This is from http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,12758002-23214,00.html
Top of the props quits
By Steve Ricketts
April 5, 2005
AUSTRALIA and Queensland selectors yesterday conceded it would be impossible in the short term to adequately fill the hole left by the retirement from representative football of 30-year-old Test prop Shane Webcke.
Australia selector Arthur Beetson said Webcke's retirement because of a chronic knee problem and the prospect of Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley being match shy meant the Test panel had to go back to the drawing board before naming a squad for the April 22 clash with New Zealand at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Beetson said he could not think of any present prop who had the same qualities as Webcke, a veteran of 19 Tests for Australia and 21 matches for Queensland.
"It's a bit sad really, Shane's retirement," Beetson said. "He's fought a lot of wars and he's obviously given a lot of consideration to his decision.
"There's no one really with the same go forward game as Shane and it's hard to replace his leadership qualities. On the Origin front there will be a lot of happy forwards in New South Wales."
Beetson said O'Meley would be a logical replacement for Webcke but he is not due back from a calf injury until round 6, the weekend the Test squad is named.
Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris said Petero Civoniceva, Steve Price and Ben Ross were frontrunners for Maroon front-row spots with all three playing Origin football last year and Civoniceva and Price playing Tests.
"It's always hard to replace someone like Shane," Morris said.
"He will give you an extra run at the right time to lift the team and he's a natural leader.
"I'm wary about putting someone into the team before they are ready, mainly because of the long-term effect it can have on their football.
"Danny Nutley (Cronulla) went well towards the end of last year and then there's Carl Webb and Shane Tronc at the Cowboys."
Good to see Nuts being mentioned alongside blokes like Price and Civoniceva...And we all know he can match it with Ross and Webb, while I'd put him a mile in front of Tronc in terms of being ready for Origin.
Also I think Danny's age will make him a better pick...The selectors won't want to gamble on a young (and therefore probably a bit flighty or nervous) front row, given the hole Webke will leave there.
My pick? I reckon he'd be a walk up for a bench spot, but if his form holds he could keep Price or Petero out of a starting spot.
Only thing I don't want them to do is to play him out of position. Would kill his game IMO. He's gotta play front row or nowhere.
Thoughts?
Top of the props quits
By Steve Ricketts
April 5, 2005
AUSTRALIA and Queensland selectors yesterday conceded it would be impossible in the short term to adequately fill the hole left by the retirement from representative football of 30-year-old Test prop Shane Webcke.
Australia selector Arthur Beetson said Webcke's retirement because of a chronic knee problem and the prospect of Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley being match shy meant the Test panel had to go back to the drawing board before naming a squad for the April 22 clash with New Zealand at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Beetson said he could not think of any present prop who had the same qualities as Webcke, a veteran of 19 Tests for Australia and 21 matches for Queensland.
"It's a bit sad really, Shane's retirement," Beetson said. "He's fought a lot of wars and he's obviously given a lot of consideration to his decision.
"There's no one really with the same go forward game as Shane and it's hard to replace his leadership qualities. On the Origin front there will be a lot of happy forwards in New South Wales."
Beetson said O'Meley would be a logical replacement for Webcke but he is not due back from a calf injury until round 6, the weekend the Test squad is named.
Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris said Petero Civoniceva, Steve Price and Ben Ross were frontrunners for Maroon front-row spots with all three playing Origin football last year and Civoniceva and Price playing Tests.
"It's always hard to replace someone like Shane," Morris said.
"He will give you an extra run at the right time to lift the team and he's a natural leader.
"I'm wary about putting someone into the team before they are ready, mainly because of the long-term effect it can have on their football.
"Danny Nutley (Cronulla) went well towards the end of last year and then there's Carl Webb and Shane Tronc at the Cowboys."
Good to see Nuts being mentioned alongside blokes like Price and Civoniceva...And we all know he can match it with Ross and Webb, while I'd put him a mile in front of Tronc in terms of being ready for Origin.
Also I think Danny's age will make him a better pick...The selectors won't want to gamble on a young (and therefore probably a bit flighty or nervous) front row, given the hole Webke will leave there.
My pick? I reckon he'd be a walk up for a bench spot, but if his form holds he could keep Price or Petero out of a starting spot.
Only thing I don't want them to do is to play him out of position. Would kill his game IMO. He's gotta play front row or nowhere.
Thoughts?
