Pick your Kiwi team for the October test

[The Observer]

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Stacey Jones
13. Stephen Kearney
12. Awen Guttenbeil
11. Ruben Wiki (c)
10. Paul Rauhihi
9. Richard Swain
8. Jason Cayless

14. Iefeta Palea'asina (prop)
15. Tony Puletua (prop/second row)
16. Monty Betham (backrow/hooker/stand off)
17. Motu Tony (fullback/stand off/halfback/hooker)
18. Joe Galuvao/David Kidwell (second row/centre) (reserve)

Points to consider:
* Vaealiki is not fast enough to play fullback at international level.
* Willie Talau is not experienced enough to play stand off at NRL level, let alone test level. In any event, he has alread gone to St Helens.
* Swann did not have an impact at lock vs the Roos in July.
* Most of the Kiwi contingent based in NZ won't be available to play in the test because the SL Grand Final will be on. Bradford will probably be one of the teams, and Robbie Paul, Joe Vagana, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona will withheld by the Bulls. Robbie Paul is recovering from a broken arm anyway.
* It is probably too soon for Anderson to blood young guns like Tevita Latu and Thomas Leuluai in the full Kiwi team - Leluai is in the Junior Kiwi squad. Latu may get his chance next year when Swain goes to Hull, so Tony has a chance to sneak in. Faumuina is probably the man to start as 6 - he played in the positions at times during the year and put in a great grubber kick which set up the winning try against the Roosters.

 

[dimitri]

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Stacey Jones
13. Stephen Kearney
12. Awen Guttenbeil
11. Ruben Wiki (c)
10. Paul Rauhihi
9. Richard Swain
8. Jason Cayless

14. Iefeta Palea'asina (prop)
15. Tony Puletua (prop/second row)
16. Monty Betham (backrow/hooker/stand off)
17. Motu Tony (fullback/stand off/halfback/hooker)
18. Joe Galuvao/David Kidwell (second row/centre) (reserve)

i pretty much agree with that side

except

*im not sure if kearney is up for test footy anymore
*not sure that Matt Utai is as good as what people say he is (id have meli and fafiali on the wings.
*not sure sion faumina should be 5/8, surely there is someone else who could play 5/8 maybe even richard swain and have one of the warriors players like betham or tony play hooker.

 

[Kasper]

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Motu Tony
7. Stacey Jones
13. Sione Faumoina
12. Tony Puletua
11. Joe Gaulovau
10. Ruben Wiki
9. Richard Swain
8. Paul Rauhihi

14. Iefeta Palea'asina
15. Steven Kearney
16. Jason Cayless
17. Lance Hohia

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Im suprised no-one mentioned Nathan Cayless he was in great form in the last few games for Parramatta:

1. Motu Tony
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Stacey Jones
8. Paul Rauhihi
9. Richard Swain
10. Nathan Cayless
11. Tony Puletua
12. Ruben Wiki
13. Awen Guttenbeil

14. Monty Betham
15. Awen Guttenbiel
16. Jason Cayless
17. Joe Galavao

*If Faumuina wont play 5/8 then surely hes gotta start somewhere in this team, hes in great form.
*I'm not sure who would be captain, I dont think Wiki did a good job against the Aussies. I dont know whats wrong with Cayless or Jones as captain
*Vaeliki wouldve been my first choice at fullback, but he is still carrying an injury.

 

[The Observer]

According to this thread at NZWarriorsdotcom Rauhihi, Swain and Kearney will all miss the October test due to injury. Hohaia is already out for the year with injury.

Dimitri, I still think Utai is one of the strongest running wingers in the competition. Spose Kearney is a moot point now, but perhaps he was struggling with injury?

Tony has returned to form since he started playing off the bench as a super sub, usually in the dummy half role. Putting him in the starting lineup might nullify his impact, and I don't think he'd defend as stoutly as either Faumuina or Fa'afili.

parrafan, don't think Nathan would get back into the Kiwi starting lineup straight away given that he was out of football for so long.

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Stacey Jones
13. Awen Guttenbeil
12. Tony Puletua
11. Ruben Wiki (c)
10. Jerry Seu Seu
9. Monty Betham
8. Jason Cayless

14. Iefeta Palea'asina (prop)
15. Nathan Cayless (prop/second row)
16. Motu Tony (fullback/stand off/halfback/hooker)
17. Joe Galuvao (second row/centre)
18. David Kidwell (second row/centre) (stand-by player)

 

[dimitri]

also

matt utai has a problem turning to chase and a problem under the high ball


of course his height doesnt help

 

[The Observer]

You make fair points thre Dimitri and the Roos may well target him by these means. However Kiwi management could address these deficiencies in his game by instructing his centre partner, fullback and other teammates gave him more assistance in kick retrieval and diffusing bombs.

If you opted for Meli and Faafili on the wings, who would you go for at FB?

 

[The Observer]

Well Stacey Jones has just been ruled out of the Trans Tasman Test. Who should replace him? Motu Tony would probably be the first choice option - he has played for the Kiwis off the bench, at fullback, at five eighth (I think) at hooker.

Were he not a good choice, Thomas Leuluai could be an option but could be a risk because he has only played 11 NRL games and is supposed to be making his Junior Kiwi debut in the next few weeks.

Other options include former Auckland Warriors and current NZ A halfback Ben Lythe, or perhaps even Benji Marshall, Marcus Perenara or Jerome Ropati - but then again, having played they would be riskier still!

 

[southern warrior]

not ben lythe anybody but benny lythe.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Is marty Turner still running around at Norths Brisbane, Sione Faumuina would be another choice at halfback, he is a utility and he played halfback against the Roosters.

 

[southern warrior]

why would we take a guy from the qrl when we an just pick a young guy from bartercard cup.

