Sam Thaiday has every right to be upset he didn’t receive a phone call from Australia coach Mal Meninga to tell him he’d missed out on the squad for the World Cup.
No-one was expecting Thaiday to make the squad – and the player himself wasn’t suggesting be should have been picked – but that’s not the point.
Thaiday was not some short-term or occasional international. He played a whopping 34 Tests, going way more than a decade. He represented his country in 2006 and then every year from 2009 to this year.
It was reported Meninga rang Blake Ferguson to tell him he had missed out on the squad and Ferguson has only been playing Test football since last year.
I don’t know, but I suspect it was the news Ferguson had received a phone call, when Thaiday hadn’t, that prompted the Broco to vent his frustration on social media last night.
The Brisbane forward’s message went this way:
“Aussie Aussie Aussie… No, No, No. So it’s official – the end of my 2017 rugby league year. Who would’ve thought this year would be the last time I played for both Queensland and Australia. A bit of respect would’ve been nice… to at least receive a phone call and learn about selection that way instead of through a leaked report from the media on last night’s news. After dedicating more than 10 years wearing the Maroon and Green and Gold jersey, you’d expect to be treated with a bit more decency and respect. I guess not. Lucky I have one more year left at the @brisbanebroncos unless someone wants to shatter that dream too. What a rollercoaster of a year – Peace out 2017”
Hopefully, Meninga will realise he should have rung Thaiday and will contact him to admit that, with the aim of patching things up.
Thaiday was never going to make the squad. He is 32 and was dropped from the Queensland team after their loss to NSW in State of Origin 1. Other players have overtaken him.
But he was a mainstay for the Maroons under Meninga’s coaching before continue to play for Australia in the first two years of Meninga’s tenure there.
As far as actual selection shocks in the actual 24-man squad go, James Tedesco should have been included. Meninga explained that Manly Tom’s Trbojevic got the nod based on versatility, and I get that, but even allowing for Trbojevic’s form this year there should have been a spot for Tedesco in the squad.
Even if it meant Darius Boyd missing out.
Based on a combination of form this year and going back to previous years, Melbourne’s Billy Slater and Tedesco are the two best fullbacks in the NRL.
Trbojevic played 23 games this season for a side that made the finals, scoring 12 tries and running for an average of 189.6 metres per game. Plus, he made 24 line-breaks, had 19 try assists and 18 offloads.
Tedesco played 21 games for a struggling team, scored five tries and averaged 175.1 metres. He made 12 line-breaks, had eight try assists and 34 offloads.
Boyd played 20 games for a top-four side, scored three tries and averaged 109 metres. He made four line-breaks, had seven try assists and seven offloads.
Australia should comfortably win the World Cup with the squad they have named, but Tedesco was unlucky and so was another player who missed out – Canterbury forward Josh Jackson.
Thaiday simply deserved a heads up about his omission, based on how well he has worn the jumper for so long. That wasn’t too much to ask.
UPDATE: Mal Meninga has now apologised to Thaiday. Read more here.
Nordburg
Guest
TomT’s statistics are great but they don’t reveal the whole story,especially when you are comparing him with Tedesco.You are saying TomT was aided by a team that made the finals but would suggest that the main reason they made the finals was because of him.Similar could be said about Boyd.There wasn’t much difference in rosters between Manly&Tigers.Manly made the 8 basically with only 7 or 8 players playing well.TomT’s try assists and versatility,like Boyd, is why they were picked.And with Slater a lock at fullback,they were looking to cover other positions
BrainsTrust
Guest
Mal should apoligise because he didn't realise Thaiday was that stupid to realise he was not in the running.
big daddy
Guest
the apology should be too the Australian fans. No matches against England or NZ in Sydney,a team picked on what who knows and now fifita pulling out of Australian side. This administration beggars belief.what an embarrassment for the sport.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks Matty - appreciate it.
matth
Guest
Fair call. And Myles. Both Thaiday and Myles have been fantastic servants for QLD.
matth
Guest
Jackson definitely should have been in the squad. I understand Kaufusi being picked on finals form, but Graham should have made way for Jackson in that case.
matth
Guest
Well said. The test for the QLD selectors will be when Cronk and JT are both gone. At the moment I support QLD and Australia picking 5/8ths to compliment their style of play, but once they are gone, they need to pick the best half and then structure the play around them. Enter DCE.
