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The Four Nations squads have been released, so let’s take a look at the notable omissions from each squad, each team’s top 17, and my overall thoughts.
Samoa
Tim Lafai, Joey Leilua, Peter Mata’utia, Tautau Moga, Dominique Peyroux, Tim Simona, Kyle Stanley, Daniel Vidot, Antonio Winterstein, Pita Godinet, Penani Manumaleali’i, Ben Roberts, Michael Sio, Leeson Ah Mau, David Fa’alogo, Mose Masoe, Suaia Matagi, Suaso Sue, Isaac Liu, Dunamis Lui, Reni Maitua, Frank Pritchard, Sam Tagataese
Notable omissions
Steve Matai and Nu Brown (injured).
Anthony Milford is ineligible after switching his allegiances and playing for Queensland under 20s mid-year, and Josh McGuire and Sione Mata’utia weren’t named due to their involvement in the Prime Minister’s XIII. Samoa have only named 23 of their allowed 24-man squad though, obviously they’re waiting to see if one of those two men miss out on the Australian squad.
Top 17
(Assuming that McGuire will get a Kangaroos call-up due to their shortage of props and Mata’utia comes into this squad.)
1.Peter Mata’utia, 2.Sione Mata’utia, 3.Tim Lafai, 4.Joey Leilua, 5.Daniel Vidot, 6.Ben Roberts, 7.Penani Manumalealii, 8.Suaia Matagi, 9.Michael Sio, 10.David Fa’alogo(c), 11.Frank Pritchard(vc), 12.Leeson Ah Mau, 13.Isaac Liu, 14.Reni Maitua, 15.Mose Masoe, 16.Dunamis Lui, 17.Sam Tagataese
Note: Suaia Matagi is also in the Kiwis squad, with a battle over his eligibility currently taking place. I expect Harrison Hansen to come in if Matagi becomes unavailable for Samoa.
Final thoughts
Samoa have pulled together a decent side. They have some exciting young talents in the Mata’utia brothers, Tim Lafai and Hornby Panther product Penani Manumalealii, who was very good in the mid-year Test against Tonga.
There’s also experienced players like Maitua, Pritchard, Fa’alogo and Roberts. Unfortunately what they are missing is a superstar or two.
They could test the top-three nations and have some entertaining matches, but are probably still destined to lose all their games by 20 points or more.
England
Josh Charnley, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Michael Shenton, Joe Burgess, Sam Tomkins, Kallum Watkins, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Smith, Dan Sarginson, Garreth Widdop, Darryl Clark, Josh Hodgson, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, James Graham, Chris Hill, Liam Farrell, Mike Cooper, Brett Ferres, Sean O’Loughlin, Joel Tomkins, Elliot Whitehead, Joe Westerman
Notable omissions
James Roby and Michael McIllorum have made themselves unavailable to recover from injuries, the great Kevin Sinfield chose to retire from the international arena earlier this year, and the man who is widely regarded as the best forward and toughest player in the game, Sam Burgess, is sadly moving on to chase a dream in rugby union.
Top 17
1.Sam Tomkins, 2.Josh Charnley, 3.Zak Hardaker, 4.Kallum Watkins, 5.Ryan Hall, 6.Garreth Widdop, 7.Matty Smith, 8.George Burgess, 9.Darryl Clark, 10.James Graham(vc), 11.Brett Ferres, 12.Elliot Whitehead, 13.Sean O’Loughlin(c), 14.Josh Hodgson, 15.Liam Farrell, 16.Chris Hill, 17.Tom Burgess
Final thoughts
The English are developing a very very good squad, with a lot of world-class players.
Sam Tomkins will be better for his time in the NRL and was in scintilating form towards the back end of the season. Ryan Hall is arguably the world’s best winger. Garreth Widdop has had an exceptional year, as has Chris Hill, and James Graham has been absolutely sensational, he is hands down the best prop in the game at the moment.
2014 Man of Steel winner Darryl Clark is a more than adequate replacement for Roby, and Sean O’Loughlin has been a great captain for Wigan over the years.
Although Sam Burgess is a huge loss to the game, his two younger brothers are developing into big stars in their own right, with George arguably the man of the match in the NRL grand final.
