Line up for Sunday..

[Mixmasterreece]

Im still dumbfounded by the absence of rangi chase.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

lol at the idea that Leuluai/Hohaia is gonna save the day

Leuluai, Hohaia, Roberts, Smith- they're all nuffies. So were Vinnie Anderson, Nigel Vagana and Sione Faumuina when they showcased their playmaking talents at 6. Kiwi teams have always overcome these weaknesses.

I went on and on about smith was a myth and you guys were baggin me about suggesting Leulauai and Hohaia will come into contention.:sarcasm:

Smith - that was the worst performance in a 7 jersey I have ever seen.

Like I said he is all talk both on and off the field.

He makes ben Roberts do everything. Ben Roberts was far from the worst player on the field - hes got the bomb kicking game and can play attacking football usually. Far from a superstar though.

SMITH- he doesnt run, doesnt step, doesnt kick and he certainly doesnt tackle.????

I think Lance is been brought to play Hooker - b''coz halatau was awful at hooker.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

In the all golds game Thomas is named at hooker and chase stanley 5/8. If anything Lance to 7 Motu to bench Faiumu to 9 Halatau back to Australia and Smith to Iraq

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I went on and on about smith was a myth and you guys were baggin me about suggesting Leulauai and Hohaia will come into contention.:sarcasm:

Smith - that was the worst performance in a 7 jersey I have ever seen.

Like I said he is all talk both on and off the field.

He makes ben Roberts do everything. Ben Roberts was far from the worst player on the field - hes got the bomb kicking game and can play attacking football usually. Far from a superstar though.

SMITH- he doesnt run, doesnt step, doesnt kick and he certainly doesnt tackle.????

I think Lance is been brought to play Hooker - b''coz halatau was awful at hooker.

Roberts has a long kick but his short kicking game is terrible. He took the "responsibility" for the kicking yesterday and his long kicking was ok purely by virtue of it's length, while his short kicking was dreadful.

Neither of them did anything else.

I never bagged you for suggesting that Hohaia or Leuluai would come into contention, I bagged you for suggesting that they were any good, or that it really mattered which pair of losers we picked in the halves.

 

[mean]

I fell asleep during the game, but apparently I didn't miss much and some say the players did too.

But what I did see was:

1. Covell runs like Steve Austin, in slooowww mottiioonnnn.
2. I saw Mannering with his hands on his knees in the 18th minute. That tells me that he was farked, he told the opposition he was farked and he obviously knew that he was farked. The worst body language any player can display.
3. Piss poor handling.
4. The defence line waiting for the opposition to run over them. There was no moving up. Are we scared to tackle?
5. The JK's played better and obviously with better players in the hooker, 6, fullback and halfback position.
6. Overall an embarrassing performance.

 

[Skinner]

The JK's played better and obviously with better players in the hooker, 6, fullback and halfback position.

Ain't that the truth..

 

[mean_maori_mean]

I fell asleep during the game, but apparently I didn't miss much and some say the players did too.

But what I did see was:

1. Covell runs like Steve Austin, in slooowww mottiioonnnn.
2. I saw Mannering with his hands on his knees in the 18th minute. That tells me that he was farked, he told the opposition he was farked and he obviously knew that he was farked. The worst body language any player can display.
3. Piss poor handling.
4. The defence line waiting for the opposition to run over them. There was no moving up. Are we scared to tackle?
5. The JK's played better and obviously with better players in the hooker, 6, fullback and halfback position.
6. Overall an embarrassing performance.

Did you actually see covell running around - didnt he get injured in the 5th minute didnt see him during the whole game.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Roberts has a long kick but his short kicking game is terrible. He took the "responsibility" for the kicking yesterday and his long kicking was ok purely by virtue of it's length, while his short kicking was dreadful.

Neither of them did anything else.

I never bagged you for suggesting that Hohaia or Leuluai would come into contention, I bagged you for suggesting that they were any good, or that it really mattered which pair of losers we picked in the halves.

Roberts was put under a hell of lotta pressure but inept hooking - he is one has one of the better long kicking games in the NRL.

Well it mattered alot. though we would of lost regardless.

Hell put pritchard at 6 and roberts at halfback - they would do a hell of a lot better than that combo.

Also Chuck mannering in the centres not anywhere else. Showed we missed a player like fa'alogo in the backrow - agression both of defense and attack.
Mannering tries hard etc but absolutely no go forward on attack nor any sting in defense which we need in the pack.

Also wont mind having a defensive centre atm in the kiwi because we dont have much better to pick from. At least be good defensive will reduce points scored.

Smith (melb) - eventually got in the game and tried hard like he always duz.

 

[mean]

Did you actually see covell running around - didnt he get injured in the 5th minute didnt see him during the whole game.

From what I saw, he took two runs from his wing position towards the centre of the field and his last was when he was injured. And like I said, he aint that quick.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

From what I saw, he took two runs from his wing position towards the centre of the field and his last was when he was injured. And like I said, he aint that quick.

yeap but neither is Tuiaki - both winger are very solidly built. both look easily 6'3 Tuiaki over 100kg covell close to it.

