Your Anzac Test Teams

lynx000 said:
I find it even stranger that JWH was not picked again. Leads me to wonder what has happened there and whether his card has been marked by Kearney for some reason.
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I don't think he's been picked for a few years???? Kearney clash imo
 
Samoan Squad -

Leeson Ah Mau (St George Illawarra Dragons)
John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)
Sam Kasiano (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Joseph Leilua (Newcastle Knights)
Ricky Leutele (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Sam Lisone (New Zealand Warriors)
Isaac Liu (Sydney Roosters)
Dunamis Lui (Manly Sea Eagles)
Pat Mata’utia (Newcastle Knights)
Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
Tautau Moga (North Queensland Cowboys)
Dominique Peyroux (New Zealand Warriors)
Frank Pritchard (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Tim Simona (Wests Tigers)
Michael Sio (Mackay Cutters)
Sauaso Sue (Wests Tigers)
Carlos Tuimavave (Newcastle Knights)
Daniel Vidot (Brisbane Broncos)

No Milford?.. Does this mean anything for McGuire's origin hopes?.. Can he play both within a few weeks of each other?..
 
Apparently Hodges was dropped because of a youth policy.

Anyone know what the youth policy is?

Seems a bit ridiculous to drop him but keep Slater, Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Parker who are all on the wrong side of 30..
 
If they were honest, they'd come out and say that they decided to go with form.

Otherwise it's like ordering 4 Double Quater Pounders, 4 Sundaes, 4 Large Chips and going for 4 Small Diet Cokes because you're on a diet.
 
Big Pete said:
If they were honest, they'd come out and say that they decided to go with form.

Otherwise it's like ordering 4 Double Quater Pounders, 4 Sundaes, 4 Large Chips and going for 4 Small Diet Cokes because you're on a diet.
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Form? Selectively... of course!
 
Of course but that would be more honest than this whole youth policy rubbish.

The side was selected well before Sunday. I doubt the Eels game or Hodges' announcement played a factor so they were essentially going on that Dragons game where Justin played only half a game. If they were going to go with a change, Chambers for Hodges would have been the most obvious one to make.

I mean who are the obvious omissions here?

Cordner?
Gillett?
McGuire?

All fine players but they haven't been knocking down the door demanding to be picked either. Out of all of them, McGuire can consider himself unlucky but they've gone with a near identical player in Merrin so the Australian team really isn't missing anything by not blooding him.
 
Big Pete said:
Of course but that would be more honest than this whole youth policy rubbish.

The side was selected well before Sunday. I doubt the Eels game or Hodges' announcement played a factor so they were essentially going on that Dragons game where Justin played only half a game. If they were going to go with a change, Chambers for Hodges would have been the most obvious one to make.

I mean who are the obvious omissions here?

Cordner?
Gillett?
McGuire?

All fine players but they haven't been knocking down the door demanding to be picked either. Out of all of them, McGuire can consider himself unlucky but they've gone with a near identical player in Merrin so the Australian team really isn't missing anything by not blooding him.
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They are certainly in much better form than Lewis, who just returned from a long term injury, Greg "snowman" Bird, Josh Papalii or even James Tamou, who only recently started to show a bit of form.
I have nothing against Merrin, who is there deservedly imo.

Anyway, it's not surprising, as after all, it is... sheenius!
 
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Porthoz said:
They are certainly in much better form than Lewis, who just returned from a long term injury, Greg "snowman" Bird, Josh Papalii or even James Tamou, who only recently started to show a bit of form.
I have nothing against Merrin, who is there deservedly imo.

Anyway, it's not surprising, as after all, it is... sheenius!
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Agree with this completely
 
I agree with you on Bird and Tamou. However in the case of Bird, it's for different reasons. Greg's form has really helped change the tide on the Gold Coast and he's an incumbent to boot. However, he's facing criminal charges and should be omitted until he gets that matter resolved.

Tamou and Myles are both lucky, but if there was one lesson to take out of the 4N it's that Australia lacked some grit and go forward in the middle which is what their selections are about.

Not only is Lewis a mainstay in the Australian side, he's also played a big role in the Sharks resurgence and on form has been one of the better backrows in recent weeks. I don't think either Cordner nor Gillett have been able to live up to this level so far, neither are really killing it at club, better to go with the true incumbent here and I'm glad Lewis has the opportunity to end on a better note than what he did in the 2013 World Cup.

Papalii isn't in the final 17 and even when he was in ordinary form last year, was still amongst one of the best for Australia and is versatile so he's everything a selector would want in that role.
 
My take on the debutantes

Alex Johnston - I feel he is picked on his finishing as I don't rate Johnston that highly as I don't think he has the speed and strength of a great winger but with B-Morris, Boyd and Mansour unavailable I can live with his selection. Nice to see him get some recognition as well. I bet he will score a try as he is the best finisher in the game imo and will have a field day with Thurston calling the shots

Will Chambers - He has been in top form for the Storm and with players unavailable I have nothing against his selection. Hodges is a bit unlucky but he has just come back from injury and probably was to much of a risk of injuring himself again in the intensity of a test match.

Josh Dugan - I will actually go into bat for Dugan's selection on the wing. I rate Dugan very highly as a player and i'm thrilled to see him in a Kangaroo jersey. I just looked at his career records and this is the first time he has played on the wing which is a bit strange to play that position for the first time in a test. In spite of that I believe Dugan can play a good role for Australia as I believe he has the attributes to be a productive winger with his strong running and speed, having him involved while the forwards tire out will play a big role against a physical Kiwi pack.

Trent Merrin - He has been in excellent form for the Dragons and deserves a spot on the bench, stoked with his selection. He should've already played a test by now.
 
Big Pete said:
Tamou and Myles are both lucky, but if there was one lesson to take out of the 4N it's that Australia lacked some grit and go forward in the middle which is what their selections are about.
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Good luck getting any of that out of Tamou.
 
Tamou doesn't need any luck going forward, he's one of the better players in the comp when it comes to that.

For mine, he's the second worst selection of the lot but he doesn't have a huge role in the team.
 
So Inglis to fullback and Jennings into the centres ??

I must say, as much as i love Slater as a player, i much prefer Inglis back at fullback in the test matches ..... he is just so much more robust than Slater, and the Kiwis always smash him !!
 
Was looking forward to seeing Billy in the Australian jersey again.. that sucks, oh well, Inglis too Fullback it is!
 
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