how were not planning for the next world cup and need young guys! Of those six old fella's I'd wouldn't be a surprised if a couple of playing in the next world cup, but regardless, replacing six guys between now and then really isn't that massive. It's good for rookies to come into an experienced team like QLD have done so well over the last little while under Mal, and the newer faces will be better for the run anyway. The guys that come in before the world cup are going to be afforded the same luxury - I'd say there will be a couple of changes at the four nations, depending on who stands up in origin.

 

[Browny]

So we play conservatively to secure a win and we are too old. But if we beat them by 50 then it's against a second string side lol.

We barely chanced our arm ffs and Gallen killed any attack as he can do hit ups

 

[mrslong]

Gus sounded massively bitter. I'm not sure who else was calling for inclusion other than perhaps Milford, Gavin Cooper, or maybe James Roberts. Cordner was too underdone and Fifita has a few injuries in his game. i don't think Josh Morris really warranted selection and Tedesco and Cartwright are still too green.

So who was he bitter at? The dominant qlders? Mal?

 

[Cult]

Imagine what the score would have been if Dugan and Ferguson could hold onto a ball or not run inside when there's overlaps.

 

[2ndPhase]

Gus sounded massively bitter. I'm not sure who else was calling for inclusion other than perhaps Milford, Gavin Cooper, or maybe James Roberts. Cordner was too underdone and Fifita has a few injuries in his game. i don't think Josh Morris really warranted selection and Tedesco and Cartwright are still too green.

So who was he bitter at? The dominant qlders? Mal?

This. It's a an opinion coming from some kind of agenda. He started about 10min into the second half and kept at it. It really pissed me off. It's the pinnacle of the game, a test match. And the commentary needs also to live up that same standard. He could have chosen another narrative that would have complemented the occasion rather than bringing it down.

What's his logic? The older players I can only assume he is referring to, apart from GI, all come from the current top four teams in the comp.

 

[Mister Wright]

Nup. Gould's a tosser. Enough said.

 

[tommy]

Rugby League is the only Sport where the commentators are constantly putting the sport down.

 

[Bull Shark]

Rugby League is the only Sport where the commentators are constantly putting the sport down.

Sometimes I think Rugby League in general just can't be comfortable unless it's in some kind of crisis .. mind you a lot of the boneheads involved in the sport, particularly those at many Sydney clubs are the root cause of that.

 

[Bull Shark]

Nup. Gould's a tosser. Enough said.

From what I can tell through the television Gould just appears to be extremely moody & aloof .. You see his disposition on the various commentary panels - sometimes he's upbeat and engaged and other days he just looks totally bored and disinterested.

whatever may or may not have been agitating him last night, he's just as likely to be singing its praises tomorrow ..

 

[Mister Wright]

From what I can tell through the television Gould just appears to be extremely moody & aloof .. You see his disposition on the various commentary panels - sometimes he's upbeat and engaged and other days he just looks totally bored and disinterested.

whatever may or may not have been agitating him last night, he's just as likely to be singing its praises tomorrow ..

He can also do that within a game. Last year's Origin decider for eg. Start of game QLD too old, NSW look fresh. End of game QLD a team of champions, NSW have a lot of soul searching to do.

 

[Wolfie]

There is a big misconception that in sport over 30 is old. That was true years ago, but how some of the elite players look after themselves these days I'm not sure it's true anymore.

The biggest issue with this Australian side is there are too many NSW players in the side with their losing mentality dragging us down! :takdir:

 

[Broncoman]

There is a big misconception that in sport over 30 is old. That was true years ago, but how some of the elite players look after themselves these days I'm not sure it's true anymore.

The biggest issue with this Australian side is there are too many NSW players in the side with their losing mentality dragging us down! :takdir:

There were 12 Queenslanders in the team and only 4 native New South Welshman in the team dude and the NSW captain was the best player on the night.

 

[Wolfie]

There were 12 Queenslanders in the team and only 4 native New South Welshman in the team dude and the NSW captain was the best player on the night.

The Queenslanders made him look better than he was. I think they feel sorry for peptide paul sometimes.