It is to be expected that Wayne Bennett would recieve this negative attention after the selections were made. Any coach who is in the dual role of coaching a club and representive team is going to come under close scrutiny when players from his club side are selected, and as coaches prefer to include players who fit their game plans, that negative attention may be valid to an extent. It also brings up the debate about having a neutral coach.
The team I would've prefered, whilst trying to allow new blood into the side as well as trying not to disrupt it, would be:
1. Minichiello
2. Rooney
3. King
4. Tate
5. Sing
6. Lockyer
7. Kimmorley
8. L. Bailey
9. Priddis
10. Price
11. Hindmarsh
12. Fitzgibbon
13. S. Hill
14. Wing
15. O'Meley
16. Ryan
17. Civoniceva
Despite Berrigan's decent-good form, I think he would miss out due to King's excellent attacking form in particular. Willie Tonga would obvioulsy fall into the same category.
In the forwards, Ryles and Carroll have also been 'decent-good' but I think Australia would've benefited more from a good ball-playing lock, and I think moving Scott Hill from 5/8 to lock would be the perfect way to fit him into the team.
But of course, this would all be in a perfect world.
The way Australian teams are selected has been the same for years and the arguments here are predictable every time they are selected. Adding that to the fact that Australia has massive amounts of depth, no one will ever be happy - and that's the main point.
Why anyone would be suprised with the team, given the way teams have been picked for many years past, is a mystery. It'll continue with the next coach that takes the job, and the next coach, and the next coach, and so on.
Having said that, all of those 17 players certainly wouldn't be out of place in an Australian team, and i'm confident they'll do the job. Best of luck to them.
And congratulations to Luke Priddis in particular on getting the call up - much deserved.
Cheers.
:lol:
