Kanagroos starting 17

[Iamback]

Cleary, Yeo and Munster

Correct

 

[Iamback]

Who are the 3/5 world's best players in that team?

If Aus run out with Carrigan, Crichton and Murray in their starting forward pack against us they're in big trouble.

Carrigan is a beast, He got the QLD origin player of the year.

The issue is the spine, As good as Dylan Brown is in defence he can go missing in attack.

Brandon Smith can go MIA in attack and doesn't have a kicking game, Nor does Manu.

If Australia go in with great line speed and pressure Hughes what is plan B?

That is where Ben Hunt becomes a great selection over better hookers like Api, Throw in Latrell in the centres.

So the pack being weak can be overcome by playing up tempo and the elite spine

 

[Iamback]

Carrigan has been absolutely phenomenal this year and has shown he is well and truly ready for rep footy.

Heavily debatable.

Who is a better 6 than Munster?
7 then Cleary?
13 then Yeo? Murray possibly but he too is in the squad

 

[Iamback]

If they went with @Iamback's team it isn't a bad forward pack to be honest.

Pat Carrigan who was great in Origin, Tino who is a very good prop, Murray, Crichton and Yeo have all been very good this year also.

I'd agree that the bench is a bit weak though, I think I'd have put Matt Lodge in there, he definitely deserves it.

There are options though.

If you just want to hold them out early then Start Jake Turbo. Tino off the bench over say Cotter will have impact. Most Panther fans think Martin is a better prop, Runs and hits hard which works if you are trying to stem the flow for the backs to take over

 

[Billythekid]

Who is a better 6 than Munster?
7 then Cleary?
13 then Yeo? Murray possibly but he too is in the squad

There’s 13 positions on the field. Being the best player in your position doesn’t mean you’re in the top 5 players in the world. That’s not even accounting for the fact that technically the best 5 players can all be in 1 position.

Im not saying they’re bad but I’m sure you could ask every poster on this forum and get a different answer of who is the top 5 players.

 

[Stinkfinger]

Martin very lucky to be in the squad.

Huge games in Grand Finals immediately before selection day never hurt.

 

[Iamback]

There’s 13 positions on the field. Being the best player in your position doesn’t mean you’re in the top 5 players in the world. That’s not even accounting for the fact that technically the best 5 players can all be in 1 position.

Im not saying they’re bad but I’m sure you could ask every poster on this forum and get a different answer of who is the top 5 players.

No but they are key positions and when doing match ups and a comparison of the sides, For this argument NZ

Australia has the best 1, 6, 7 and 13. That is a very good base in big games

 

[lockyno1]

No but they are key positions and when doing match ups and a comparison of the sides, For this argument NZ

Australia has the best 1, 6, 7 and 13. That is a very good base in big games

Agreed and in general the spine is what wins games, in general. Australia's pack is fine, fraction undersized but with the new rules that's a good thing anyway.

 

[Iamback]

Agreed and in general the spine is what wins games, in general. Australia's pack is fine, fraction undersized but with the new rules that's a good thing anyway.

Undersized but can defend well and with the extra line speed can pressure the NZ kickers and make up for the smaller pack

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Carrigan is a beast, He got the QLD origin player of the year.

The issue is the spine, As good as Dylan Brown is in defence he can go missing in attack.

Brandon Smith can go MIA in attack and doesn't have a kicking game, Nor does Manu.

If Australia go in with great line speed and pressure Hughes what is plan B?

That is where Ben Hunt becomes a great selection over better hookers like Api, Throw in Latrell in the centres.

So the pack being weak can be overcome by playing up tempo and the elite spine

You know we have the vast majority of the premiership winning props for the last 5 years? Plus we have Tapine who's better than all of them as well.

Tapine is playing lock which makes him the best 13 at the tournament, not Yeo who's definitely NOT a top 5 player in the game. Cleary is, Munster maybe. That's debatable.

 

[Iamback]

You know we have the vast majority of the premiership winning props for the last 5 years? Plus we have Tapine who's better than all of them as well.

Tapine is playing lock which makes him the best 13 at the tournament, not Yeo who's definitely NOT a top 5 player in the game. Cleary is, Munster maybe. That's debatable.

Nikora and an aging Bromwich on the edge?
With Rapana and Kris up against Latrell and Addo-Carr?

Should be a great game but both squads have holes in them and who can take advantage of the others wins

 

[Mr Angry]

Tedesco.
Carr.
Wighton.
Mitchell.
Holmes.
Munster.
Cleary.
Gillard.
Hunt.
Tino.
Murray.
Nania.
Yeo.

Grant.
Cotter.
Collins.
Carrigan.

 

[Billythekid]

You know we have the vast majority of the premiership winning props for the last 5 years? Plus we have Tapine who's better than all of them as well.

Tapine is playing lock which makes him the best 13 at the tournament, not Yeo who's definitely NOT a top 5 player in the game. Cleary is, Munster maybe. That's debatable.

I’m not willing to die on this hill but I still don’t see Cleary as a top 5 player. The panthers outside backs and forwards dominate damn well near every game creating a platform any quality half would look like a star in.

Im not saying he’s not a very good half but IMO he gets a lot of credit that should be going to the rest of the team.

 

[mozza91]

I don’t think any of Penrith’s players are Top 5. Which is testament to what a great team they are.

Munster is definitely a Top 5 player as is Tedesco.

 

[League Unlimited News]

Panthers played not named

 

[WestCoastEel!]

Reading the team list with those numbers is such an eye -sore, horrible!

 

[Smug Panther]

You know we have the vast majority of the premiership winning props for the last 5 years? Plus we have Tapine who's better than all of them as well.

Tapine is playing lock which makes him the best 13 at the tournament, not Yeo who's definitely NOT a top 5 player in the game. Cleary is, Munster maybe. That's debatable.

Haha Yeo is easily top 5 honey

 

[skeepe]

What the f**k is up with the numbers? Wighton playing prop? DCE on the wing? What the f**k is going on? The selectors are off their heads.

 

[Gobsmacked]

This is really dumb and arrogant from Australia. They should be fielding thier best team , building vital combinations and using every game to find their best 17 if they are to win this comp.
Fiji are a good test and a wasted opportunity imo.

This isn't close to thier 17

Maninga will lose his job with moves like this if they don't win the comp
Very arrogant and stupid.

 

[mozza91]

Based on their Origin performances we’d be better off resting the Panthers players for the Final.