Kiwis 4 Nations Squad

[Cold Roses]

Good to see Taumalolo get a shot but that squad is made up of nothing but average versatile players and no genuine X Factor playmakers that can turn a game with pure skill.

yeah but shaun johnson is the only one with genuine "freak-ability"

There's enough talent in that team to beat anyone. The biggest problem is over the last few years. Kearney has chopped and changed and not given a top 17 the chance to build combinations. He's clearly out of his depth.

I understand that with the Kiwis team, availability and injury often come into play, but his selections are often inexcusable. Eastwood, Inu and Hoffman missing out on playoff spots in the World Cup at the expense of FPN Goodwin and Locke is a perfect example.

On a side note, Just as big a factor for mine is leadership. This team hasn't had a true Captain since Cayless retired.

 

[roughyedspud]

oh i agree with u,i think nz have the makings of a team for once....i actually think it'll be a nz v eng final...hence why ive switched from my usual bagging of NZ to hammering the aussies lol

 

[franklin2323]

oh i agree with u,i think nz have the makings of a team for once....i actually think it'll be a nz v eng final...hence why ive switched from my usual bagging of NZ to hammering the aussies lol

:lol::lol: classic. This is Certainly worth a bump later in the series

 

[Cold Roses]

oh i agree with u,i think nz have the makings of a team for once....i actually think it'll be a nz v eng final...hence why ive switched from my usual bagging of NZ to hammering the aussies lol

Ha! I think it would be good for the international game in general to see this. International League isn't going to be treated with the respect it deserves until all 4 of these teams are regularly competing.

 

[roughyedspud]

c'mon guys...the aussies are begging to be ambushed...even thurston is out now....lets effing smash em'

 

[Mixmasterreece]

It's not always about who misses out. Sometimes selections under Kearney and his 'lads' on the selection panel don't always appear to be well thought out.

Hoffman for Feki is a no brainier. I understand the whole 'building for the world cup' but Hoffman is young enough to be there. And at some point isn't it about winning games here and now as well? If Hiku ( who's worth at fullback is still debatable at this stage ) gets injured, Gerard Beale will be our fullback option. In a test match. Gerard Beale.

Lewis Brown. Seriously? Great player, does everything needed of him. But that doesn't make you International standard. Does anyone think he'll be playing in the World Cup squad? Honestly? Why bring in Kenny Bromwich as 18th man earlier in the year just to discard him now. How is that building towards anything. What about Alex Glenn?

Matagi. You're a Warriors supporter as well Mix. I don't need to tell you that his performances have been on par with Rapiras this year. And that means ordinary. Definitely not test match worthy. I would have happily gone with Sue or Liu as a middle forward to give them some experience against Samoa. I understand Kearney trying to build depth, but where's the point in taking this guy away when it's highly likely that this will be his one and only appearances in a Black jersey. Pointless.

Interesting that Glenn & Hoffman who you would imagine would of been walk-ins to the 24 are both absent, yet both play for the team Kearney is assistant coach at?

 

[typicalfan]

Feki is good, he just plays outside horrible players at Cronulla. Good to see what he can do.

 

[MrAnonymous]

Surprised Latimore didn't get a shot been our best forward at Penrith. Don't know why they picked DWZ, no where near ready for this standard of competition yet.

 

[typicalfan]

Latimore is Australian.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Surprised Latimore didn't get a shot been our best forward at Penrith. Don't know why they picked DWZ, no where near ready for this standard of competition yet.

Latimore is as Australian as they come? Played two season for the warriors, but no other connection to Nz.

 

[Cold Roses]

Interesting that Glenn & Hoffman who you would imagine would of been walk-ins to the 24 are both absent, yet both play for the team Kearney is assistant coach at?

Not sure I understand your point? (and just to be clear, that's not meant in a sarcastic /smart ass sort of way)

As I said, it's not always about who is left out. It's more about the scattergun approach that is seemingly applied to bring guys into squads.

If by the above you mean that Kearney has a problem with those guys personally, rather than rating their talent, then I would suggest that it's Kearrney maybe who has the problem. How many guys can you actually leave out for having the wrong attitude. Maybe the problem isn't with the players.

 

[franklin2323]

c'mon guys...the aussies are begging to be ambushed...even thurston is out now....lets effing smash em'

:lol: This will be fun. Heard of Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans.

It will be great for the game if it happens but too many big game players for us to pick

 

[roughyedspud]

yep...neither of them are jonathon thurston or a 6

 

[Son of Minto]

Thats fine, Thurston's not really a 6 either.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Not sure I understand your point? (and just to be clear, that's not meant in a sarcastic /smart ass sort of way)

As I said, it's not always about who is left out. It's more about the scattergun approach that is seemingly applied to bring guys into squads.

If by the above you mean that Kearney has a problem with those guys personally, rather than rating their talent, then I would suggest that it's Kearrney maybe who has the problem. How many guys can you actually leave out for having the wrong attitude. Maybe the problem isn't with the players.

It just an observation. National coaches often favour those players that they coach on a weekly basis. That's not the case with the Brisbane based players & Kearney.

Im just wondering if there's something else at play here i.e. they think he's a tool.

 

[roughyedspud]

Thats fine, Thurston's not really a 6 either.

but if you add cronk & DCE together you still don't get a thurston

 

[Mixmasterreece]

And if you add a Matty Smith and a Gareth Widdop you still don't get a Ben Roberts.

 

[Son of Minto]

but if you add cronk & DCE together you still don't get a thurston

Still better than any English halves combo

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Spud - you blokes should get on the blower to Scotty Dureau and see if there's a Liverpudlian great uncle on the family tree.

 

[roughyedspud]

for once i think you'll find us england fans are happy with our half back combo..

gareth widdop,cracking year at st george,finished 3rd or 4th?? in the dally m ratings

&

matty smith,a very underated 7,sure hes not a thurston,we know hes not and we don't expect him to be... but he won't let anyone down..,hes a intelligent,experienced scrumhalf.....which is what we need

we now have a halfback combo that will work together behind our pack and unlesh our backs....

we're happy with it