Dropped for the return of the better player he was filling in for? Oh the humanity!

The only game in that whole “exile” he could feel hard done by was Game 3 last year, when he could’ve conceivably been five-eighth. But in this case, Walters’ selection of Munster made perfect sense (retaining club combination) and was totally vindicated.

It’s all media driven nonsense. Even sensationalist articles supporting him, like this, are designed to provoke strong polarising opinions on the poor bloke. Just let the bloke play footy, geez.

All great, except DCE is likely to be the goal kicker!

Is he your secret illegitimate son, Tim?

DCE has been treated perfectly reasonably by QLD selectors in the past, and now. As has been pointed out by other commenters, DCE got the go both times Cronk was out in the past. He wasn’t made the scapegoat for those losses at all – except perhaps by media commentators. He just lost his place when Cronk returned. Perfectly reasonable. He then lost his place on the bench to Michael Morgan once he emerged – and surely you’re not going to try and argue that Morgan wasn’t a better bench option! So really…what is your gripe exactly?

This year is really the first time QLD’s no. 7 has actually been available in DCE’s whole career. On form, Hunt clearly deserved first crack, didn’t make it his own, and has made way for DCE. All perfectly fine. Nothing to see here. If you really need to write about poor little footy players, why aren’t you bemoaning the lack of ‘fairness’ for Hunt? Instead, you’re fixated on your own presumptions that DCE is going to treated harshly in the future… If he is so undisputably awesome and victimised, why don’t you give him any chance of lifting a side that lost by 4 points last game to a victory?

You’re right. Elite professional sport shouldn’t be challenging. Maybe we should recall Smith so he has a better shot at winning.

But more seriously, I (obviously) disagree with your point. Win or lose, if he impresses people through the week at training and does the job they’ve asked of him on Wednesday, he’ll have boosted his stocks for next year. The ball is in his court – how you expect us to feel sorry for a bloke who has just been given the shot he wanted is beyond me. Your assumption that he’ll be banished forevermore if QLD doesn’t win is just typical media hyperbole.

Fair point, so I’ve since read the full article and feel vindicated by my first instict. What a slightly disturbing and obsessive DCE love fest! I’ve got nothing against the guy at all, but do all these violins really need playing for him? QLD gave him a good run, and he didn’t quite fit the bill, so they moved on. What’s the big deal? Happens in all sports, all the time. He’s never been blamed or anything… they just picked Cronk at half ahead of him (pretty understandable!) and went to Morgan on the bench (again, pretty understandable!) Now DCE is older, his game has evolved, and we need a halfback. So he gets another well-deserved crack. All the other speculation about whether he is indeed a dickhead, or a tragic victim of some sort of bizarre conspiracy, is embarrassing. You should be blaming your fellow media experts for anything he’s had to go through – you’re the ones fueling all the talk about him.

Only read the first couple of sentences…hope the article picked up, because those were total garbage. Hunt deserved his chance on form, clearly didn’t take it, so a change has been made. DCE is back in form for Manly, and now playing the club role QLD wants from its halfback (ie. to be the dominant organiser and playmaker) – the timing is right for him and he gets the chance he’s been waiting for. Pretty simple really. If he plays well, the spot could be his for the long-term. If he doesn’t, he’s in the same position as he was last week. Why can’t we just wish him well without sensationalising the stakes, and making him out to be some sort of victim? It’s ridiculous.

Of course they don’t live and play in Tonga. What professional rugby league could they play living there? Doesn’t change the fact that Konrad Hurrell, Solomona Kata, Sam Moa, Saliva Havili and others are all Tongans. For a country that probably didn’t even know what rugby league was 20 years ago, to be now providing an increasing number of professional players to the NRL represents genuine progress. The defection of others who want to represent that part of their heritage is giving that growth a huge kickalong – if you can’t see the momentum behind Tonga in the region (including in Tonga itself, where the King visited for their World Cup campaign!) then you’re blind. Encouragingly, rugby league’s growth in Tonga is mirrored by similar progress in some of the other countries in the region. Give it another 10 years and let’s see where we’re at.

