Stuart to rest players for PNG

[dukey]

AUSTRALIA coach Ricky Stuart will give the peripheral members of his World Cup squad a run against Papua New Guinea on Sunday night.

Stuart's move comes after the Kangaroos all but confirmed top spot in pool A heading into the semi-finals with Sunday night's massive win over England, several players now set to be rested against the Kumuls.

That means players outside the top 17 will be given their first taste of the World Cup action, the likes of Terry Campese, Darius Boyd, Anthony Watmough and David Williams to be handed their Test debuts while veteran Craig Fitzgibbon will earn a 16th international cap.

"The way they've applied themselves at training and their attitude around the actual team that's playing, helping them prepare and build them up, plus the talent I've got there - there's not a player that doesn't deserve a Test match and they'll be all getting it next week," Stuart said.

"I did it in the Tri-Nations in 2006 where I gave people some football.

"It's also a balancing act in giving them some game time if they're needed in the back end of the competition."

Campese said he wouldn't get excited until hearing his name read out in the final 17, though the expected selection would cap a stunning back half of the season when he went from not being offered a new contract at Canberra to wearing the green and gold.

The Raiders eventually tied down their man as he led the club into the finals series, Campese saying he would try and take the same approach he took into NRL matches into the Test arena.

"(Stuart) hasn't named the side yet but hopefully I can slot in there somewhere, it'd be something that I would cherish, something I'd be proud of if I got the chance to represent my country," Campese said.

"If you're called on you want to show them that you can step up. Everyone wants to represent the jumper with pride and also show the boys around you that you're keen to want to play for them."

Campese is likely to slot in at either five-eighth or lock, that decision dependant on whether Johnathan Thurston is fit to take on the Kumuls.

Thurston attended his uncle's funeral in Brisbane on Monday, he and Stuart expected to re-join the squad on Tuesday in Townsville.

The Kangaroos playmaker missed the win over the Lions due a shoulder injury picked up in the tournament opener against New Zealand, though he is expected to be available to play on his NRL home ground.

Stuart said he erred on the side of caution in resting Thurston after seeing one of his other playmakers in Kurt Gidley be ruled out for the tournament with a knee injury.

"He was probably nearly right to play (against England) and he probably could have, but I didn't want to risk it after what happened to Kurt Gidley," Stuart said.

"It made the decision a lot easier in regards to giving Johnathan this game off and not risking him at all in regards to his shoulder."

Should Thurston play, Scott Prince - the man who filled in admirable last night - will most likely slide over to five-eighth with Campese coming in for Gallen at lock.

This is great news for PNG. Last time he did this, in the Tri Nations, GB beat us. I like Boyd and Campese, etc, so to see them lose their first game would suck, but I desperately want PNG to win a game.

 

[The Brizz]

We will flog PNG the guys coming in are all good quality and will not let the team down, Prince or JT will still steer the ship and Smith will still be there. Australia by 50.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Hope they don't go too overboard with it. Fair enough if key players really do need a break with nagging injuries, etc, but I don't really agree with resting players just for the sake of it in a tournament where the winner will only have played a mere 4-5 games.

 

[Hamm.0]

They were always going to rest players for this game, so it shouldn't surprise anyone. Why would you risk any of the top 17 against a team we have already beat.

 

[mick]

Hope PNG and the Kiwis win this weekend to send the English packing!

 

[Je$ter]

mick, I reckon I have more chance of being named for the side against PNG than PNG winning this game.

They have a lot of pride and determination, but are just that little bit below top 3 standard when it comes to consistency and structure. Plus they are playing against elite players who train 9+ times a week.

 

[mick]

mick, I reckon I have more chance of being named for the side against PNG than PNG winning this game.

They have a lot of pride and determination, but are just that little bit below top 3 standard when it comes to consistency and structure. Plus they are playing against elite players who train 9+ times a week.

I know. I just hope the aussies realise what I've realised, and they'll roll over to help our friends from the motherland catch an early boat home [icon_drun

 

[Black Philip]

[quote="Je$ter":31dsm2f4]mick, I reckon I have more chance of being named for the side against PNG than PNG winning this game.

They have a lot of pride and determination, but are just that little bit below top 3 standard when it comes to consistency and structure. Plus they are playing against elite players who train 9+ times a week.

I know. I just hope the aussies realise what I've realised, and they'll roll over to help our friends from the motherland catch an early boat home [icon_drun[/quote:31dsm2f4]

Don't you like England much mick?

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Aussie team as been named:

1. Karmichael Hunt
2. Darius Boyd
3. Brent Tate
4. Joel Monaghan
5. David Williams
6. Terry Campese
7. Johnathan Thurston
8. Brent Kite
9. Cameron Smith
10. Josh Perry
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Anthony Tupou
13. Craig Fitzgibbon

14. Scott Prince
12. Steve Price
13. Paul Gallen
14. Israel Folau

http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10 ... x?id=53408

 

[The Brizz]

Australia by 50.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

GO BEARDFACE!

 

[Coxy]

mick, if it wasn't for england you'd be speaking either dutch or indonesian! So be thankful for the mother land. God save OUR queen.

 

[Hamm.0]

OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN!

 

[The Brizz]

God defend New Zealand.

 

[Coxy]

Born in the USA...(that's their anthem isn't it?)

 

[GCBRONCO]

Born in the USA...(that's their anthem isn't it?)

Probably though most wouldn't know the real meaning of the song.

 

[mick]

mick, if it wasn't for england you'd be speaking either dutch or indonesian! So be thankful for the mother land. God save OUR queen.

Yeah, thanks SO much, England :roll:

If it wasn't for you, we'd be speaking Dutch, have legal access to a nice smoke of herb and some fairly liberal practises in terms of adult entertainment. Sigh, that would be soooo much worse than... ergh [eusa_doh

[icon_lol1.

 

[Black Philip]

mick, if it wasn't for england you'd be speaking either dutch or indonesian! So be thankful for the mother land. God save OUR queen.

Yeah, thanks SO much, England :roll:

If it wasn't for you, we'd be speaking Dutch, have legal access to a nice smoke of herb and some fairly liberal practises in terms of adult entertainment. Sigh, that would be soooo much worse than... ergh [eusa_doh

[icon_lol1.

Cmon Mick think about this dude... do you have ANY idea how uncomfortable cloggs are? [icon_razz1 [icon_lol1.