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NZ World Cup Squad

Mixmasterreece

Mixmasterreece

Bench
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4,924
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4648416a1823.html

Sonny Bill Williams has been named by the New Zealand selectors in a preliminary 49-man squad for this year's rugby league World Cup.


Williams' inclusion is subject to pending court proceedings in Sydney over his decision to quit the Bulldogs in mid-contract and switch to rugby union and join French Club Toulon.
The squad includes 47 National Rugby League players and two in the British Super League.

A total of 16 players have yet to represent the Kiwis.
New Zealand take on defending champions Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26 in the tournament's opening match.

New Zealand's preliminary squad: Fraser Anderson (Cronulla), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Rangi Chase (St George Illawarra), Anthony Cherrington (Sydney Roosters), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Sonny Fai (NZ Warriors), Nathan Fien (NZ Warriors), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Bronson Harrison (Wests Tigers), Weller Hauraki (Parramatta), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), Masada Iosefa (Penrith), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Manase Manuokafoa (South Sydney), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors), Fui Fui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Eddie Paea (South Sydney), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Jerome Ropati (NZ Warriors), Setaimata S (Sydney Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Taulima Tautai (Parramatta), Lee Te Maari (Bulldogs), Ben Te'o (Wests Tigers), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), Evarn Tuimavave (NZ Warriors), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Cooper Vuna (Newcastle), Brent Webb (Leeds), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs, subject to availability
Click to expand...
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tiger_nick

tiger_nick

Bench
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2,972
have they purposley not picked ESL players? surely whatuira and hape are better then the half the outside backs they've picked???
 
N

Nz

Juniors
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298
1. Brent Webb/Perret
2. Krisnan Inu
3. Steve Matai
4. Iosia Soliola
5. Manu Vatuvai / Nightingale
6. Benji Marshall
7. Thomas Leuluai ??
8. Roy Asotasi
9. Isaac Luke
10. Nathan Cayless
11. Jeremy Smith
12. Simon Mannering
13. Setaimata Sa.

14. Adam Blair
15. Nathan Fien
16. Dene Halatau
17. Jeff Lima/ Sika Manu

Jason Cayless should be in there somewhere.
It’s a shame we couldn’t use SBW & Pritchard.
 
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N

nadera78

Juniors
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2,233
I lost count of how many of those guys were previously listed in Samoan/Tongan squads!

However, a couple of players stand out;
SBW - what the hell?
Nathan Fien - perhaps making his second Kiwi debut
Moimoi and Tuiaki - I thought they had applied to switch back to Tonga?

Jason Cayless - why the hell is he not included?

Not a particularly impressive looking squad. They've still not got a scrum half, or anyone with the brains to lead them around the pitch. And too many players who play with their heart not their head, and then disappear when things don't go their way.
 
ozbash

ozbash

Referee
Messages
26,922
nadera78 said:
I lost count of how many of those guys were previously listed in Samoan/Tongan squads!

However, a couple of players stand out;
SBW - what the hell?
Nathan Fien - perhaps making his second Kiwi debut
Moimoi and Tuiaki - I thought they had applied to switch back to Tonga?

Jason Cayless - why the hell is he not included?

Not a particularly impressive looking squad. They've still not got a scrum half, or anyone with the brains to lead them around the pitch. And too many players who play with their heart not their head, and then disappear when things don't go their way.
Click to expand...


SBW, as predicted
Fein, wont/does not deserve get a run while issac luke is there
moimoi and tuiake are playing for nz
j cayless, has he been going any good, havnt really been following esl this year ?
Thomas Lueluwai is a class halfback and with a fit benji outside of him, they will create some havoc.
 
S.S.T.I.D

S.S.T.I.D

Bench
Messages
3,641
This thing just gets more farcical by the minute. Talanoa and Manuokafoa played for Tonga during the qualifiers and are also named in the Tongan squad. I'm sure there are others in the same boat. Oh boy.
 
N

nadera78

Juniors
Messages
2,233
ozbash said:
SBW, as predicted
Fein, wont/does not deserve get a run while issac luke is there
moimoi and tuiake are playing for nz
j cayless, has he been going any good, havnt really been following esl this year ?
Thomas Lueluwai is a class halfback and with a fit benji outside of him, they will create some havoc.
Click to expand...

Cayless has had a few injuries at times, but he's been playing well when in the side.

Leuluai has found his natural level in a sh*t Wigan team.
 
bartman

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
Jason Cayless has spent most of this season injured I believe. Could be a surgery case?
 
Manu Vatuvei

Manu Vatuvei

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17,217
It's bizarre, it basically seems as though they've picked almost every Kiwi playing first grade in the NRL, and completely ignored the huge number of ESL players.

I assume Louis Anderson is ruled out with injury because he's only 23 years old and prior to announcing he was going to the ESL he was a constant in Kiwi sides.

Also, I don't know how his form has been, but Paleaaesina would easily make a 49 man squad if he was still in NZ. The amazing thing is he wasn't even named by Samoa.

Jason Cayless was rated one of the best props in the WORLD...he probably would've been a chance of making the Australian side in 2002/03/04 if he hadn't opted for New Zealand, yet since going to ESL he hasn't been considered.

Webster and Whatuira, while I don't rate them as outstanding players, would easily make such a big squad as well.

Does anyone have any logical rationale for the omission of a host of ex-internationals from the ESL, and the selection instead of so many mediocre NRL players who obviously aren't international standard?

And where's Covell?
 
bartman

bartman

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41,022
Paleaasina was found guilty of assualt charges recently, and is subject to a 200 hour community order. Presumably he won't start on this until the UK season is over, and hence may be passport limited from leaving the country until it is complete.

When I see names like Weller Hauraki and Taulima Tautai (even as a Parra fan) in there, then I agree that guys like Whatuira and Anderson should also be in there. I'm not sure of their current status re injuries etc.

Though I'll leave your last suggestion to go through to the keeper...
 
tiger_nick

tiger_nick

Bench
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2,972
what about tevita latu? is he still playing in the esl? i think luke and him could be dynamite together.

when are nz going to learn halatau is NOT a hooker!

1. Inu
2. Tuiaki
3. Matai
4. Soliola
5. Vatuvei
6. Webb
7. Marshall
8. Asotasi
9. Luke
10. Lima
11. Smith
12. Fa'alogo
13. Mannering

14. Manu
15. Eastwood
16. Sa
17. Rapira

obviously not including pritchard and williams. if NZ could have those two and a stable halfback i think they'd be in with a great shot of beating australia.
 
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