Your Anzac Test Teams

[Unbreakable]

Myles has been pretty crap this year, can't see him getting a spot.

That New Zealand team suddenly looks super dangerous with how awesome RTS is playing, Taumalolo & Bromwich being the best 2 forwards in the comp and the resurgence of Benji.

 

[Big Pete]

Cult3 you and I both know those articles aren't anything to go by. :laugh:

I'd say the last changing of the guard happened in 2005/06?

If you went back to then I'm sure suggesting the likes of Tim Smith, Luke Rooney and Ben Ross as long term rep players wouldn't have sounded too crazy.

But now it does.

The media has it's own agenda but throwing names against the wall and seeing what sticks is dangerous. Of course you've got to have some idea but it's up to the players to make that picture clear.

 

[Cult]

Cult3 you and I both know those articles aren't anything to go by. :laugh:

I'd say the last changing of the guard happened in 2005/06?

If you went back to then I'm sure suggesting the likes of Tim Smith, Luke Rooney and Ben Ross as long term rep players wouldn't have sounded too crazy.

But now it does.

The media has it's own agenda but throwing names against the wall and seeing what sticks is dangerous. Of course you've got to have some idea but it's up to the players to make that picture clear.

Oh of course. But with Tim Sheens at the helm, he obviously selects his team by looking at these articles as he obviously doesn't actually watch the game, anything could happen.

 

[Battler]

It's Tim Sheens, who the hell knows what that lunatic will do. If history is anything to go by then we'll probably have no props on the bench (two backs instead).

 

[Unbreakable]

I believe this is the side that Hooper just claimed on Sterlo

1. Inglis
2. J.Morris
3. Jennings
4. Chambers
5. Dugan
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Woods
11. Bird
12. Thaiday
13. Gallen

14. Lewis
15. Parker
16. G.Stewart
17. Myles/Fifita/Tamou

 

[Broncoman]

1: Greg Inglis
2: Josh Mansour
3: Michael Jennings
4: Josh Morris/Dylan Walker (I would go for J-Morris if fit)
5: Daniel Tupou
6: Cooper Cronk
7: Jonathen Thurston
8: Matt Scott
9: Cameron Smith (captain)
10: Paul Gallen
11: Greg Bird
12: Sam Thiaday
13: Corey Parker

14: Andrew Fifita
15: Aaron Woods
16: Boyd Cordner
17: Ben Hunt

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

1: Greg Inglis
2: Josh Mansour
3: Michael Jennings
4: Josh Morris/Dylan Walker (I would go for J-Morris if fit)
5: Daniel Tupou
6: Cooper Cronk
7: Jonathen Thurston
8: Matt Scott
9: Cameron Smith (captain)
10: Paul Gallen
11: Greg Bird
12: Sam Thiaday
13: Corey Parker

14: Andrew Fifita
15: Aaron Woods
16: Boyd Cordner
17: Ben Hunt

Mansour is out for 4 - 6 weeks

 

[Broncoman]

Mansour is out for 4 - 6 weeks

Bloody hell we can't catch a break. Will Chambers to take over.

 

[Big Pete]

With Billy slated to return on Saturday I'll be happy to go with...

1. Billy Slater
3. Michael Jennings
4. Greg Inglis

I'm excited to see what Billy and Johnathan bring to the Australian team. I have very little doubt we missed them along with the likes of Scott, Gallen & Lewis.

I disagree with the selection of Bird and think the Test jumper should be treated with more respect. Bird is facing criminal charges and while I can live with him playing in the NRL, I don't believe he should be able to represent the game at it's highest level until the matter is resolved. Plus, his omission would act as a fringe benefit considering Sheens is concerned about the age of the squad.

Personally, I find discriminating against age is silly, especially at representative level. If they're the most qualified for the specific role then they should get the shot. And that goes both ways which is why I was fine with Mata'utia getting a shot last year when there was hardly anyone else available. If nothing else, he was better than Tupou and it wasn't like Mansour set the world on fire either.

But seriously...I find these comparisons to the Australian Test team ridiculous. While I believe New Zealand deserve to be treated with respect and believe they've got tremendous upside, let's not act as if the Australian team doesn't have the depth to recover especially by 2017 which I'd assume is the final frontier for a lot of stars in the squad.

EDIT: With Hodges slated to return this weekend for the Broncos, I wouldn't be against him playing in the Trans-Tasman Test. It would be like a send off to him and there wouldn't be a better venue than Suncorp Stadium.

So

1. Billy Slater
3. Justin Hodges
4. Greg Inglis

 

[Unbreakable]

1. Slater
2. Chambers
3. Inglis
4. Hodges
5. Dugan
6. Thurston
7. Cronk
8. Scott
9. Smith
10. Gallen
11. Cordner
12. Thaiday
13. Parker

14. Lewis
15. G.Stewart
16. Woods
17. Fifita

Something like this would make sense.

 

[Super Freak]

Gallen ruled out.

Scans revealed his injury was worse than they thought.

 

[Broncoman]

Just read an article saying that Sheens would love to give Jack Bird a test debut. Seriously just wtf.

 

[Big Pete]

When he's ready.

He singled out Bird because he handed him his first NRL jersey, it was an easy example to make.

He also views Holmes as a future Test player too.

Personally I think he's right about both.

 

[Unbreakable]

Gallen out indefinitely, great news!

 

[Broncoman]

I heard that Alex Johnston and Josh Dugan could be named to debut. James Tamou is in line for a recall.

 

[Ari Gold]

Taumalolo out of the Kiwis team which will be a massive blow. The good news for them is that it seems JWH will be fit, as will Nightingale.

Based on form you'd almost have Marshall and Foran as the halves as SJ has been horrible this year. Has a great scoring record against Australia though!

 

[Unbreakable]

Foran has been injured / invisible all year as well tbf, I'd have Benji & Johnson, but I'm pretty sure they'll just go with the incumbents.

Johnston & Dugan on the wings makes sense, assume it'll be Hodges & Inglis in the centres.

 

[Cult]

Yeah to be fair, Norman and Marshall are probably the most in form halves combo they could pick at the moment. But they won't. I think Kearney has already said they're sticking with the Foran/SJ combo.