ANZAC Test

[Meth]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11631765

Matulino, Vatuvei and Thompson will not be considered

 

[JJ]

Fair enough - strong and consistent message is required

 

[Mixmasterreece]

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11631851
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has named his side to take on the Kangaroos in next Friday's Anzac test.

Only one Warriors player - Shaun Johnson - features in the side, while Penrith Panthers star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been named after previously missing out on opportunities to play for New Zealand due to by injury (2014 Four Nations) and suspension (2015 Anzac Test).

Jesse Bromwich will captain the side for the first time.

Kiwis squad:

• Adam Blair (Brisbane Broncos) • Jesse Bromwich - captain (Melbourne Storm) • Lewis Brown (Manly Sea Eagles) • Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs) • Alex Glenn (Brisbane Broncos) • Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm) • Peta Hiku (Penrith Panthers) • Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors) • Jordan Kahu (Brisbane Broncos) • Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters) • Manu Ma'u (Parramatta Eels) • Sam Moa (Sydney Roosters) • Jason Nightingale (St George Dragons) • Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos) • Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm) • Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys) • Martin Taupau (Manly Sea Eagles) • Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers) • Danny Levi (19th man) (Newcastle Knights)

 

[ozbash]

Good team.. surprised Benji missed out.

 

[Burns]

Reckon they can win the Test? If anything I like that it's a squad that can build towards 4 Nations/WC.

 

[lafai]

Good team.. so is it

1. Hiku
6. Nikorima
9. Brown?

 

[Penrose_11]

Luke not named. Whose playing hooker then? Lewis Brown or Nikorima. Harris at 6 maybe???

 

[Penrose_11]

Both Gallen and McQuire should be out of test suspended if judiciary is honest. Can't see it happening though.

 

[Meth]

Can't believe Luke not named.

 

[Meth]

This isn't a good team at all. Better than it was shaping up to be, maybe...but that spine is trash

 

[jamaman]

Plenty of Muscle,,not worried about Luke his own admission discounted him..

 

[JJ]

I'd have picked Luke, we'll win with a power game (if we win) and he's exactly the right hooker for that sort of pack

 

[jamaman]

Good team.. so is it

1. Hiku
6. Nikorima
9. Brown?

not sure Brown to start, but mix with ...

 

[Mighty Ape Man]

Just guessing but:

Fullback: DWZ
Wings: Nightingale / Kahu
Centres: SKD / Brown
5/8: Hiku
Half: Johnson
Front Row: Bromwich / Blair
Hooker: Nikorima
Second Row: Proctor / Taupau
Lock: Harris

Bench: Eastwood, Taumalolo, Moa, Glenn

18th/19th - Ma'u, Levi

Although I am hoping Ma'u will get a bench spot in place of Glenn or Eastwood I think Kearney will want Test experience on the bench

OR maybe this:

Fullback - Hiku
Wings - Nightingale / DWZ
Centres - SKD / Kahu
5/8 - Nikorima
Half - Johnson
Front Row - Bromwich / Blair
Hooker - Brown
Second Row - Proctor / Taupau
Lock - Harris

Bench: same as above

 

[Penrose_11]

I'm thinking
1. Hiku
2. DWZ
3. Kahu
4. SKD
5. Knightngale
6. Harris
7. Johnson
8. Bromwich
9. Nikorima
10. Blair
11. Proctor
12. Glenn
13. Taumalolo

Brown, Moa, Eastwood, Taupau

Ma'u and Levi to miss out

 

[jaseg]

I'm thinking
1. Hiku
2. DWZ
3. Kahu
4. SKD
5. Knightngale
6. Harris
7. Johnson
8. Bromwich
9. Nikorima
10. Blair
11. Proctor
12. Glenn
13. Taumalolo

Brown, Moa, Eastwood, Taupau

Ma'u and Levi to miss out

This would be my guess, though Brown & Nikorima might swap, and I'd guess Ma'u is a chance of pushing either Moa or Eastwood off the bench.

The absences of Luke (primarily) and also Rapana (but who do you drop? DWZ probably.. also a newbie and not quite as good form) aside, it's about as good a team as I expected.

Interesting that Havili got no love, given he's been selected before and done well, and I thought the Dragons looked a better team when he was out there instead of Rein. Too many unavailabilities (RTS, Lolohea, Foran) still hurt, but I would have liked a spine with Levi/Havili as a hooker and Nikorima used in the halves. I guess we can afford to use Harris this way though despite the loss of Mannering, given we have Glenn & Ma'u pushing hard.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Some kind of record for only 1 Warrior in the squad , since the 95 inception.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

glenn picked up an injury today.

 

[ozbash]

This isn't a good team at all. Better than it was shaping up to be, maybe...but that spine is trash

It's a good team, Nikorima is a good hooker and Brown will cover well.
The forwards are monsters, very quick monsters.

 

[JJ]

The forwards are monsters, very quick monsters.

Yep - we win there... if they get parity I think they beat us comfortably... although Dugan at centre is a weird one