How do the Kiwis get rid of Leuluai

[playdaball]

It is now eveident that Thomas Leuluai is a shocker of a player and hopefully will take no further part in the RLWC. RL greats such as Warren Ryan and Laurie Daley have also highlighted this as well as a number of NZ media personalities including Dean Lonergan and Hugh McGahan. It seems that he has two supporters in Coaches Kearney and Bennett.

Here are a few options:

6. MARSHALL
7. FIEN
9. LUKE
14. HOHIAHA -Perrot to FB and Nightingale on wing OR Inu to FB Mannering to Centre with Harrison coming to the pack

Or

6. ROPATI
7. MARSHALL
9. FIEN
14. LUKE

Or


6. MARSHALL
7. FIEN
9. LUKE
14. HALATAU

Or

6. MARSHALL
7. HOHIAHA
9. FIEN
14. LUKE

There are a number of alternatives. The Kiwis cannot afford to carry Leulaui again - he just passes the ball on. He did not kick last night, run or set up play. NZ improved when he left the field and Luke provided spark together with Harrison (good game) and Eastwood.

 

[Phillips]

introduce his kneecaps to an iron bar

 

[ozbash]

It is now eveident that Thomas Leuluai is a shocker of a player

wrong, kearney thinks he can turn him into our next motu tony by switching him around.

He did not kick last night, run or set up play.

gameplan.

leave thomas at 7.

 

[playdaball]

wrong, kearney thinks he can turn him into our next motu tony by switching him around.



gameplan.

leave thomas at 7.

I assume you are taking the p*ss

 

[Iafeta]

1 Hohaia
6 Marshall
7 Fien
9 Luke

Potentially look at someone like either Nightingale or Perrett on the bench so when Luke needs a spell you put Hohaia into dummy half or halfback with Fien into dummy half. If only Tevita Latu hadn't lost his lollies at the Sharks, he could have been dynamite for the Kiwis off the bench at this World Cup. I reckon a Luke/Latu combination behind a pack with at least 50/50 parity would be awesome to watch.

 

[watatank]

1 Hohaia
6 Marshall
7 Fien
9 Luke

Potentially look at someone like either Nightingale or Perrett on the bench so when Luke needs a spell you put Hohaia into dummy half or halfback with Fien into dummy half.

I like this setup. I would have Nightingale off the bench to play fullback and then Hohaia to hooker as Hohaia could play a similar role to Luke and Nightingale can play a similar role to Hohaia.

If injuries occur Hohaia replaces them and Nightingale goes to fullback. And what's more, no Leuluai!

 

[kia ora storm]

Has Kearney come out and justified Leuluai's selection ???..I agree with you all that he adds nothing to the team.

 

[Nz]

Bring back stacey

 

[Mr Angry]

My observation is Fein is over rated.

Generally has the right idea , but lacks execution.

Clearly Luke should be starting rake.

Benji to run the backs.

Lance is going well at fullback, but I point out his weakness under the highball.

It is a shame no quality half exists. Also a bit hard to change things around this late.

 

[playdaball]

It must also be said that Marshall's defence is shocking - we all knew that but it got exposed again last night.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

We should of went with Eddie Paea, despite his lack of first grade games this season.

 

[nqboy]

My observation is Fein is over rated.

Generally has the right idea , but lacks execution.

Tries as hard as anyone I've seen but lacks the God-given talent.

 

[KiWi_BoI_15]

1 Hohaia
6 Marshall
7 Fien
9 Luke

Potentially look at someone like either Nightingale or Perrett on the bench so when Luke needs a spell you put Hohaia into dummy half or halfback with Fien into dummy half.

Id go with that.

 

[Mr Angry]

Tries as hard as anyone I've seen but lacks the God-given talent.

No dispute, cannot fault the effort.

 

[Iafeta]

My observation is Fein is over rated.

Generally has the right idea , but lacks execution.

Clearly Luke should be starting rake.

Benji to run the backs.

Lance is going well at fullback, but I point out his weakness under the highball.

It is a shame no quality half exists. Also a bit hard to change things around this late.

I'm not a fan of Fien at all. You're about spot on there, and also he has an infactuation with the mid field bomb and running to the line and throwing telegraphed hospital balls to a 'crash' man which inevitably hits the defensive player who is in the process of belting the bejesus out of the running player.

 

[Skram]

I haven't seen Fien hoist too many midfield bombs for sometime to be honest. I think his major flaw in his kicking game is in fact the vast majority of his kicks go dead. Whether gurbbers or chips he lacks the execution to make them sit up, rarely puts any backspin on the ball.
While he had done it for the Warriors last season it wasn't as prevalent as it has been for the Kiwis. In the first game of this World Cup I initially figured it was due to him being at 9 and transferring his kicking game from further back from the line to a much closer position unsuccessfully but after shifting back he's still doing it so that's not the case.

He's still a better option than Leuluai though.

 

[doogiehowser_md]

Mid field bombs? Im sure thats the only play Leuluai knows. Leuluais a joke, we shouldve went with anyone but him. Hell i would rather have given Liam Foran a shot. Geez Benny Roberts looked the goods yesterday against France, Marshall at 7 and Roberts at 6 wouldve been interesting too see. Although Fein doesnt set the world on fire I think he's our best option to run with at the 7.

Kearney should have spared Leuluai his dignity and sent him to play for Samoa.

 

[cb4]

taumata for 7

 

[Lox]

laurie daly said that he wants ropati at 6, marshall at 7 and luke at 9..

 

[KiWi_BoI_15]

Taumata will be a Kiwi for sure.