AUS v NZ @ Mt Smart Stadium // Saturday 13 October - 5:45PM (AEDT) 7:45PM (NZDT)

[Matua]

Can't read too much into this. Australia's worst performance for a very long time, and in the last few years they haven't been as dominant as they are at their best like in 2013, and we still only lost by 2. Can absolutely see both these teams losing to Tonga if Tonga play like they did last year.

Hopefully it revitalises NZRL.

Not sure if Tonga would have opened the Kiwis up wide which is where Oz did, and they'd struggle to get over a pack with Bromwich back, Taupau and JWH firing. That Kiwis team last year is not comparable to this lot. This lot have a coach.

 

[stryker]

You can read a lot into this. In the past this is the sort of match that Australia would have went on and thrashed NZ. Things will be a little different going forward without the usual big names.

Not to say Australia won’t still dominate but it’s certainly a changing of the guard.

Yeah its going to take time. Guys like Cordner and Woods dont have the Queenslanders to carry them. They have to forge their own way. Hunt playing for Australia is insulting. Cook, Lattrell Turbo are very green. I said at the start of the week i thought this was one of the weakest Kangaroo squads id seen in a long time and they played accordingly. Theyll improve with more exposure.

 

[Springs09]

You can read a lot into this. In the past this is the sort of match that Australia would have went on and thrashed NZ. Things will be a little different going forward without the usual big names.

Not to say Australia won’t still dominate but it’s certainly a changing of the guard.

I'm more talking about NZ. Yeah they won, but it's the worst Australia have played for a very long time, with their captain and better halves out and still only by 2 points. Their defence was still poor especially in the last 5 minutes. And you're right, on that NZ performance the better Australian teams would have won easy.

I can't say the outlook of the England/NZ series changes much after this. But it will be very interesting with both teams including several new players.

 

[Last Week]

Is this the end of the kangaroo dominance? With the end of the golden age of the storm 4 and Thurston has Australia been brought back to the pack?

Yeah, said shit like this after Lockyer, Johns, Fittler Daley, Stuart, Lewis, Kenny, Sterlo etc etc. We'll be fine.

No Maloney, Munster, Keary or Morgan. I'm not stressed.

 

[Springs09]

Yeah, said shit like this after Lockyer, Johns, Fittler Daley, Stuart, Lewis, Kenny, Sterlo etc etc. We'll be fine.

No Maloney, Munster, Keary or Morgan. I'm not stressed.

After 2014-15 it was supposed to the era of Kiwi dominance after their no. 1 ranking, next thing Australia wins 14 straight.

We also had no Ponga who if he continues on his path will be the dominant force in the Australian team.

There should be a few years though before Ponga, Mitchell, Munster etc come into their prime and the next World Cup should be anyones for the taking.

 

[Last Week]

Might not be supported, but Mitchell Pearce was having a good year up until injury.

 

[TheFrog]

You calling woods a nuffie?

Woods is sub-nuffie.

 

[jim_57]

Kiwis we look forward to a rematch when we pick up a quality half and lock and some experience.

Kiwis hardly had their best 17 on paper either. First choice Fullback/Captain/Dally M Winner missing, first choice hooker missing, Harris & NAS also missing from the forwards. Only a year on from "losing" the best forward in the game and one of the best wingers in the NRL this year.

I think these 2 teams will be fairly closely matched for the next generation.

 

[baggygreen man]

Yeah, said shit like this after Lockyer, Johns, Fittler Daley, Stuart, Lewis, Kenny, Sterlo etc etc. We'll be fine.

No Maloney, Munster, Keary or Morgan. I'm not stressed.

Keary is the only one among that list I would call a quality organiser. Needs to beef up a bit tho..plus practice his tackling technique.

 

[baggygreen man]

We saw a handful of outstanding youngsters today in the Junior Kangaroo ranks. Coupla more in the Broncos squad. So imho Aussie rugby league is in good hands.

Help me out here. I saw a good young prospect in last years Aussie Schoolboys.. I think it was. He is a stocky, snowy haired kid.. with a terrific skillset. Forgotten his name for moment. I do recall he had an unusual Christian name. Really impressed me the way he took complete control of the game.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Congrats to the KIWIS the way the NRL/ARL treats international, the roos should loose every time.

 

[baggygreen man]

Will there be changes for the Tonga match?

 

[jim_57]

We saw a handful of outstanding youngsters today in the Junior Kangaroo ranks. Coupla more in the Broncos squad. So imho Aussie rugby league is in good hands.

Help me out here. I saw a good young prospect in last years Aussie Schoolboys.. I think it was. He is a stocky, snowy haired kid.. with a terrific skillset. Forgotten his name for moment. Really impressed me the way he took complete control of the game.

Aiden Tolman

 

[baggygreen man]

Congrats to the KIWIS the way the NRL/ARL treats international, the roos should loose every time.

????????

 

[baggygreen man]

Aiden Tolman

You really are hilarious.

 

[baggygreen man]

I do recall he had an unusual Christian name.

 

[baggygreen man]

I found this kid. What a talent. Name of Tanah Boyd.. played 5/8 for the Aussie Under 18 Schools side in January.

 

[Irish-bulldog]

Smith and manu are genuine stars and future kiwi greats. International games have a bright future, I feel Australia is coming back to the pack.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Well done to the kiwis. Just seen the highlights and we(England) will have our work cut out to beat them. Manu is a freak, really impressed with Liu and Smith could be anything he wants to be. Just a shame that Cameron smith is staying on for another year as this kid needs to be staying #9 for the storm every game.

 

[johnny plath]

No change to the result but the Manu knock on/not knock on ... DWZ was clearly offside from the kick in the next passage of play, so if the idiots in the bunker managed to stumble past the Manu incident, next play would have been Auz penalty.