It may not be this year but I expect them to win a major tournament at some stage over the next few years.
New Zealand
Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki, Peta Hiku, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jason Nightingale, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Siliva Havili, Issac Luke, Jesse Bromwich, Suaia Matagi, Sam Moa, Martin Taupau, Adam Blair, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo
Notable omissions
Roosters pair Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have been left out due to burnout. Konrad Hurrell, Ben Matulino and Sam Kasiano will all miss the tournament due to injury, and the two that battled over the fullback spot during last year’s World Cup have both been sensationally left out due to below-par 2014 campaigns.
Top 17
1.Gerard Beale, 2.Jason Nightingale, 3.Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4.Dean Whare, 5.Manu Vatuvei, 6.Kieran Foran(vc), 7.Shaun Johnson, 8.Jesse Bromwich, 9.Issac Luke, 10.Sam Moa, 11.Kevin Proctor, 12.Simon Mannering(c), 13.Jason Taumalolo, 14.Lewis Brown, 15.Greg Eastwood, 16.Martin Taupau, 17.Tohu Harris
Final thoughts
Once again the New Zealanders have got an exceptionally talented group, one that rivals the Aussies. They have a number of world-class front rowers to cover the losses of Matulino, Kasiano and Waerea-Hargreaves. In fact, the only possible weakness is in the important number 1 jumper.
Tuivasa-Sheck is obviously the future in this postition but with him out and Kearney opting not to select Josh Hoffman, Kevin Locke or even Sam Perrett, they are without their top four fullbacks. That leaves Gerard Beale and Anzac Test incumbent Peta Hiku to once again stake their claim.
Still, the Kiwis been presented with the best opportunity to get one over their trans-Tasman rivals that they’ve had in years. They get a home final should they make it, and the Aussies are extremely depleted this year.
I’m tipping the Kiwis to take out the tournament.
Australia
The Kangaroos are still to name their squad, with the Prime Minister’s XIII taking on Papua New Guinea this weekend, but I’ll still give my point of view on what I think the squad will look like.
Squad
Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Matt Moylan, Michael Jennings, Dylan Walker, Daniel Tupou, Josh Mansour, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Ben Hunt, Josh Reynolds, Cameron Smith(c), Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods, Josh McGuire, Dylan Napa, Josh Papalii, Sam Thaiday, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird, Boyd Cordner, Corey Parker, Aiden Guerra, Josh Jackson
Notable omissions
Where do I start? Australia have that many of their key personnel out that they could name a team of their unavailable players that would win this tournament:
Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris, Darius Boyd, Josh Dugan, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Luke Lewis, James Tamou, Matt Gillett, Nate Myles, Paul Gallen, Will Hopoate, Trent Merrin, Andrew Fifita, Dave Taylor.
Gallen is serving his drugs ban, Boyd is dealing with mental issues, and all the rest are either injured or too fatigued to take part.
I decided to leave Alex Johnston out in favour of Josh Mansour because although he’s an exceptional talent who will likely develop into a superstar of our sport, tackle-breaking machine Mansour is more deserving at this stage. Mansour’s numbers have been outstanding all year, he is one of the best ball-runners in the game.
Top 17
1.Greg Inglis, 2.Josh Mansour, 3.Jarryd Hayne, 4.Michael Jennings, 5.Daniel Tupou, 6.Daly Cherry-Evans, 7.Cooper Cronk, 8.Aaron Woods, 9.Cameron Smith(c), 10.Josh Papalii, 11.Sam Thaiday, 12.Ryan Hoffman, 13.Greg Bird(vc), 14.Josh Reynolds, 15.Boyd Cordner, 16.Josh McGuire, 17.Corey Parker
Final thoughts
There is a huge gap to fill in the Australian team with a large number of incumbents unavailable, making the Kangaroos the most vulnerable they have been in years.
But that doesn’t mean they even come close to being easy-beats. They still field a team that is strong across the park with no apparent weaknesses.
I expect new stars to shine in the spotlight and although this team may not be nearly as strong as what it could be, they rightfully still come into the 2014 Four Nations as favourites.
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