New Zealand have a great chance to put another dent in injury-hit Australia’s long dominance over international rugby league in the Four Nations tournament beginning later this month.
The Kiwis shocked the Kangaroos and ended decades of Australia’s stranglehold over the international game when they won the 2008 World Cup.
They have since largely failed to back up that breakthrough but, with up to 20 big name Australians out of the six-week tournament due to injury, the Kiwis have a golden opportunity to knock Australia off their perch.
From the Australian side that defeated New Zealand 30-18 in the Anzac Test in May, Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) Billy Slater (shoulder), Brett Morris (shoulder), Matt Scott (shoulder), Nate Myles (biceps), James Tamou (neck) and Matt Gillett (shoulder) are confirmed withdrawals.
NSW captain Paul Gallen also was not considered due to a drugs ban, while Darius Boyd (personal issues) is also unavailable.
Adding to the selectors’ dilemma, other possibles – Justin Hodges (knee), Josh Dugan (thumb), Trent Merrin (shoulder), Will Hopoate (leg), Dave Taylor (neck) and Andrew Fifita (arm) – are also unavailable.
NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson took a knee injury into Canterbury’s grand final loss to South Sydney and is likely to undergo surgery, ruling him out.
His Bulldogs teammate Josh Reynolds suffered a shoulder injury in the decider and is also likely to be unavailable, while Josh Morris carried a knee injury through the latter part of the NRL season and may require surgery.
Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce or his Brisbane counterpart Ben Hunt are set to join Cooper Cronk in the Kangaroos halves for their Four Nations opener against the Kiwis in Brisbane on October 25.
A plucky Kiwis side, weakened by injury, fell 30-18 to Australia in both nations’ last international hitout in the Anzac Test but will carry a significant advantage in Test experience into the Suncorp Stadium opener.
A likely Kiwis side will have over 200 games of Test experience, while Australia can only muster 134, and 38 of those are captain Cameron Smith’s.
Hooker Issac Luke will add 27 caps when he returns from suspension for the Kiwis’ second match against Samoa in Whangarei on November 1.
A third of the Australian side could be Test debutants.
Sunday’s PM’s XIII clash against Papua New Guinea in Kokopo will provide a number of representative rookies the chance to press their claims for Four Nations berth, including 21-year-old Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa.
Possible teams for the Four Nations opener between Australia and New Zealand
October 25 (Test caps in brackets):
Australia: Greg Inglis (29), Alex Johnston (0), Michael Jennings (2), Jarryd Hayne (12), Daniel Tupou (0), Mitchell Pearce (0), Cooper Cronk (22), Aaron Woods (0), Cameron Smith (38), Brenton Lawrence (0), Boyd Cordner (3), Ryan Hoffman (5), Greg Bird (12).
Interchange: Robbie Farah (7), Chris McQueen (0), David Klemmer (0), Josh Papalii (4)
Total: 134 Tests
New Zealand: Peta Hiku (1), Jason Nightingale (19), Dean Whare (9), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (9), Manu Vatuvei (24), Kieran Foran (15), Shaun Johnson (9), Jesse Bromwich (9), Thomas Leuluai (29), Sam Moa (4), Kevin Proctor (3), Simon Mannering (35), Adam Blair (25).
Interchange: Tohu Harris (2), Lewis Brown (5), Greg Eastwood (17), Jason Taumalolo (0)
Total: 215 Tests
ian McRae
Roar Rookie
yes, who cares? Yes Crank I've seen EMRIC and JAKE on other blogs raving on about rugby union being superior or something better than league. Why do they do this, at a guess ( I did live in Oz for 20 years), maybe they just feel that their sport dosn't grab the headlines and attention that they believe it should. Well I live in NZ now, and get more rugby news then league but I don't moan about it or continually can rugby! And to say the above is just a bit off.
Paulipaul
Guest
No DCE?
Crank Yanker
Guest
"Who cares" - Emric, Notorious Rugby League Troll, 2014.
Emric
Guest
Who cares
Jake
Guest
Delusional.
Bluebag
Guest
Trouble was the Eng v NZ semi was so brutal either team would have struggled to back up a week later. Australia will get no such benefit this time around. I can't wait!
cedric
Guest
that's not a bad kiwi side, looks alot better with Hiku at fullback than Beale and ofcourse with Luke to return. England, yes the kiwi pack were the talk of the world cup until England with their old boofheads ran over us. With a pretty good looking Samoan side this could be a mouth watering end to the season!
Tha Funkapotamus
Guest
SKD is out, and Bird and Woods are overrated
Go warriors
Guest
Agree Johno England have a much better team than they are given credit for. Let's just hope we have a competitive tournament. I hope Samoa do well too.
Johnno
Guest
We'll never know now, but I reckon at the RLWC 2013 if England had made the final at Old Trafford they would of really pushed the aussies to the wire. A home crowd, some big forwards, would of been a close battle. Still reckon the kiwis would have had a chance had RTS not gone off in the 1st 5 minutes and Frank Pritchard had he'd played too. Oh well we'll never know.
Go warriors
Guest
Should not discount England either. They will have a formidable forward pack. Looking forward to a cracking tournament. Go the Kiwis.