Carney In

[Mulch]

They share more in common than a surname, with Canberra veteran Jason Smith and Parramatta rookie Tim Smith set to play key roles in Sunday’s crucial clash between the Raiders and Eels at Canberra Stadium.
​

Despite their 13-year age gap, Jason Smith, 33, and Tim Smith, 20, have both been sensations for their respective teams in 2005.

Having agreed to a new one-year deal with the Raiders this week, Jason Smith will play his first game against the Eels since leaving Parramatta for England at the end of the 2000 season.

Raiders coach Matt Elliott anticipated spectators would be looking forward to the halves battle between Jason and Tim Smith.

“There’s obviously some similarities, but I think they both play very different styles. Tim Smith likes the long ball, whereas Jason tends to like the short ball and slows the game down around him,” Elliott said.

“I’d like to think our kicking game this weekend can be as good as Tim Smith’s has been over the last few weeks. His kicking and passing games have been outstanding and he’s given them a lot of additional direction this season.”

Not only will Jason Smith have a rookie sensation opposite him on Sunday, he’ll have a teenager beside him in the Raiders halves.

Junior Kangaroos representative Todd Carney, 19, will start at halfback as the Raiders cover the suspension of skipper Simon Woolford. Regular halfback Lincoln Withers will shift to hooker.

Carney is one of four additions to the Raiders team, with Phil Graham (ribs), Craig Frawley (ankle) and Alan Tongue (thumb) all set to return from injury.

Carney, who has played seven NRL games, last met Tim Smith in the 2004 Premier League finals.

“Tim’s playing pretty good football at the moment,” Carney said. “My big focus is on helping to get the team around the park and getting my kicking game right. I’ve spoken to Matty Elliott and he wants me coming into the side full of confidence and talk.”

Elliott said Carney, an exciting prospect, had worked hard for an NRL recall.

“Physically, Todd’s in the best condition since he’s been here. He’s worked really hard, he’s done a lot of extra work over the last 6-8 weeks, so we’re really looking for him to step up now - it’s time.”

Elliott has not forgotten the other man in the halves battle this weekend. “John Morris has tended to be overlooked in all this, but I think his form this season has warranted a lot more attention,” Elliott said.

RAIDERS v EELS
Sunday, July 17, 3pm
Canberra Stadium

1. CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE
2. PHIL GRAHAM
3. DAVID HOWELL
4. ADAM MOGG
5. CRAIG FRAWLEY
6. JASON SMITH
7. TODD CARNEY
8. JOSH MILLER
9. LINCOLN WITHERS
10. TROY THOMPSON
11. TYRAN SMITH
12. IAN HINDMARSH
13. JASON CROKER

INTERCHANGE
14. ALAN TONGUE
15. BEN CROSS
16. MICHAEL HODGSON
17. MATT GAFA
18. MICHAEL ROBERTSON

 

[TiTTieS_[CNTDN]]

I'm happy with that line up, especially now that Graham is back

Surprised, though, that Tongue is not hooker - thought Elliot would do that like a lot of you have been suggesting

 

[ausraider]

As usual get one junior in and drop another for no reason.Thanks for coming Elliott.I still believe Frawley needs to prove his worth in PL.He is injury prone and a game as important as this I'd rather go with Milne.He's done nothing wrong in the top flight since making his debut.Elliott's special this one.Until Elliott is at the helm we will never be able to blood these supposedly good players we have.

 

[Boing Boing]

Ausraider and the rest of you negos:

Why is it that you think our entire FG squad should be made of up and comer PL players? It's getting a little old that whopping 90% of you form this opinion and probably don't ever see a PL game at all, but somhow think you're still qualified to have an opinion on the subject.

 

[Mulch]

Why does Matt Elliott keep picking Mogg and Especially Howell. What have they done that Ale hasn't? Why is Tyran Smith in there?

 

[Raider_69]

Ausraider and the rest of you negos:

Why is it that you think our entire FG squad should be made of up and comer PL players? It's getting a little old that whopping 90% of you form this opinion and probably don't ever see a PL game at all, but somhow think you're still qualified to have an opinion on the subject.

mean while the poso's walk around with their eyes glued shut and their nose firmly entrenched in Elliots rear ;-)

 

[Boing Boing]

What gives you that Idea 69? If you sat back and looked at all the Elliott bashing threads, no nego is ever happy unless pretty much every PL player is in firsts. It gets really old and is especially common in the GH. This is by no means a shot at you, 69, I have a lot of time for you, but step back and have a look. I know you don't go to any PL games and neither does anyone else here except Bay56 or Greeneyed, yet everyone has an opinion on the subject.

 

[aussies1st]

I guess that team is a start. The backline isnt too bad, and since frawley was picked no way gafa wont be in the 17. Surely we have better players than Tyran Smith

 

[ausraider]

Ausraider and the rest of you negos:

Why is it that you think our entire FG squad should be made of up and comer PL players? It's getting a little old that whopping 90% of you form this opinion and probably don't ever see a PL game at all, but somhow think you're still qualified to have an opinion on the subject.

Thats f**king right ,it's only a f**king opinion benmeyer whatever f**k you call yourself.

 

[Boing Boing]

Thats f**king right ,it's only a f**king opinion benmeyer whatever f**k you call yourself.

You sound like Eric Cartman mate, calm down. Does my opinion not count because it highlights the fact that yous is ill-informed? No, mine counts regardless of what you think or how much you swear.

