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.
brother fesol
Guest
I have found the Anzac tests difficult to watch as a weeks preparation for the kiwis isnt enough to mak them competetive. When the four nations comes the kiwis tend to peak before the final. I would like to see a 3 test series with the aussies as you've seen the success origin is also what the bledisloe cup use to be and now that the tests are becoming more equal and closer it would continue to boost tv ratings and could in 20 years time match origin for ratings and interest.
Dan
Guest
you cant try putting a player like brett moris in the centres this is a international test. They wont just say "oh we have our wingers sorted out but forgot brett moris oh well let see how he will go in the centres" this will be the line up 6.Darren Lokeyer 12.Greg Bird 1. Billy Slater 7.Cooper Cronk 13.Paul Gallen 2. Brett Moris 8.Sam Thaiday 14.Robbie Farah 3.Greg Inglis 9. Cam Smith 15.Tom Learoyd-Lars 4.Justin Hodges 10.David Shillinton 16.Aiden Tolmen 5.Darious Boyd 11.Nathan Hindmarsh 17.Matt Scott
damos_x
Guest
you said it ! someone said Inglis should be picked at fullback for the Rabbits but he's already picked at the leftovers ! ( couldn't resist)
sunshinecoaster
Guest
lol Maybe Eastwood and Inglis should have a pie eating competition at half time !
damos_x
Guest
Greg is busy eating all the left-over pies from game day ! I'm a mad Doggies fan but my goodness, he played about three minutes last night & spent most of that time waddling on & off from the bench. I think the weird padding he had on his wrists was just what was left of the special gloves they gave him so he couldn't pick up any more food but he ate all the tops off.
damos_x
Guest
Still bemuses me when people post on articles just to be spiteful. It's like a vegetarian eating a Big Mac just so they can tell you how awful it is ! you just look a fool.
sunshinecoaster
Guest
Yea one of the first picked normaly but hes injured, will struggle to be fit in time by the looks
chris mackinnon
Guest
im from melbourne but watch alot of nrl, and watch all of the international games, every time we have lost the big games the world cup final and the tri nations we didnt have a good kicking game it was quite poor, on the 5th tackle when we put up a bomb or a kick nearly every time it was rubbish one of the problems of the team is darren lockyer and thurstons, thurstons cant kick to save his life and lockyer must be better player out there he should have retired from internationals. untl we fix our kicking game and bring in a player who can kick the ball properly and set up the wingers we got no hope of beating the kiwis
tigger madness
Roar Rookie
Greg Eastwood has to be in there somewhere!
Tigger Madness
Guest
Spot on, although I would like to see Dalls Johnson at lock and a bench of Learoyd-Lhars, Weyman, Lewis & Gidley.
sunshinecoaster
Guest
Kiwi team maybe ? 1- Hoffman 2- Nightingale 3- SKD 4- Matia 5- Duffie 6- Foran 7- Marshall 13- Smith 12 -Manering 11- Harrison 10- Nuuausala 9- Luke 8- Blair Brown Pritchard Masoe Hohaia
sunshinecoaster
Guest
jus de couchon have you been living in a cave for the past 5 years ?
Guna
Guest
I dont care who they pick for the Kangaroos as long as it is not a Manly player because the Kiwis will use all the Kiwi players from Manly and that will leave the team gutted When are they going to stop having team games when Big games are played. All teams should be stood down when State of Origin or a Kangaroo games are played on a weekend day not a Wensday
gilrocky
Guest
Inli, Gasnier will be centres (cooper has retired from rep footy and wouldn't be there anyway), Hayne wouldn't be in the team because he is woful so far, and Anasta???? My god he's lucky to be in first grade.
Kiwi Steve
Guest
World Cup Champions - New Zealand Four Nations Champions- New Zealand ahahahah mate you sound abitt ignorant....
Matt H
Guest
Nonsense. QLD have won 5 SOO series in a row and this side has 7 out of 13 in the starting line up from NSW! Try 1. Slater 2. Boyd 3. Hodges 4. Inglis 5. B Morris 6. Lockyer 7. Thurston 8. Scott 9. Smith 10. Shillington 11. Thaiday 12. Myles 13. Gallen 14. Cronk 15. Lewis 16. Leyroyd-Lars 17. Hannant.
Johnno
Guest
What about Jamal Idris, Greg Inglis( You can not tell me Jamie Lyon is better than GI or Jamal), Luke Lewis, that new prop at the roosters,Justin Hodges, gasiner is overrated these days dont want him there. Ben Hannant maybe, Jarrod Mullen is as good a chance as soward, Nate myles maybe. And for a bolter why not throw young William Hopoate in the test team , he is a future star player.
Football United
Roar Pro
billy slater is the incumbent fullback and has been in brilliant form with his attacking play. you just cant move him.
Petebix
Guest
Jarryd Hayne won't go within kooee of a Kangaroos jumper for the upcoming test. Slater by a country mile, Boyd & Morris wings. Cooper is retired from rep footy and J Morris won't be there. Inglis is a guaranteed starter, Tonga Lyon & Gasnier fighting for the other spot. Lockyer & Thurston halves. Matt Scott & Shillington will be up front with Smith at hooker. Gallen, Thaiday and Lewis for the back row. I expect the bench will look something like Gidley, Learoyd-Lhars, Myles, Bird. Civoniceva & Weyman outsiders
Dodge
Guest
Totally agree, like wat planet is this guy from... And wat about Gas?