Why is DCE’s selection so perplexing to you media types? Manly were struggling and he was out of form at the start of the series. The Dragons were top of the table with Ben Hunt being the NRL’s form halfback. Of course he got first crack. Over the course of the two games however he has struggled to show he’s a dominant playmaker at Origin level, and his club form has dipped too. So the time seems right for a change. Qld have rightly kept Hunt in the squad and are looking at him as a dummy half option – a role he has done well at before for Brisbane, QLD and Australia – and they have rightly looked elsewhere to see who their next dominant halfback could be. Ash Taylor is inconsistent within games, never mind from week to week. He is not ready. DCE is as ready as he could ever possibly be. He’s run into form with Manly, is now an experienced club captain, and has plenty of big match experience under his belt. The time is right, and now it’s up to him to take his big chance. If he struggles, QLD will have still have Hunt (who is still being kept in the mix) and Morgan (in the Cowboys no. 7 next year) and Ash Taylor (a year further on) to look to, but if he steps up the spot could be his for the next 4 years. It’s not a bad position for him or QLD to be in…

The real problem for QLD is our forwards. Arrow and Kaufusi look good, but otherwise we’re struggling for good new blood to pick. Hopefully by next year big Joe and Korbin Sims will be demanding selection.

Certainly can’t see too many changes. We played pretty well after all, just didn’t take all our chances to take the win.

For sentimental reasons, I’d like to see Scott back in place of Wallace for one last game – he might also be a good mentor for Dylan Napa and Jai Arrow.

Hunt obviously had an ordinary game, but I think Chambers has also been pretty ordinary outside him. It might be time to put Gagai into the centres and recall Corey Oates. If we’re looking to new blood, Gavin Cooper is another guy who’s place I could question. He has been solid, but doesn’t have a long-term future at this level. Our depth in the backrow isn’t great, but Jaydn Sua could be a reasonable bench option, with Hess moving into the starting side. If we’re looking to the future, Joe Ofahengaue could also be a possibility to come in for Wallace. We do need to build a bit more forward depth, so maybe this game is a chance to do it (I know this contradicts my wish to pick Scott!)

As for halfback, I’m not convinced that Ben Hunt is our long-term answer. But with Morgan injured, I also don’t see another option that convinces me either. DCE has shown a tendency to go missing when it’s tough, and Ash Taylor has talent but is hardly demanding selection. As such, I think they should give Hunt and Munster one more opportunity to build their combination. If Hunt struggles again, that confirms Morgan is the man for next year.

Morgan and Munster are the two leading contenders, but it’ll come down to form closer to the time. As good as Munster is, he doesn’t offer strong kicking or organisation just yet – that’s OK with Cronk running the show, but Morgan may not be ready to take on such a big load as an Origin 7. He’s never started in the halves in Origin, so probably would need more playmaking support than what Munster can give.

So it may be that Morgan is better off combining with Norman in the halves, with Munster on the bench. It’s too early to have a strong opinion either way, but I think that balance is pretty important. Munster may well step up his game management at Melbourne this year now Cronk is gone, in which case it’ll be fine to put them together. But I think at this stage, Norman or DCE are worth thinking about because they would offer us some composure and playmaking nous that we might need.

Yeah as a Broncos fan, I have to say I’m really unimpressed with this signing. Here’s hoping for a season-ending injury in the trials, so I don’t have to spend the year trying to cheer this guy on…

I do believe in second chances – and if he’s done all the right things since this episode re: community work etc. then he does deserve another crack somewhere. Just don’t want it to be in my team!

Agree with this. And the culture in the commentary box feeds this attitude in fans. Why do they have to subject us to in-depth analysis of every single call, just to find out if it was wrong? Half the time the commentators disagree, but they’re still outraged! Just get on with the game everyone.

I think Williams will be on the bench by the end of the tournament. Hodgson hasn’t played for two months (last week’s training run aside), so probably needs cover at hooker. Bennett may also be playing both hookers to test who the No. 1 hooker should be. No better test than giving them both a go against Australia, and seeing who gets the side functioning better. Roby’s a great player, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s 9 and Williams is on the bench by the end of the tournament.