 

[The Observer]

Is marty Turner still running around at Norths Brisbane, Sione Faumuina would be another choice at halfback, he is a utility and he played halfback against the Roosters.

Faumuina played five eighth but wore a jersey with 7 on his back because it was the only jersey whose size fit him.

Not sure whether Marty Turner has recovered from a serious car crash he was in with Michael Russo. Still, he was good in the NRL games he played last year. Southernwarrior, Turner is from Christchurch originally and has some NRL experience with the Storm.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Marty Turner played a first grade game for Melbourne against Manly this year, so i wouldve thought he was still playing for Norths.

 

[ali]

They should pick Benji Marshall. he's no bigger risk than playing any of the other available players there, and furthermore it guarentees he's a Kiwi Test player for life. At this stage there is still no guarentee he's going to be a Kiwi.

I'd have Richie Barnett at fullback, and the Cayless brothers in the front row. One other name he may come under some consideration is Michael Smith from Cas, but I think he may just miss out due to lack of match fitness. If Wigan get knocked out this weekend, then they may pick Craig Smith as well.

But still its a joke that this Test match clashes with the Super league finals.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

If Benji Marshall is in contention then why not Thomas Leulai.

 

[ali]

If Benji Marshall is in contention then why not Thomas Leulai.

I think Leuleli can play, and maybe he's ahead of Marshall at this stage. But I would pick Marshall to make him a Kiwi first. The longer he goes in Australia without playing for the Kiwis, the more likely he is to turn down the Kiwis and go for the carrot of an Aussie jumper and Origin footy.

He looks like such a good talent the Kiwis should be doing anything to get him on board for the future. He may not play another Test for 2 or 3 years, but I'd pick him now as an investment.

 

[Fiji_Bati]

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Motu Tony
13. Tyran Smith (Showed good form for Canberra)
12. Tony Puletua
11. Ruben Wiki (c)
10. Jerry Seu Seu
9. Monty Betham
8. Jason Cayless

14. Iefeta Palea'asina
15. Awen Guttenbeil
16. Benji Marshall (ensures Kiwi Test player. Can cover half,5/8,fullback)
17. Joe Galuvao (second row/centre)

Players unavailable
Richard Swain
Stephen Kearney
Paul Rauhihi
Stacey Jones

 

[The Observer]

13. Tyran Smith (Showed good form for Canberra)

Tyran would be a good pick - forgot completely about him. He would be in my team ahead of Guttenbeil, who also didn't have a fantastic game in July.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know what's going on here but not a single person has named Ali Lauiti'iti in there team. He single handedly ripped Penrith to pieces and got the Warriors back in the game on Sunday and we may as well just concede victory if we're not going to pick the most devastatingly talented forward in the world.

Also, Faumuina should definitely play at stand-off, he has all the skills and usually plays 34d receiver for the Warriors anyway, this would just mean he would move in to second receiver (which he also does a fair bit of). If we could have a line-up of Faumuina, Lauiti'iti, Toopi and Meli on the left hand-side we could cause all sorts of trouble.

Jerry SeuSeu should be kept out of the side at all costs, he completely and utterly doesn't have what it takes anymore and is a shocking defensive liability.

Here's my team

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Motu Tony
8. Jason Cayless/Nathan Cayless
9. Monty Betham
10. Ruben Wiki
11. Joe Galuvao
12. Tony Puletua
13. Ali Lauiti'iti

14. Awen Guttenbeil
15. Logan Swann
16. Other Cayless brother
17. Iafeta Palea'aesina OR Benji Marshall

Or an alternate backline

1. Motu Tony
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Benji Marshall


I don't think I need to explain that Marshall is a more talented player than Leuluai. I also left out Guttenbeil as he hasn't been too flash lately. And Wiki needs to play prop as we are short of props and overloaded with good back-rowers.

 

[The Observer]

I don't know what's going on here but not a single person has named Ali Lauiti'iti in there team. He single handedly ripped Penrith to pieces and got the Warriors back in the game on Sunday and we may as well just concede victory if we're not going to pick the most devastatingly talented forward in the world.

He looked pretty unfit to me and lacked impact. That said, I didn't watch the game that closely so maybe he did.

Jerry SeuSeu should be kept out of the side at all costs, he completely and utterly doesn't have what it takes anymore and is a shocking defensive liability.

I wouldn't disagree with his omission.

Here's my team

1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Matt Utai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Clinton Toopi
5. Francis Meli
6. Sione Faumuina
7. Motu Tony

I'd agree absolutely with this backline.

8. Jason Cayless/Nathan Cayless
9. Monty Betham
10. Ruben Wiki
11. Joe Galuvao
12. Tony Puletua
13. Ali Lauiti'iti

14. Awen Guttenbeil
15. Logan Swann
16. Other Cayless brother
17. Iafeta Palea'aesina OR Benji Marshall

I don't think I need to explain that Marshall is a more talented player than Leuluai. I also left out Guttenbeil as he hasn't been too flash lately. And Wiki needs to play prop as we are short of props and overloaded with good back-rowers.

Your point about Wiki is a good one. There is a shortage of props and a surplus of backrow forwards. Guttenbeil and Swann aren't exactly supersubs - they wouldn't break open the game coming off the bench and inject fresh go forward. Swann in particular was woeful in July and would be targeted by Aussie runners. Ali would be a better impact player off the bench. Perenara and Kidwell would offer versatility and inject enthusiasm too.

While he is a precocious attacking talent, its probably too early for Marshall. He's only 17, has played about 3 NRL games and is currently with the Aus Schoolboys? Putting him straight from that arena into Trans Tasman football is a huge jump in class and pace; if any of the Kangaroo forwards ran at him, they would trample straight over him. It would be lining up a feckless lamb to the slaughter.