NZ World Cup Squad

[mean_maori_mean]

If Jesse Royal ain't a better front rower than Manese Manuokafoa I'm not here

Forget better frontfrower the fact that he is a New Zealander does it for me.

I actually think Manuokafoa will become a quality prop.

Taulima Tautai - Got to be kidding me. I would take Jake Webster out of form playing NL1 before him.

These players will not make it but still.

Apparently these players have indicated that NZ is an option or that they want to play for NZ.

Talanoa is from Glenn Innes in Auckland - he wont make the squad anyway.

But remember this a black and white jersey and we dont need australian clubs, coaches, media and fans to validate the quality of the kiwis players.

Players like Smith, Blair, Lima, Faalogo even honest players like Hauraki, Harrison, Sika Manu arent highly rated by some they will leave everything on the field if they get an opportunity.

 

[mean_maori_mean]

You are kidding,if you kiwi mongrels stop stealing our players we could come up with a competitive side.How the hell can Tautai qualify for the kiwis it is a farce:crazy:

Are you joking

Tautai is the one who would of signalled his eligibility he obviously wants to play for the kiwis.

Too bad theres about 6 or 7 wingers ahead of him.

Samoa is NZ b team

 

[shinobi]

Ooh i wonder what the Maori squad is gonna be.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Only one Anderson?

Yes, and the least accomplished of the 3.

I believe Louis and Vinnie are both injured, but not sure for how long or if that is really why they weren't picked

 

[roughyedspud]

louie & vinnie are out,ones broke an arm the other needs shoulder surgery..

 

[Kiwi Eagle _JS]

Are you joking

Tautai is the one who would of signalled his eligibility he obviously wants to play for the kiwis.

Too bad theres about 6 or 7 wingers ahead of him.

Samoa is NZ b team

Tautai has not signalled eligibility,he has noy said he wants to play for NZ.The problem I have is NZ is becoming like the english cricket team,they trawl through players mothers fathers grandmothers and grandfathers and try to find anyone who has any link to pick them.I go all the way back to people like Cayless,and right up to Paea clubs in OZ have spent money developing them and NZ has the hide to pick them.

 

[nqcowboy87]

i could be wrong in saying this because im not sure what the dragons lower gareds have been about this year, but this could be the first time in a long time that player has played bush football(dragons players playing in the illawarra comp) and first grade internationals in the same year

 

[nqcowboy87]

this is in regards to rangi chases selection

 

[shinobi]

Tautai has not signalled eligibility,he has noy said he wants to play for NZ.The problem I have is NZ is becoming like the english cricket team,they trawl through players mothers fathers grandmothers and grandfathers and try to find anyone who has any link to pick them.I go all the way back to people like Cayless,and right up to Paea clubs in OZ have spent money developing them and NZ has the hide to pick them.

Well we can that if it wasnt for their good Polynesian genes (which may or may not have been deverloped in NZ) they wouldnt have been able to be moulded into such fine footballers.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Not a bad squad and as expected a lot those are already named in the Tonga/Samoan squads.

I think with the Kiwi ESL players, most of the them have either retired from International, arent good enough, injured, or have put their hand up for other countries.

I think guys like Solomona, Tony, Meli and Hansen have put their hand up for Samoa rather than NZL.

Disappointed Covell didnt make it. :lol:

 

[hutch]

You are kidding,if you kiwi mongrels stop stealing our players we could come up with a competitive side.How the hell can Tautai qualify for the kiwis it is a farce:crazy:

stealing them from where? auckland?

what is the story behind tautai anyway? whats his rugby league and family background?

 

[kiwileaguefan]

You are kidding,if you kiwi mongrels stop stealing our players we could come up with a competitive side.How the hell can Tautai qualify for the kiwis it is a farce:crazy:

Can yo tell me how many times has Sonny Fai and Ben Matelino have played for a Samoan side? Hang on a second, did they not play through the grades through the NZRL pathways?? Then the Warriors took over?? Now Samoa want to pinch them??

 

[Kiwi Eagle _JS]

Can yo tell me how many times has Sonny Fai and Ben Matelino have played for a Samoan side? Hang on a second, did they not play through the grades through the NZRL pathways?? Then the Warriors took over?? Now Samoa want to pinch them??

