RLW's Best Kiwi Team of the Past 30 Years

[Big Pete]

1. Matthew Ridge
2. Manu Vatuvei
3. Olsen Filipainea
4. Nigel Vangana
5. Dean Bell
6. Benji Marshall
7. Stacey Jones
8. Ruben Wiki
9. Issac Luke
10. Brent Todd
11. Mark Graham
12. Stephen Kearney
13. Tawera Nikau

14. Hugh McGahan
15. Gary Freeman
16. Kevin Iro
17. Sonny Bill Williams

 

[pennywisealfie]

Josh Hoffman will not be happy.

 

[Big Pete]

Always been interested in NZRL's history since I've rarely explored it.

It's an interesting team. Can't really touch on the likes of Filipainea, Bell, Graham or McGahan but looking at other possibilities...

Sean Hoppe - Wing - 34 Games 17 Tries
Lesley Vanikolo - Wing - 14 Games 14 Tries
Clinton Toopi - Centre - 19 Games 11 Tries
Quentin Pongia - Prop - 34 Games
Paul Rauhihi - Prop - 16 Games
Nathan Cayless - Prop - 39 Games
Roy Asotasi - Prop - 24 Games
Duanne Manne - Hooker - 29 Games
Syd Eru - Hooker - Hooker - 18 Games
Simon Mannering - 35 Games
Frank Pritchard - 26 Games
Jeremy Smith - 22 Games

 

[Foordy]

I don't know much about Filipainea, bell or Todd, but i would have had Cayless in there somewhere

 

[Ari Gold]

Even if you could put that team together, I reckon it'd still struggle to beat Australia's current day squad.

 

[pennywisealfie]

I remember when I was a kid, Freeman was the shit in a pretty bad era for NZRL. Good that they found room for him, but it was probably close between him and Stacey.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Actually looking at that again, I'm pretty surprised with the lack of Jarrod McCracken.

 

[Big Pete]

I haven't seen a lot of Freeman, but from the footage I have seen he reminded me a lot of Scotty Prince. Just very light on his feet with relatively good passing and kicking skills. Older posters could correct me on that but he's somebody who gets lost in a lot of those old conversations.

 

[Alec]

Even if you could put that team together, I reckon it'd still struggle to beat Australia's current day squad.

Have you seen the current day squad? :p

 

[Ari Gold]

Have you seen the current day squad? :p

Slater > Ridge, Cronk > Jones, Smith > Luke, Inglis > entire kiwi backline!

 

[Foordy]

Slater > Ridge, Cronk > Jones, Smith > Luke, Inglis > entire kiwi backline!

you forgot Thurston > Marshall

 

[Big Pete]

Aren't they currently unavailable?

 

[Ari Gold]

you forgot Thurston > Marshall

You forgot Thurston withdrew.

To be fair though, I don't really think many would argue with DCE > Marshall. Always was over-rated

 

[Foordy]

You forgot Thurston withdrew.

To be fair though, I don't really think many would argue with DCE > Marshall. Always was over-rated

Isn't Slater out as well?

 

[Ari Gold]

Isn't Slater out as well?

Oh right. That's what I forgot haha. Still, as good as some of those players are, there is still a crapload of good players in our B team.

 

[OXY-351]

Actually looking at that again, I'm pretty surprised with the lack of Jarrod McCracken.

It was neck and neck betweem him and Kearney for a second row position.

 

[pennywisealfie]

It was neck and neck betweem him and Kearney for a second row position.

haha nice.

 

[theshed]

I'd take a young Benji Marshall over DCE any day,