ANZAC Test

[Cold Roses]

1.RTS
6.Foran
7.Johnson
8.Bromwich
9.Luke
10.Matulino
11.Mannering
13.Taumalolo

The above players are certainties.


Also when is JWH expected back?

You can add Proctor and Harris to the certainties list. There is no way Kearney leaves those guys out.

Pretty sure JWH is still a month away which puts him out of contention.

Like R & S said, his papers are stamped though. I think it would take a new coach to get him back in the team at the moment. Either that or a horrendous injury toll.

 

[Cold Roses]

1.RTS
6.Foran
7.Johnson

Just a thought. With Johnson playing 6 for The Warriors, and Foran playing 7 for the Eels, does Kearney put them in those jersey numbers for the test, or just keep the status quo?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Just a thought. With Johnson playing 6 for The Warriors, and Foran playing 7 for the Eels, does Kearney put them in those jersey numbers for the test, or just keep the status quo?

SJ has won plenty of Tests at 7 with Foran at 6, so I imagine that'll be the jerseys they wear, and their roles will be very similar as they've been in the past.

 

[Meth]

Just a thought. With Johnson playing 6 for The Warriors, and Foran playing 7 for the Eels, does Kearney put them in those jersey numbers for the test, or just keep the status quo?

both

 

[Burns]

So how do you guys think about being favourties? Will there be pressure for NZ to make it 4 in a row against Australia? What do you guys want to see happen?

 

[Meth]

So how do you guys think about being favourties? Will there be pressure for NZ to make it 4 in a row against Australia? What do you guys want to see happen?

I think the superfluous Great Britain tour last year knocked us back a bit. It showed (to me anyway) that we still need to field a top team and turn up to win. I suppose that flies in the face of my 'use the Anzac Test to blood new blokes' approach, which was a byproduct of an era where I was resigned to losing the fixture.

 

[jaseg]

I think the superfluous Great Britain tour last year knocked us back a bit. It showed (to me anyway) that we still need to field a top team and turn up to win. I suppose that flies in the face of my 'use the Anzac Test to blood new blokes' approach, which was a byproduct of an era where I was resigned to losing the fixture.

I remember having thoughts along a similar (but more extreme) line back before the Origin eligibility rules were fixed and we had lost some players really close together (Papalii, Tamou and I can't remember if there was any other? Kasiano, Taumalolo etc were also being chased heavily by QLD). Was saying something along the lines of 'if they want to take the piss with eligibility, then lets just use the mid year test to do it right back - for that game select every uncapped player you can fit that has even the smallest link to NZ and take them off the table'. Obviously this was over the top, but it was getting very annoying..

Now the door is closed to that sort of carry on (you must reside in either QLD or NSW before your 13th birthday to be eligible for either, unless your father played Origin - I'd say if you fulfill that then you have a fair enough claim), there's not really any point.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Is Tim Simona and Peta Hiku the only left centres to pick from? If so, that could be the only weak spot in the side.

Vatuvei and Rona are the left wing options. Nightingale, SKD, DWZ, Kahu and Lolohea right wing. Whare and SKD right centre.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

please no hiku

 

[taste2taste]

The forwards look strong but the backs might be a bit weak.

Maybe Alex Glenn in the centres ( mainly for his defence)

Any Panthers fans here? how have Whare and DWZ been playing ?

also, is Sam Kasiano a kiwi this world cup year ? i think he played for Samoa last year?

 

[Fufu Andronez]

is this game 8 interchanges?

 

[Panther_Daz]

Any Panthers fans here? how have Whare and DWZ been playing ?

DWZ is having an awesome season. Whare has been out with a calf injury.

 

[ozbash]

Russell Packer

Jordan Rapana

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

i dont think Packer will get a sniff
we are very very strong in the front row
matulino
bromwich
Blair
mckendry
are all ahead of him in my opinion

Moa is playing awful

 

[Glen from the Mount]

1. RTS
2. Kahu
3. SKD
4. Whare
5. Rona
6. Johnson
7. Foran
8. Bromwich
9. Luke
10. Matulino
11. Mannering
12. Proctor
13. Taumalolo

14. Nikorima
15. Harris
16. Blair
17. Taupau

I agree. What an awesome looking team. Going for 4 in a row with all the pressure on the Aussies.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

I agree. What an awesome looking team. Going for 4 in a row with all the pressure on the Aussies.

No RTS.
Lolo will slip into fullback I guess.

 

[ozbash]

No RTS.
Lolo will slip into fullback I guess.

or Nightengale/Perret ?

 

[JJ]

or Nightengale/Perret ?

I'd go with one of them, RTS didn't provide a lot of ball playing - with Foran and Johnson probably don't need it, and both are safe as the proverbial for a one-off game

 

[jaseg]

Based off past selections I'm guessing Peta Hiku is in the prime spot. If they simply want a ball runner they won't select Perrett over Hoffman either, surely.

I'd guess Hiku, but maybe Nightingale & DWZ are both picked and one plays fullback. If it were me picking, I'd go Lolohea - provided he doesn't have a shocker on Anzac day (assuming the team is picked after that). I doubt he will (Lolohea having a shocker I mean).

 

[lafai]

1. Nightingale
2. DWZ
3. SKD
4. Hiku
5. Kahu

Or

1. Hiku
2. DWZ
3. SKD
4. Kahu
5. Nightingale