Your just backing up my point of view Samoa have no right to pick Sonny or Matelino they have been developed by the NZRL,but how can you then claim Cayless,Inu, Paea,Stanley,Nightingale,Pritchard should I go on who were developed by the NSWRL junior programs you can not have it both ways.

 

[ali]

The omission of Cayless and other English Super League players is baffling! A year or so ago, I would have said a European based Kiwi side could even beat a Southern Hemisphere based one. Even with the defections to Samoa, and the loss of Hape and Vainokolo to Union, I still can't see how they only came up with 2 players from the Super League.

Cayless, Whatuira, Webster and numerous others, including even Karl Temata are better than a fair portion of that squad!

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Your just backing up my point of view Samoa have no right to pick Sonny or Matelino they have been developed by the NZRL,but how can you then claim Cayless,Inu, Paea,Stanley,Nightingale,Pritchard should I go on who were developed by the NSWRL junior programs you can not have it both ways.

True but most of the players that are Australian based still play for Jnr Kiwis, NZ School Boys or NZ A.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

The omission of Cayless and other English Super League players is baffling! A year or so ago, I would have said a European based Kiwi side could even beat a Southern Hemisphere based one. Even with the defections to Samoa, and the loss of Hape and Vainokolo to Union, I still can't see how they only came up with 2 players from the Super League.

Cayless, Whatuira, Webster and numerous others, including even Karl Temata are better than a fair portion of that squad!

Save it!! A NRL Kiwis side would thrash a Kiwis Super League side. Temata...what a joke!! He is Cook Islander anyway.

 

[Poul]

I think the problem for the Kiwis in the World Cup will be depth. They've still got some good players available, but if there are any further injuries and/or suspensions, then their chances will diminish greatly.
How about this for a team?

Fullback - Inu
Wingers - Vatuvei , Vuna
Centres - Soliola , Matai
Five Eighth - Ropati
Half Back - Marshall
Lock - Mannering
Second Rowers - Fa'alogo , J.Smith
Props - Lima , N.Cayless
Hooker - Luke

Interchange - F.Anderson,Tuimavave, Rapira, Blair

I reckon this team would do pretty well. Inu is safe at the back under the high ball, and good on the kick return. Both the wingers are big, although Vatuvei is HUGE, and both are in good form. I understand both Soliola and Matai are under injury clouds, but if they play to their potential like Soloila did in the Centenary Test, they will be hard to handle. Five Eighth is a bit of a problem, so I've gone for Ropati, who has been playing well of late, albeit in the centres. Benji would be a bit of a defensive liablity at five eighth, and will be more protected playing at half back. Also I don't think the Kiwis could afford to play both Leuluai and Benji together. There's still plenty of talent and size in the pack. Mannering is an eighty minute player, and never gives up. He could also play in the centres if a backline reshuffle was required. Fa'alogo is an imposing player, and Jeremy Smith has been playing solidly in a competitive Melbourne team. I've given Nathan Cayless one last chance. I would actually have preferred to put Wiki in here. Do you think he might be talked into an International comeback ala Stacey Jones? Lima has been making good metres for the incumbent premiers, and Isaac Luke adds that little bit of extra spark out of dummy half. It is the bench though which I think holds the key to success for the Kiwis. In Anderson and Blair they have two rangy hard running back rowers, with Anderson capable of filling in a role in the outside backs, with Tuimavave and Rapira able to come on to add an extra bit of grunt when required.
I don't think the Kiwis will win the World Cup, but we would be foolish to write them off at this stage, and they might just push the Kangaroos and the Lions closer than some might think possible.

 

[Alehana]

\
Cayless, Whatuira, Webster

surely these players must come into consideration from the SL can any1 suggest more SL players

and can some1 confirm who Tautai is playing for.

 

[Poul]

surely these players must come into consideration from the SL can any1 suggest more SL players ....

I reckon if the Kiwis are to be any chance in the World Cup then they should pick NO Super League players. The only player whom I think even warrants the slightest consideration, and even then he shouldn't be picked, is Brent Webb. If the Kiwis pick ANY Super League players, they can kiss the World Cup good-bye.

 

[Alehana]

I reckon if the Kiwis are to be any chance in the World Cup then they should pick NO Super League players. The only player whom I think even warrants the slightest consideration, and even then he shouldn't be picked, is Brent Webb. If the Kiwis pick ANY Super League players, they can kiss the World Cup good-bye.

why is that?