If another planet was discovered and they happened to play the greatest game of all, who would you pick to represent earth?
This is a wild proposition, but it raises an interesting question about who the best players in the world are at the moment. One thing’s for sure, all the players will essentially come from Australia’s world-class NRL competition.
This is my team, with the striking element being the domination of players who aren’t Australian.
Fullback – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
The New Zealand fullback has regained his elusive step and fully recovered from his ACL knee injury. His game awareness and experience make him the preferred option over the Dragons highly impressive fullback, Matt Dufty.
Another candidate is James Tedesco, however he’s failed to find his top form in 2018 since moving from the Tigers. Billy Slater is also in fine form and would potentially come into consideration if injuries occurred.
Wingers – Jordan Rapana and Suliasi Vunivalu
Canberra Raider and New Zealander Jordan Rapana is a pacey and skillful player who lives by the motto that nothing is impossible. Fiji’s 100kg winger, Vunivalu, is a trump card for the Storm with immense power and speed to burn. Other candidates are the Storm’s other winger, Josh Addo-Carr and Penrith’s man-mountain Josh Mansour, who is currently out injured.
Centres – Solomone Kata and Euan Aitken
The Warriors muscle-bound brute, Kata, is a handful for every defender that runs in his path. He’s almost impossible to stop unless opposition teams manage to form two or three players in his way. The other centre choice, St.George Illawarra’s Euan Aitken, is a very different proposition, preferring to make his impact via his electrifying speed, step and positional play.
Five-eighth – Gareth Widdop
England’s key man has created opportunities all year for his ladder-topping Dragons. He is a superb runner of the ball who also possesses a great kicking game. James Maloney is a close second.
(AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)
Half-back – Shaun Johnson
In past years, Johnathan Thurston would have had a monopoly on this position, but it’s a different scenario in 2018. The grab for this position is competitive, but the New Zealander gets the nod ahead of other candidates Ben Hunt, Luke Brooks and the injured Nathan Cleary.
Lock – Sam Burgess (c)
This England forward could play anywhere in the pack and make equal impact – is there anyone more competitive than this strongman? He’s a player that all fans want in their team. Who can forget him playing most of the Rabbits’ 2014 grand final win with a broken jaw?
Second-rowers – Tyson Frizell and Jason Taumalolo
Both these players are tough and relentless in attack and defence. They won’t let anyone down and will take the energy out of the opposition as they attempt to bring them down.
Props – Reagan Campbell-Gillard and James Graham
A Fiji/Aussie and a Pom make up the bookends, offering a bucket load of flair from Penrith’s tackle breaker Campbell-Gillard and a no-nonsense attitude from the fiery James Graham.
Hooker – Issac Luke
At this point in the season Luke beats Melbourne’s Cameron Smith and Souths’ Damien Cook, but it’s impossible to leave Smith out of the team so he makes the bench.
Bench
Cameron Smith
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Matt Gillet
Jake Trbojevic
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
That should read Mork from Mork & Mindy fame. Predictive text is a bummer.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Possibly best thing on the roar ever. Take a bow Barry
peeko
Guest
so you are picking a world team based on 6 weeks of form?
Matt
Guest
K-9 at lock surely. He's a tenacious defender which is exactly what the modern 13 needs to be!
Aem
Guest
I appreciate the out-of-the-box thinking... but this team isn't close to being the best. Several guys here have no right to be considered at or near the top of their position group - Kata chief among them (and I'm a Warriors fan, who would suggest as many as 4 Warriors in the team in a totally biased choice!). Something like this would be closer, methinks... Trbojevic Fusitua Chambers Morris Vunivalu Johnson Cronk Bromwich Smith Taupau Harris Mannering Taumalolo Hunt Klemmer Trbojevic Asofa-Solomona
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
Thanks for your comment Stu. I thought Tallis and Chewie were the same person! Never seen them in the same room at the same time!!
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
Thanks for your comments Larry1950 - good to see you're following me closely. Hopefully you've enjoyed a fraction of entertainment amongst the school boy errors :)
Doogie
Guest
Slater will take a dive which will confuse them
Rab
Guest
Geyer will crush any alien
Nat
Roar Guru
Cameron Smith has been bought in, now we have the refs on our side.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Darth Vader et al. would chew them up and spit them out. Did you see Batman vs Darth Vader??? Batman needs to be in the team. I've already pointed out we need Ripley to counteract Xenomorph. We'll need Dutch marking up Predator in the centres... Even still I think we're in trouble!!
Larry1950
Guest
Not sure your credibility stands up when the first position considered is fullback with you putting Slater as fourth option, after all, in your 10th April article you made kiwi Alex Glenn a potential Qld origin pick. Rapana is going ordinary, Kata wouldn't cope with the speed & endurance required for origin, the Warriors have performed better without Johnson, Sam Burgess will probably be suspended for the inter-Galaxy match on recent form and Gillett's got a broken neck.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha...brilliant.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I think Stitch fits your stated number 9 parameters even more strongly than Bender
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dave Lister was originally from earth so he’d be on our team...the cat could go well on a wing for the aliens. A Cylon out wide would be hard to stop too...
no one in particular
Roar Guru
That team will have as much team harmony as Manly. You have the Skywalker/Solo/Chewbaca side against the Vader/Stormtrooper gang. Xenomorph and Predator are like Paul Gallen and Will Chambers If you pick T-800 you know he won;t go down injured Rocket will be a mouthy little half in the Gary Freeman mould. Not sure if ALF will pass the drug test
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Brilliant! ALF at 5/8th is inspired, but can you imagine Darth Vader's force fends on the edge? Now they'd be true "Don't argues" If Xenomorph gets going, I think it'd be prudent for the Earth team to have Ripley suit up in her Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader. She's gotta be at least on the bench.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Lobot has that job, can get the messages to the players directly
Rab
Guest
What about Ron Gibbs the Easts and Manly animal?
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Love the selection of Bender. Dave Rimmer (Red Dwarf), would be my back up if looking for a dummy half looking to get in the scrap - may not have the endurance to go deep into a game though. Coach Options? I think Yoda rules himself out - he would confuse too many players though his riddles would play well in the post match conference Admiral Ackbar makes some questionable strategic decisions - Doesn't always pick the right time to attack. William Adama of BSG has moved around too much - Seems to struggle connecting with his team. Kirk had his issues - but is probably in the Bennett mold which by any measure, over a long period of time, would suggest he will have some success.