 

[ausraider]

Tell me when was the last time Frawley played to be rushed back straight in the starting lineup.What has Milne done wrong to deserve a drop.I hope you watching the same games as I do benmeyer

 

[Raider_69]

No i dont get to many PL games, but i talk to alot of people who do, and i also watch every Raiders game at least twice... what i do know based on others opinions and stats is that Ale is carving PL up, Milne has been very impressive. I also know that Howell is ultra ordinary and Mogg is terrible reader in defence, Robbo is pedestrian, try as he might, he doesnt have the ability to make the grade.

I also know that we wont win a premiership with blokes like Howell, Gafa, Robbo etc in the team, i also know this season is basically a write off, even if we make the semis we will go out first round... i also know blokes like Milne, Chalk, Ale are the future of this club.

I dont want the entire team filled with Rookies, but i dont want the team filled with nuffies, which at present is what is happening. Tyran, Cross, Howell, Gafa, Robbo... the list goes on... Why are they there? not on performaces. But because they are experienced in FG... well how are the young guys gonna get experience when as soon as they put a foot wrong they are dumped to PL

Milne - played average, not great: PUNTED
Ale - made one poor read in defence : GOOOOOOOOORN
Carney - started once, in a team that everyone played sh*t in: GOOOOORN never seen again untill this week
Raston - playing well by all accounts, on the verge of debut, and now all of a sudden Crossy, Williams (whom are both terrible at present) are ahead of him?

Howell - been pedestrian all year: retains spot
Gafa - been nothing short of terrible all year: retains spot
Tyran - been too Hot and cold: gets call up
Cross - Been ultra ordinary: gets call up
Robbo - trys hard but isnt up to scratch: gets call up

Ive stepped back, looked at that and even the admiment of poso must conceed, something is a miss there

 

[aussies1st]

Tell me when was the last time Frawley played to be rushed back straight in the starting lineup.What has Milne done wrong to deserve a drop.I hope you watching the same games as I do benmeyer

Frawley should have played in PL first, Milne has been fine in first grade

 

[raidersfan]

that won't be the run on side

 

[ausraider]

Where are you benmeyer.Tell me how my opinion of Milne in place of Frawls is a bad one.I haven't even questioned about Tired and Cross and Gaffa.Poor bloke Milne gets shafted just because Frawls toe nails are not hurting anymore.Load of crap mate.Read understand and put your 5 bobs opinion.Thanks.lol

 

[ausraider]

that won't be the run on side

Lets hope so.

 

[Boing Boing]

No i dont get to many PL games, but i talk to alot of people who do, and i also watch every Raiders game at least twice... what i do know based on others opinions and stats is that Ale is carving PL up, Milne has been very impressive. I also know that Howell is ultra ordinary and Mogg is terrible reader in defence, Robbo is pedestrian, try as he might, he doesnt have the ability to make the grade.

I also know that we wont win a premiership with blokes like Howell, Gafa, Robbo etc in the team, i also know this season is basically a write off, even if we make the semis we will go out first round... i also know blokes like Milne, Chalk, Ale are the future of this club.

I dont want the entire team filled with Rookies, but i dont want the team filled with nuffies, which at present is what is happening. Tyran, Cross, Howell, Gafa, Robbo... the list goes on... Why are they there? not on performaces. But because they are experienced in FG... well how are the young guys gonna get experience when as soon as they put a foot wrong they are dumped to PL

Milne - played average, not great: PUNTED
Ale - made one poor read in defence : GOOOOOOOOORN
Carney - started once, in a team that everyone played sh*t in: GOOOOORN never seen again untill this week
Raston - playing well by all accounts, on the verge of debut, and now all of a sudden Crossy, Williams (whom are both terrible at present) are ahead of him?

Howell - been pedestrian all year: retains spot
Gafa - been nothing short of terrible all year: retains spot
Tyran - been too Hot and cold: gets call up
Cross - Been ultra ordinary: gets call up
Robbo - trys hard but isnt up to scratch: gets call up

Ive stepped back, looked at that and even the admiment of poso must conceed, something is a miss there

I see what you are saying in all your points. What I'm getting at though, is why should a player such as Ale, for instance, be retained purely on one game.

Did it occur to you that perhaps Elliott is blooding all these players one by one so we don't run out with a "baby Raiders" team?

Regardless of what anyone thinks with regards to our season being over. Elliotts job is not to simply give up and start blooding players for next year, it is to finish as high on the table as possible.

 

[Raider_69]

Interesting, but using the same player, why should Ale be dropped for one minor mistake? He is young, he is inexperienced, he is gonna make mistakes, more than likely more than one... its how learning is best acheived IMO. Further more why should he be dropped for a bloke, lets say for arguements sake Howell, who does the same thing but doesnt have nearly as much improvement and potential in him as Ale? It defies logic IMO

Not quite ben, Elliots job is to do his best for the club, his best to ensure as good a results as possible and maybe... just maybe a premiership one day. Im argueing that perhaps whats best is to accept this season as a write off and use it as a stepping stone to next season.
I guess its all down to opinion

 

[Boing Boing]

You're right, it is all down to opinion. We have different views and that's alright. It's refreshing to have a civilised discussion with someone about this without being sworn at and having threats levvelled against me!!!

 

[Raider_69]

You're right, it is all down to opinion. We have different views and that's alright. It's refreshing to have a civilised discussion with someone about this without being sworn at and having threats levvelled against me!!!

ahahah amen to that ;-)
but if you like i could throw some abuse and threats at you... thou having seen me in all my 5'4 and 60 kg greatness i cant see it having the desired affect on ya :lol: