Who's going to be the first to make sure Ashley Klein..

[NPK]

The video ref Vatuvei no-try call was also correct. He was kneeling on the sideline when the ball was put down, but all the commentators totally missed that - they were looking at the corner post.

 

[Steve]

Yea the ref made a few bad calls. But Australia made more bad decisions.

Key point. A couple of his rulings were horribly inconsistent but the Slater howler had more of an impact than any of Klein's decisions.

 

[guppy]

The video ref Vatuvei no-try call was also correct. He was kneeling on the sideline when the ball was put down, but all the commentators totally missed that - they were looking at the corner post.

I couldn't believe how everyone was missing that. Then their reactions afterwards were "his KNEE went into touch??"

Blind as bats.

 

[Coxy]

LOLZ! We all saw that on the big screen. Clear as day!

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

That was as funny as hell. We had a room full of people all saying "his f'ing knee's out!" in almost perfect sync, yet the drongos on Nine were carrying on like half the screen was blacked out. Their reactions after being informed of the reason for the decision was deadset priceless. Vintage Nine commentary. Time for a cleanout.

 

[Astroboy]

No-one's mentioned the penalty after we dragged them back into the in-goal. At the end of the next set was Billy's howler. It should have been us attacking their line from a drop-out. Most crucial call of the game as it turned out, a huge momentum shift. There was no penalty for 5 of them taking Williams over the sideline. As the ABC commentators rightly ppinted out, where was the bloody consistency? The on-field and video ref ****-ups just multiplied as the game went on, anyone would have struggled to win against them and the Kiwis playing out of their skins. Klein and Ganson give humanity a bad name.

 

[Nashy]

You apparently didn't have the volume up. I heard the ref yell "Held" about 5 times.

 

[Jeba]

You apparently didn't have the volume up. I heard the ref yell "Held" about 5 times.

Still a shit call, the momentum never stopped after the initial contact. Should've been a line drop-out.

 

[Nashy]

You apparently didn't have the volume up. I heard the ref yell "Held" about 5 times.

Still a shit call, the momentum never stopped after the initial contact. Should've been a line drop-out.

You win some you lose some.

 

[Coxy]

It was only a shit call because of the earlier one against David Williams. If the second one was a penalty, so was the first, or vice versa.

 

[Russo]

Better team won, nothing to do with the ref/s, Kiwis wanted it more, stuck to their game plan, the Aussie's used all their passion squaring off before kickoff, Billy showed why Hunt is preferred to him at SOO on the big stage where games are tight and hard and flair is usually not the best option, no problem with the penaly try right decision for mine, Stuart was outcoached (surprise surprise), Falou will be a star for US in 2009 and I can't wait.

Well done Kiwis !!!!!

 

[Hamm.0]

Billy showed why Hunt is preferred to him at SOO on the big stage where games are tight and hard and flair is usually not the best option

Yet Hunt plays a total of 15 minutes, 20 max at fullback and Slater plays the rest of the game there?

QLD selectors, Australian selectors have picked Slater over Hunt at fullback in 2008. Slater is named Dally M Fullback of the season, he is named player of the WC and he is named RLIF Player of the year. He missed Dally M by 2 points in 2008 and is the WC top try scorer.

However, BHQ rates Hunt better.....I wonder who is on the money and who isn't. eusa_think

 

[The Brizz]

Yet Hunt plays a total of 15 minutes, 20 max at fullback and Slater plays the rest of the game there?

QLD selectors, Australian selectors have picked Slater over Hunt at fullback in 2008. Slater is named Dally M Fullback of the season, he is named player of the WC and he is named RLIF Player of the year. He missed Dally M by 2 points in 2008 and is the WC top try scorer.

However, BHQ rates Hunt better.....I wonder who is on the money and who isn't. eusa_think

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Black Philip]

After watching this game again tonight it's clear that Australia had EVERY opportunity to win this match. There were questionable calls throughout the match going both ways, moreso to the Australians. That said, the Australians weren't hampered by the ref to the point where they completely lost the chance to win. The kiwis just played with more intensity and passion, plus they had the better coach icon_thumbs_u

 

[Jeba]

Yet Hunt plays a total of 15 minutes, 20 max at fullback and Slater plays the rest of the game there?

QLD selectors, Australian selectors have picked Slater over Hunt at fullback in 2008. Slater is named Dally M Fullback of the season, he is named player of the WC and he is named RLIF Player of the year. He missed Dally M by 2 points in 2008 and is the WC top try scorer.

However, BHQ rates Hunt better.....I wonder who is on the money and who isn't. eusa_think

My sentiments exactly.

Fair enough arguments. But would I trade Karmichael Hunt for Billy Slater? No friggen way in hell.

 

[Coxy]

I just have different selection preferences for fullback than Hammo and others. I don't want an electrifying individual attacking player with no defensive capability.

The best fullback I've ever seen is Darren Lockyer. Brilliant ball runner, brilliant ball player, brilliant kicker, unmatched positional play in defence and even a strong last line tackler (see 2000 Grand Final for evidence of this).

Slater isn't a patch on him.
Hunt isn't a patch on him.

There is only one Darren Lockyer, and the current one is better suited at five-eighth utilising his attacking prowess and football mind. Not as quick and not as strong as he was back then.

Hunt
- can and does chime into the attacking line well, does his job beautifully on set plays, has a crisp passing game and can be an option kicker if desired
- won't beat players for speed, and won't score a double chip kick try
- well positioned defensively, never makes a mistake on a high ball, and runs the kick returns back hard and fast to centre field, giving momentum

Slater
- chimes into the backline adequately but can't pass to save himself - the pass to Williams was the best I've ever seen him manage
- could do something out of nothing, run length of field or something, and has sheer speed
- can't kick (selfish kicks aside)
- has a brain explosion in him

Personally I'd rather Slater's attacking abilities utilised on the wing where his brain explosions will be less severe. Give me Hunt in the 1 any day of the week.
-

 

[Hamm.0]

Coxy, you of all people know the danger (of disappointment) that lies within constantly judging players against former greats (he is a former fullback great).

I have picked on every #6 and #7 since the two greatest players I have ever seen retired. One retired when I was 11, one when I was 23. :shock:

We should really upset people and start a Lewis v Langer v Lockyer thread!!!! [icon_lol1. [icon_lol1.

 

[Jeba]

We should really upset people and start a Lewis v Langer v Lockyer thread!!!! [icon_lol1. [icon_lol1.

Thread shall be called "We Three Kings".

Adding to Coxy's argument, Darren Lockyer plays better when Karmichael Hunt is at fullback. That to me just seals the deal, and I'd take Karmichael any day of the week.