matth
Guest
Just for you Barry. And mainly because the comment I responded to contrasted Thaiday with Tedesco - a 10 year rep player vs a 1 year rep player.
matth
Guest
Well played
Wayne Turner
Guest
Maloney's defense is crap,while Bird's is alot better. Bird can also play more positions and is younger. Maloney's kicking game and goal kicking is only better.
bearfax
Guest
Much better Jimmmy. Now we have elements to debate. So much depends on opportunity and the, shall we say, proclivities of those making the selection decisions. Lets start with Cliff Lyons. Cliff was one of those rare players who plays spontaneously. That is his actions were unpredictable more than most and that's what made him so dangerous. But his style of play relied on other players developing a sense of being positioned in such a manner that they could use his unpredictability to their advantage. Steve Menzies did this perfectly and that's why he became the highest try scoring forward in history. Menzies willingly admits this. But until players understood his style, they ended up positioning themselves poorly and leaving Cliff stranded and looking ineffective. He wasnt the conventional player like Daley or Fittler, who were more running five eighths. Lyons skill was what he offered other players, if they knew how to use it. That's why it was hard for him to establish himself in tests and SOOs because he was playing alongside many players were couldnt read his style. And yet he played 6 tests and 6 SOOs, winning every test but only 2 of six SOOs. His problems in SOOs was in many ways the result of facing a player who I thought was the best player I have ever seen in Wally Lewis. But then Lewis made every other five eighth look ordinary DCEs problem is that he's an outsider as far as selectors are concerned. The best two halves in the game in the past decade have been Cronk and Thurston. Its no co-incidence that the two players you mention Munster and Morgan were five eighths to those players and learned the style of play that fits those two. Add to that Smith and you have a group of players who know each others game very well. Munster and Morgan were therefore able to slip into the roles of their master halves in SOO easily. DCE's style of play is different and didnt well suit the Cronk-Thurston model. He didnt play poorly in SOO matches he played. It was however like Lyons, a situation where he was walking in as an outsider with a differing style that takes time to adapt to. My personal opinion is that both Lyons and DCE have been poorly used at SOO level. Lyons was in my mind the most cleverly spontaneous League player I have ever seen, and I've been watching the game since 1966. DCE in my mind is third behind Thurston (the best player in the game at present) and Cronk. I dont think either Munster or Morgan have DCEs range of skills, even though they are both very clever players. DCE dominates a match similarly to Thurston, though not as brilliantly. Neither Morgan nor Munster consistently dominate a match in such a manner.
johnno2
Guest
I agree with your assumption Wayne except for Bird even tho I dislike Maloney he's all over Bird
Anthony
Roar Pro
Queensland Maroons are admirable in so many areas. But the one thing, the one thing I think they should hang their heads in shame over is treatment of the forwards. Forwards go through the meat grinder of State of Origin year after year. Yes fantastic send off for JT (your my hero BTW JT). But what of the boys who toil their butts off (your my hero to Thaiday :)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Josh Jackson???????.. REALLY.? Woods but no Jackson. I give up.
Aaron
Guest
No it's never lost a test. 23 matches for 0 losses in the green and gold.
Concussed
Guest
Ferguson only got a call as they know he can't read the team list.
Peter
Guest
You obviously did not read the article. You could have avoided looking like a goose.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
As a Manly supporter I'm glad DCE wasn't selected because I would rather he was fit and healthy for next season. For some reason not that many Manly players have excelled at rep level for a while. The Turbos look the most likely to me and the most likely recent star at rep level was Brett Stewart but several factors conspired against him.
Jimmmy
Guest
Well Bearfax as with everything footy related it’s all opinion in the end. Morgan was outstanding for QLD this year in Origin. He has been outstanding for the Cows in the finals. He covers every position in the backline including fullback. DCE is well behind Morgs and Munster for mine . I pushed strongly for Muster over DCE for Origin three and I see no reason to change my mind after that game. Munster was outstanding. I think DCE is an outstanding club footballer ala Cliffy Lyons but like Lyons I don’t think he can take take that next step, Now the Turbo boys are are another matter. They are Origin players through and through and I am really pleased Tom has made the team.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That all sounds lovely. Completely irrelevant to any of this though. I'm sure matth appreciates your response on his behalf.