https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/aeb2fb4bb8907fd10ebab3b8eecf13fa
If an Australian Test team was picked today there would not be a single Penrith player in the line-up, not even on the bench.
That includes Nathan Cleary.
Unless your name is Ivan Cleary, or you are a diehard Panthers supporter, there is just no way you could go past Cameron Munster and Luke Keary as the first choice halves pairing.
Except, of course, if you stuck with Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans, who is also the No.7 Test incumbent and Australia vice-captain.
Cleary would come in as the third choice halfback behind Keary and Cherry-Evans for mine.
This article did my head in. I might have to take Api's lead myself, and block out the noise.
This is not intended to be a slight on Cleary or the Panthers’ amazing success this season.
Rather, it is to point out how unbelievable they have been to make it 13 straight wins without the recognised champions of many of their rivals.
But I also worry this could be the Panthers’ Achilles heel when they come up against the big-match experience of the likes of the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne and Canberra especially, when it finally comes down to winner-takes-all football.
A lot of critics are starting to question if the Panthers have another gear in them, and this highlights why it is a legitimate debate: Is the flaw in Penrith’s roster about to be exposed heading into the finals?
Only time will tell if the Panthers are ready to take the next step.
But what can’t be disputed is that they will need to climb to another level in the coming weeks, because their opposition certainly will.
Aside from Cleary, the only other Panthers even in the mix from a NSW perspective would be young gun centre Stephen Crichton, lock Isaah Yeo and backrower Liam Martin.
That’s factoring in James Fisher-Harris is a New Zealander and Viliame Kikau plays for Fiji.
Yet with all due respect, none of them would crack Brad Fittler’s starting line-up with so many options at the Blues’ disposal, aside from Cleary, of course.
The halves debate is particularly interesting.
It wasn’t so long ago many thought the retirement of Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk would leave a massive void.
But right now there are at least five genuine contenders for the five-eighth and halfback spots if you include Jack Wighton, although the Canberra five-eighth will most likely again shift to the centres to make the Blues’ starting side.
And this is leaving out the Rabbitohs’ pairing of Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker, Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses and North Queensland’s Michael Morgan.
Another factor in Keary’s favour is his club combination with James Tedesco and NSW Test and NSW captain Boyd Cordner on the left edge.
I spoke to Mal Meninga about this hypothetical Test debate this week and he pointed out the importance of club combinations.
Mal didn’t want to get into which way he would lean at this stage, simply because there is no Test this year.
In fact, it’s the first year since 1976 the Kangaroos haven’t had a game.
But Mal said he would be selecting an Australian merit team after the Origin series regardless.
And he also conceded next year’s World Cup was a huge factor leading into this year’s Origin series.
In respect to the halves, what couldn’t be ignored is that he showed genuine support for Cherry-Evans.
“I am not going to write him off because of Manly’s form,” Meninga said.
“Obviously Manly hasn’t done so well this year, but Daly has been a shining light.
“I reckon his leadership is improving all the time, and his effort levels are excellent.
“He has had a lot of disruption around him, particularly in the spine.”
As well as playing most of the year without Tommy Turbo and Dylan Walker, Meninga also noted the absence of dummy halves Api Koroisau and Manase Fainu from last season.
Meninga said the emphasis picking any Australian team was always about picking the best, regardless of age.
But with a World Cup next year, the squad he was looking at building to tour the United Kingdom included 24 players.
“So those five players you mentioned will all be in the squad if they keep on performing,” Meninga said.
“In the course of the next 12 months we have to put a plan in place and so this is a pretty relevant question really.
“I don’t think we will get another Test match before the World Cup, so we will be at a disadvantage from a combination perspective, and there is a bit of work to be done.”
What this depth of competition also shows is that the current generation of halves don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve.
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In past generations we always had strong competition for the halves spots and it became a part of the game’s folklore.
Going back to the great battles between champions like Tommy Raudonikis, Steve Mortimer and Peter Sterling, Ricky Stuart, Alfie Langer and Geoff Toovey. Wally Lewis and Brett Kenny, Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and Kevvie Walters … Andrew Johns, Brett Kimmorley, Darren Lockyer, Thurston and Cronk.
“Exactly. And all those got opportunity through success for their states,” Meninga said, again pointing to the importance of this year’s Origin series.
It’s probably a point the players could use to help motivate them further after such a long and tough season isolated away from family in the ‘bubble’.
KANGAROOS MERIT TEAM CONTENDERS
Who make the Kangaroos team in an unaffected season? Paul Crawley shares his verdict, and you can vote in the poll above to have your say.
FULLBACKS
Candidates: James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic, Ryan Papenhuyzen
Crawley’s verdict: Tedesco is the absolute standout but this list shows the competition among the current fullbacks is as strong as any era.
WINGERS Candidates: Josh Addo-Carr, Brett Morris, Nick Cotric, Daniel Tupou, Blake Ferguson, Dane Gagai, David Nofoaluma
Crawley’s verdict: Addo-Carr and Brett Morris get my vote but you could just as easily make a case for Cotric or Gagai on this year’s form.
CENTRES Candidates: Jack Wighton, Tom Trbojevic, Josh Morris, Jarrod Croker, Stephen Crichton, Kotoni Staggs
Crawley’s verdict: Wighton has to be in the team and if Tom Trbojevic is fit he picks himself. But on his form again this year Josh Morris still would not be out of place.
FIVE-EIGHTHS Candidates: Cameron Munster, Luke Keary, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker
Crawley’s verdict: All have had fabulous seasons but Keary’s ability to play seven makes Munster the standout six.
HALFBACKS Candidates: Daly Cherry-Evans, Nathan Cleary, Luke Keary, Mitchell Moses, Adam Reynolds
Crawley’s verdict: This year’s Origin series will determine who gets the merit vote from Mal. But I couldn’t leave out a fit Keary.
PROPS Candidates: Josh Papalii, David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti, Paul Vaughan, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo
Crawley’s verdict: Papalii is first picked and Klemmer probably next, especially given Parramatta’s recent drop in form. The other option would be to play Jake Trbojevic up front.
HOOKERS Candidates: Damien Cook, Api Koroisau, Harry Grant, Cameron Smith
Crawley’s verdict: Cameron Smith would still be dummy half if he made himself available, otherwise Damien Cook’s recent revival secures his spot.
SECOND ROW Candidates: Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell, Wade Graham, Felise Kaufusi, David Fifita, Liam Martin, Ryan Matterson
Crawley’s verdict: Cordner and Frizell have earned loyalty but you couldn’t go wrong with any of these.
LOCKS Candidates: Jake Trbojevic, Cameron Murray, Dale Finucane, Isaah Yeo
Crawley’s verdict: The depth here with Jake, Cam Murray and Dale Finucane again explains why Penrith would struggle to get a player in a 17-man Australian Test squad.
. For starters there is no GK
