Saturday night’s Test match between Australia and New Zealand threatens to be a tricky one for the Kangaroos when you consider the changes to the two teams since they last met.
The Kiwis have named their team for the game at nib Stadium in Perth, so their changes are already there in black and white.
The Aussies are yet to name their side, but it is already clear, since the extended squad for the Four Nations squad is known, where the changes will be. It’s just a matter of who, exactly, comes in.
The bottom line is that the New Zealand team will be stronger than the one which lost 16-0 to Australia in Newcastle in May, and the Australian team will be… (Click to Tweet)
It is difficult to actually say it will be weaker, when you consider the quality of the players who are vying to fill the vacancies, but it is fair to say – at the very least – it won’t be any stronger.
Gone from the 17-man squad that won in May are winger Semi Radradra, prop Paul Gallen, lock Corey Parker and bench forwards Josh McGuire and James Tamou. All five could have been picked and had this been a one-off Test to finish the season, with no Four Nations tournament to follow, both Gallen and the retiring Parker could have been given a deserved farewell Test.
But the fact Parker is exiting the game and Gallen is now 35 meant they were overlooked for the sake of future plans, with the Four Nations a valuable tool for blooding new players or giving those who are only mildly experienced at Test level more experience ahead of next year’s World Cup.
McGuire and Tamou were simply dropped, while Radradra would certainly be in the team if he didn’t have a well-documented off-field issue hanging over his head.
The Aussies also don’t have prop Aaron Woods or winger Josh Mansour to consider for this game. They are both in the Four Nations squad, but each planned his wedding for this weekend before the game against the Kiwis was arranged.
And Andrew Fifita would surely be in the Four Nations squad and would presumably make the 17 for this game were he not being ostracised himself.
Valentine Holmes is an obvious contender for the vacant wing spot, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Australian coach Mal Meninga picked fullback Matt Moylan there. Moylan is such a smart and adaptable player, he would handle it, and at the same time it would increase the cover for key positions.
Michael Morgan will already be on the bench as cover for the halves and fullback, but there is no harm in having more cover if it is a legitimate selection on overall form.
Shannon Boyd and David Klemmer appear to be competing for Gallen’s spot, while Trent Merrin looks the likely selection at lock.
Presuming Sam Thaiday holds his place on the bench alongside Morgan, whoever doesn’t start out of Boyd and Klemmer will probably be competing with Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell for the other two bench spots.
Meanwhile, there is definitely only upside for New Zealand.
Solomone Kata and Shaun Kenny-Dowall have come into the centres for Tohu Harris, a second-rower who played in the centres in May, and Gerard Beale. Harris goes back to the second-row for this game. Beale has been named at number 19 in a 19-man squad and presumably won’t make the cut.
Thomas Leuluai is in for Kodi Nikorima at five-eighth and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves replaces Adam Blair at prop, while Issac Luke returns at hooker for Lewis Brown.
Blair, Brown and Manu Ma’u, who filled the second-row spot that was vacated by the switch of Harris in May, all drop back to the bench.
The bench in May comprised Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, Sam Moa and Kenny Bromwich. This time around it will be Brown, Taupau, Ma’u and Blair. That is a stronger quartet.
New Zealand obviously didn’t do much in attack against Australia in May, but their defence wasn’t bad. The Aussies scored three tries, but after two of those came in the first half the last came right at the end of the game.
The key to the game, for the Kiwis at least, will be – surprise, surprise – halfback Shaun Johnson.
We all know he can be hot and cold, but if he performs in this game it could be a belter of an entree to the Four Nations.
TC123
Guest
How's that Aussie cricket side been going lately?
Republican
Guest
The NRL are gauging support for the code in Perth because it is potentially a candidate of their next expansion. The support will be akin to that of Union, and derived predominately from the expat Kiwi, PI community and possibly some Saffas.
Maroon Blood
Guest
You also said "testis".....teeheee.....
Maroon Blood
Guest
So should the two NRL games in Perth this year and the Origin planned for 2018 be canned as well because making sure little Johnny isn't past his bed time is more important than the game growing in non-League areas?? Saturdays game has attracted large followings to open training sessions this week and is a sell-out. This WA-residing League lover, and the twenty thousand-plus others at the game, won't be giving two hoots about little Johnny's late night on Saturday as we cheer on the Kangaroos and Kiwis. If this game was beign played at Suncorp or ANZ I doubt the crowd would be much bigger and it certainly would do absolutely bugger-all to foster growth in our great game, international or otherwise so I really don't see your point at all soryy.
matth
Guest
Every non-indigenous born in Australia is from somewhere else as some point down the line.
Jacko
Guest
I want to know why the game is in Perth. Why does Aus always dictate where and when a testis to be played? This test could have been a great advert for the game but by taking it to perth it means that the time in NZ will be 10pm before the game even kicks off and midnight before it finishes. Thats great for the young kiwi kids who just may be inspired to play league isnt it. Either promote the international game or forget it but this token gestures are a waste of time.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"Or do you think he got up one day looked in mirror and said ” Actually think I might play for Australia”. A couple of points worth noting Fox. First, the reason Holmes committed to NZ was, and I quote him from last week's press article: "I was going to choose the Kiwis because I got named in the main squad and I was in the Junior Kangaroos." In other words, Kearney offered him a place in the NZ squad if he committed. The best he could do with Australia was the junior Kangaroos. Second, one of the reasons he reneged on the agreement, again I quote: “I was trying to look at my options and look at the bigger picture. I had another talk with my dad and he said ‘where have you been playing your whole life?’ And I said ‘Queensland’. ‘And where were you born’? He asked. I said ‘Queensland’. He said it was up to me but I knew straight away he wanted me to play for Queensland." So yes, you are probably right, he probably did get up one morning, look in the mirror and decide to play for Australia.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
Fox, for years now the Kiwis have been sniffing around talented Australian juniors with a Kiwi connection in an attempt to get them formally to commit to NZ. They approached Holmes when he was still eligible for NYC and I understand they had done the same with Ponga before he played his only game of NRL. The tactic is clear. They dangle the carrot of playing international football before these juniors in an attempt to lock them away before they hit the big time and appear on the radar of SOO and Australian selectors. The reason many would go on to represent NZ is because in the past there has been less competition to make the NZ team. The reality is that it is the Kiwis doing the poaching. To suggest it is the Australians is absurd.
Joe
Roar Rookie
That's true Republican, I'm just going by the odds and not the rankings. I personally don't think it will be an upset as I think the Kiwi's have a stronger forward pack which will allow Johnston space to do his thing especially now with Papallii out.
Killaku
Guest
Doesnt change the point he is a Kiwi born in Aussie.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Worth noting the Storm's NZ contingent are the two edges (Harris and Proctor) with only one of the middles being a Kiwi. The Sharks didn't do so well wide of the middle, but in the middle they did well (also had the advantage of more football, partly due to the Storm backs dropping it). Storm also had the problem that Finucane got concussed and didn't get replaced until after the Fifita try (he was out there for a good 5 mins clearly not all there), which was just really poor player management at best and disregard for player welfare at worst.
Matth
Guest
Settle petal, I was asking for a fact clarification. However it pretty much seems that NZ tried to grab an Australian and got blocked.
Muzz
Guest
We're toast. Too many old Queenslanders in the team and a coach that consorts with criminals.
Jimmmy
Guest
Big statement . Maybe look at some past results One Week. The Kiwiis have a great side. They can easily match is in the forwards but we outgun them in the backs. I reckon Australia by 6. Is that a canter???
Don
Roar Rookie
Ease up Fox. The Kiwis weren't "robbed" a player. They had a "gift" they had no rights to rescinded by the owner.
Fox
Roar Guru
Gee matth let's just over simplify things shall we. Yea he just told some newspaper in some off the cuff remark and they mentioned in an article. So let's get it straight shall we with the watered down version you put froward to suit your own position No matth he actually fully committed to playing for NZ after talks with the NZ coaching staff and head coach. He said who he wanted to play for and that was NZ and gave them his commitment to that end...so gee wizz wonder what changed his mind after that kind of commitment? So yes the kiwi's were actually robbed of a player who had already committed to playing for them to the NZ National coaches. What you think the ARL didn't know about that? Of course they did so they moved in to entice him to change hi mind Or do you think he got up one day looked in mirror and said " Actually think I might play for Australia" I will give the benefit of the doubt and say you are not that naive
matth
Guest
The thing in favour of the Kiwis at the moment in my opinion, is that their best players are younger and on the rise, whereas Australia is really relying on the old stagers to last a couple more years - Cronk, Smith, Thurston, Inglis, Scott. There is no way Australia is as strong as they were even three years ago, because key players are ageing and the younger ones are not there yet.
matth
Guest
Let's see if I have this straight. He was born in Australia, he grew up in Townsville, he has learned and played all his football in Australia, but because he said in article at some point he wanted to play for the Kiwis, then you were robbed?
Fox
Roar Guru
Yea I am aware of that but read what I say further down