Covell pretty good on the high ball both on attack and defense.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Please, Tuiaki and Covell are both like 6'1''. But Tuiaki is 105kg+ and Covell about 97-98kg.

Can't believe you think it would've been a different game with Leuluai or Hohaia at half back :?

As for Roberts, he has one of the longer kicks in the NRL, which is a lot different from having one of the better long kicking games.

 

[julian87]

Hohaia at 7 would at least given you a decent chance of a line break or try.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Hohaia at 7 would at least given you a decent chance of a line break or try.

You've obviously been closely following his career over the past 2 years...

 

[NZ Warrior]

He has been an absolute gun for the Auckland Lions.

When I say gun, I mean a sh*tty pop gun that has lost it's pop.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

Please, Tuiaki and Covell are both like 6'1''. But Tuiaki is 105kg+ and Covell about 97-98kg.

Can't believe you think it would've been a different game with Leuluai or Hohaia at half back :?

As for Roberts, he has one of the longer kicks in the NRL, which is a lot different from having one of the better long kicking games.

well im 6'2 and covell looked taller than me. my point is they are both big wingers.

Off course it would of been a different game - would we had still got wasted? yes. But would have scored a try probably.

But my point is Smith - has never been any good?? Trust me fixing the halves and hooking will do a lot to improve the kiwis - and lance hohaia at hooker or in the halves will be an improvement.

Again Like I said to you - Eddie Paea is a better halfback with much more talent which is why Souths will play him at halfback before they pick smith.

And when Lance hopefully gets a shot at the 6,7 jersey alot of people will eat there words. I heard initally some of them wanted him there - but understandably the faced oposition in selecting him.
There are some talented players who have excelled in the kiwis from reserve grade, i think he will continue this tradition if he gets an opportunity.

As for roberts - he is a better kicker than anyone else we have both in the kiwis and probably in the NRL.

Inu - got one of the biggest bombs i've seen before pity he only got to use it once and didnt come off.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

There are some talented players who have excelled in the kiwis from reserve grade, i think he will continue this tradition if he gets an opportunity.
.

I agree with some of your thoughts here, but i resent picking a player out of reserve grade just because we have a tradition of reserve grade players stepping up in the black jersey.

Its the same reason why I oppose selecting a woefully out of form Toopi, just because he always plays well in a black jersey.

Form players could of been selected for this team but they weren't. We have selected an out of form Whatuira, Smith, Hohaia, Halatau and in some respects, mannering. And look where it got us.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

I agree with some of your thoughts here, but i resent picking a player out of reserve grade just because we have a tradition of reserve grade players stepping up in the black jersey.

Its the same reason why I oppose selecting a woefully out of form Toopi, just because he always plays well in a black jersey.

Form players could of been selected for this team but they weren't. We have selected an out of form Whatuira, Smith, Hohaia, Halatau and in some respects, mannering. And look where it got us.

agree with your opinion, but im not saying that this tradition is the reason they have done it this case.
They can look at the situation with Hohaia differently - he clearly has the skill set but hasnt had a real opportunity at club level.

On the other hand whatuira, halatau have played regular first grade and consistently played ordinary.

Im all for Mannering in the centres - his size and defense abilities might not get too many tries but he wont let in as many as were let in last week.

They say they have taken skd, hohaia.

 

[aqua_duck]

As for Roberts, he has one of the longer kicks in the NRL, which is a lot different from having one of the better long kicking games.

exactly. There's a difference between having a big boot and having an effective kicking game. Robters hardly ever finds open space with his kicks, is short kicking game is non existent at best, and he breaks down a teams structure. Anyone who thinks he is a more effective option than benji marshall (mean_maori_mean) must either have rocks in their head or probably never watched roberts play before

 

[mean_maori_mean]

exactly. There's a difference between having a big boot and having an effective kicking game. Robters hardly ever finds open space with his kicks, is short kicking game is non existent at best, and he breaks down a teams structure. Anyone who thinks he is a more effective option than benji marshall (mean_maori_mean) must either have rocks in their head or probably never watched roberts play before

what are you on about buddy? rocks in my head?? Benji marshall is well documented as being injured - or would you pick him anway.

His short kicking game is non existant - well jeremy smith total game was non-existant.

go worry about trying to piece together all those islanders you have bought for the knights and you may aswell find a new coach b'coz I doubt smith will be able to make it work.

 

[aqua_duck]

what are you on about buddy? rocks in my head?? Benji marshall is well documented as being injured - or would you pick him anway.

His short kicking game is non existant - well jeremy smith total game was non-existant.

go worry about trying to piece together all those islanders you have bought for the knights and you may aswell find a new coach b'coz I doubt smith will be able to make it work.

mate seriously, what relevance do the knights hold in NZ national team discussions?

You named roberts in your FULL STRENGTH kiwi line up which included the likes of the injured SBW, yet no benji. To me that says you believe roberts is a better option than benji does it not?