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Ah, the footy season has settled in and the Aussie selectors have been searching for players to fill the starting 17 against New Zealand.
It’ll be a tough pick after us Aussies will be looking for revenge after being robbed of the Four Nations last year to the Kiwis, and here are predictions I think will be worth looking at for the next generation Kangaroos.
Fullbacks: (2) Billy Slater (MEL) and Jarryd Hayne (PAR).
Slater should grab the position easily and Jarryd would usually take the wing, but Hayne has seemed a bit too quiet on the wing and he is entertaining with the footy in hand so maybe a switch in positions is up for grabs.
Wings: (3) Blake Ferguson (CAN), Brett Morris (DRA), Darius Boyd (DRA).
Count both the Dragons players in, especially Boyd who has proved a point this season that he is better than previously thought, but if any injury or unusual stuff happens Ferguson is definitely next in line.
Centres: (4) Willie Tonga (NQL), Jamie Lyon (MAN), Josh Morris (BUL), Matt Cooper (DRA).
Tonga has been quiet this year for the Cowboys but I think he’ll steal the No.4 jersey from Cooper, who has been exceptional for St George, Lyon will have to compete with Morris, who has yet to play a full game this year but made good first impressions against the Tigers.
Halves: (4) Darren Lockyer (BRI), Johnathan Thurston (NQL), Cooper Cronk (MEL), Jamie Soward (DRA).
Count the famous Maroons halves JT and Locky to take the starting line up and Cronk to take the bench to swap with fellow player Cam Smith. If anything happens with any of the players Soward should fill it since the Carney incident.
Front Row: (6) Aiden Tolman (BUL), Matt Scott (NQL), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (CAN), David Shillington (CAN), Cam Smith (MEL), Robbie Farah (WST).
Scotty and Learoyd-Lahrs should take the starting line up along with Smithy, but Tolman and Shillington will be battling for the bench while Farah is a big outsider.
Back Row: (6) Nathan Hindmarsh (PAR), Greg Bird (GLD), Braith Anasta (ROO), Sam Thaiday (BRI), Dallas Johnson (NQL), Paul Gallen (CRO).
This will be the hardest pick of the positions. Johnson comes back from a stint in the UK, Hindy is back to his best and deserves a second chance, Gallen is a workhorse, never stops, Anasta is also in the same category as Bird and Thaiday is another workhorse.
So this would be my prediction for the side:
1. J Hayne – like to see him more in the line.
2. D Boyd – in form and ready to ignite.
3. B Morris – try him in the centers.
4. M Cooper – consistent in attack/defence.
5. B Slater – excitement machine wherever you put him?
6. D Lockyer – last home Test.
7. J Thurston – no.1 man for the job.
8. M Scott – hit is his middle name.
9. C Smith – determinator.
10. T Learoyd-Lahrs – big man who can crush the opposition.
11. B Anasta – lays off pressure for halves.
12. N Hindmarsh – he’ll tackle the Kiwis out of their mind.
13. P Gallen – the workhorse.
14. C Cronk – the replacement.
15. S Thaiday – the back up plan.
16. A Tolman – fresh legs and youth.
17. D Johnson – keeping the Kiwis scared.
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