If Fiji had been able to call on guys like Radrada and Waqa Blake for this World Cup then you’d have had to give them a big hope. Rugby league sounds like it’s building nicely in Fiji – we just need to stop their best players going to union, and a NSW Cup team to create a stronger pathway to the NRL would also be pretty good!

Kevvie once again proves he’s smarter than the average coach…

As for the Titans gig, I say give it to the Walker boys! They’ll freshen the place up and get the lads playing some good attacking footy.

Des Hasler or Geoff Toovey? No way!

The last thing rugby league should do for any reason, ever, is look to rugby union.

The worry is if Australia ever see Fiji is a legitimate threat, they’ll select their best players (who would all qualify on residency, at least). If Jarryd Hayne returns to his best, Australia will pick him. Australia will also pick Radrada and, if he fulfills his potential as a world class centre, Blake. The change in the eligibility laws is welcome, but it still does give Australia first crack at anyone they like. I think a player should be able to play State of Origin (as long as they qualify for a particular state) without having to be eligible for Australia. With that rule, a player like Hayne could play for NSW without ever being available for Australia.

It is exciting for international rugby league, but as the second tier nations get stronger, rules have to be less about helping them be competitive, and more about protecting them from the top tier nations. Whether it’s about giving them more money or more big games (or both), players like Radrada need to want to play for Fiji, Solomone Kata need to stay on as Tongan only etc. To really challenge, the second tier nations need to be able to build their sides around guys good enough to play for the big nations, not just be left picking up the scraps and selecting new teams from scratch every tournament.

Not that he really deserved to be there on form this year, but a small part of me still held out some irrational hope that Benji Marshall would win a recall…

Haha…and do what?!

Should be a good game, but it’s a shame that injuries seem to have hit both teams. At their best I think both clubs can put out world class teams, and I was look forward to seeing young stars like Ben Currie and Dom Manfredi on such a big stage. With O’Loughlin and the Tomkins brothers also missing for Wigan, their team has taken a big hit. I guess it speaks volumes for their depth (and character) that they’ve still been able to make the Grand Final, but I do wonder if it is also a bit of a reflection on the overall Super League standard these days. Still, enough negative talk! Wigan’s conveyor belt of quality young talent still seems to be rolling along nicely, so that’s a huge plus for the English game. Unfortunately for them, I think it would also be a positive for Super League if Warrington beat them this weekend and put a new name on the trophy.

Where does Andy Farrell stack up in the minds of the Brits? As I recall, he was one of England’s very few genuinely world class players in the late 90s; absolutely carried Wigan and GB at times (arguably took on too much playmaking, which detracted from his running game). Also switched to prop later in his career and won a Golden Boot from the position. Not bad…

In 94-95 Mullins was untouchable. I’ve seen a few old games on Foxtel from those times and with that era’s staggered kick-chase lines, he was brilliant to watch returning kicks. I mainly remember Jason Williams knocking on and missing tackles, but I am probably thinking of later in his career…

I was pretty keen to squeeze Mullins into my team as well…Matty Bowen too. Just can’t go past Darren Lockyer though.

Jason Williams is a name long forgotten!

I’ve been watching league since 1994, so my team is limited to the last 22 years…This isn’t necessarily based on career achievement or statistics, but it’s the best players I’ve seen.

1. Darren Lockyer
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Greg Inglis
4. Mark Gasnier
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowell
6. Brad Fittler
7. Johnathon Thurston
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith
10. Sam Burgess
11. Gorden Tallis
12. Ben Kennedy
13. Bradley Clyde

14. Andrew Johns
15. Stuart Fielden
16. Jason Smith
17. Sonny Bill Williams

It’s a bit sad to leave out internationals like Stacey Jones, Nigel Vagana, Ruben Wiki, the Paul brothers, Paul Sculthorpe, Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson, Adrian Morley, Kieron Cunningham etc. as well as a host of champion Aussies (Daley, Langer, Ettingshausen, Renouf, Mullins, Walters, Cronk, Bowen, Webcke, Hayne and so on)