Stuart: Eels form to blame for Hindy axing

[The Colonel]

Stuart: Eels form to blame for Hindy axing

Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart has singled out Parramatta’s Nathan Hindmarsh after the veteran was left out of the Australian side to play New Zealand on May 9 at the SCG.
Stuart says Parramatta’s wayward start to the season is to blame to Hindmarsh’s axing.
“I feel very sorry for Nathan Hindmarsh, who’s been with me since I started my representative coaching career,” Stuart said.
“The poor form from the club hasn’t helped Nathan, because I know you could throw any jumper on Nathan Hindmarsh and he would rise to the occasion.”
Spots in the back row were hotly contested, with Melbourne’s Ryan Hoffman as well as Cronulla pair Greg Bird and Paul Gallen winning positions, while Roosters duo Anthony Tupou and Willie Mason were picked on the bench.
“Michael Crocker could also feel unlucky,” Stuart said. “(Anthony) Laffranchi as well.”
Darren Lockyer’s selection as five-eighth and captain was locked in once he made it through the weekend unscathed.
“Darren being selected on his word is good enough for me,” Stuart said.

http://www.theserve.com.au/stuart-eels-form-to-blame-for-hindy-axing-20080427211806

 

[The Colonel]

Hagan accuses Stuart of playing Test team favourites

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan has fired back after Ricky Stuart blamed the Eels poor form for Nathan Hindmarsh’s omission from the Centenary Test, claiming the Kangaroos coach favoured Sharks players in team selection.
Hindmarsh was overlooked in the second row in favour of Sharks hard man Paul Gallen. The selections – as well as Stuart’s insinuation that Parramatta is to blame for Hindmarsh’s demise – prompted Hagan to give Stuart both barrels in an interview with The Australian.
“It’s clear the Test coach has got his players,” he said. “Gallen was always going to get preferential treatment I would have thought.”
“I just think it’s disappointing (Hindmarsh) hasn’t been given that opportunity seeing as he’s been an integral member of the Test team for a while,” Hagan told The Australian.
“The good players play well with good players around him. So even though his club team isn’t performing that well, I’m sure he would have handled the step up with Australia as he has always done.”
The attack from Hagan followed comments the Sharks coach made at the Test selection press conference.
“I feel very sorry for Nathan Hindmarsh, who’s been with me since I started my representative coaching career,” Stuart said.
“The poor form from the club hasn’t helped Nathan, because I know you could throw any jumper on Nathan Hindmarsh and he would rise to the occasion.”

http://www.theserve.com.au/hagan-accuses-stuart-of-playing-test-team-favourites-20080428002024

 

[Hutchy86]

I dunno why people are rushing to Hindy's defense..
I love the bloke & think he's one of best backrowers to pull on a blue & gold jersey, but he's in a form slump along with the rest of his team & there are other guys in the comp who've been far more thirsty for a Roo jersey.
I acknowledge he's had a tough start to the season, & his foot problems don't help.. but he just isn't the player he used to be.
It's gonna suck not seeing him run out for his country in a fortnights time.. but I hope his omission from the team gives him a kick up the ass.
& that's my 2 cents worth

 

[The Engineers Room]

I don't think Hindmarsh can blame his team mates, he doesn't deserve to make that team.

 

[Daneel]

Hindy may not have deserved selection but that doesn't change the fact the stuart favours his own players. Anthony Laffranchi would have been the first player i selected.

 

[Twizzle]

I'm not a fan of Sticky but I tend to agree with him

Its hard to go forward while all the other forwards are going backwards

 

[Stagger eel]

gee hasn't Hages fired up...

I also agree with Sticky.

 

[Hutchy86]

although I'm a fan of Paul Gallen.. he's missed most of the season on suspension & imo needs more game time to prove himself worthy of a rep jumper
I thought Laffranchi was a shoe-in tbh.. but given his selection for city/country it seems they want to ease him into rep duties. This guy could be in it for the long-term too.. gun player
*edit - spelling mistake

 

[TheRam]

I dunno why people are rushing to Hindy's defense..
I love the bloke & think he's one of best backrowers to pull on a blue & gold jersey, but he's in a form slump along with the rest of his team & there are other guys in the comp who've been far more thirsty for a Roo jersey.
I acknowledge he's had a tough start to the season, & his foot problems don't help.. but he just isn't the player he used to be.
It's gonna suck not seeing him run out for his country in a fortnights time.. but I hope his omission from the team gives him a kick up the ass.
& that's my 2 cents worth

Pretty lousy two cents worth, imho.

 

[TheRam]

The bloke is a machine. Always has been, as we all know. Nothing has changes. You take Nathan OUT and put any one of the so called better back rowers, who are supposedly in front of him now, IN, and lets see how they would fair. Geez some people are dreamers and or have no idea.

 

[attamarrap]

ryan hoffman is an absolute joke of a player!!!!

 

[The Rev]

Hindy may not have deserved selection but that doesn't change the fact the stuart favours his own players. Anthony Laffranchi would have been the first player i selected.

Spot On... Laffranchi is killing it...

He's scoring tries, try assists, offloads, line breaks, and gives you 80 minutes of quality...

At least now we know the real reason why Anthony Tupou signed with the Sharks for next season... ***Nudge, wink***

 

[Hutchy86]

The bloke is a machine. Always has been, as we all know. Nothing has changes. You take Nathan OUT and put any one of the so called better back rowers, who are supposedly in front of him now, IN, and lets see how they would fair. Geez some people are dreamers and or have no idea.

seems you're the dreamer bud..
I simply try and see it as it is, as much as I don't like it

 

[sooperdooper]

the eels form has alot to do with hindy not making it

 

[TheRam]

It's got nothing to do with liking it. I don't particularly like Hindy as his communications skills leave a lot to be desired, but the man can play. If he isn't in the NSW team watch them leak a hell of a lot of points. He is a try saver not a try maker. That is why I think the rep team back row should be -

Hindmarsh
Laffranchi
Bird

Bench -

Mason
Gallen

 

[TheRam]

Oh and while on rep teams selections. I also think the NSW halves should be -

7. Gidley
6. Anasta

My Reason being, lets face it, NSW don't have a decent No 7 no matter who we put there. So Gidley would offer similar distribution as would Finch or any other recognized half, but with a little more running in attack then all the other current contenders. The advantage also would be that there would be a lot more versatility in the team and we could the pick two more frontrowers on the bench besides Mason who can play second and front row.

 

[Snoochies]

Just quietly, this might be the extra kick in the guts Parra need. Now they have to come out and prove Stuart wrong. Can't wait for Parra V Cronulla

 

[Bigfella]

Oh and while on rep teams selections. I also think the NSW halves should be -

7. Gidley
6. Anasta

My Reason being, lets face it, NSW don't have a decent No 7 no matter who we put there. So Gidley would offer similar distribution as would Finch or any other recognized half, but with a little more running in attack then all the other current contenders. The advantage also would be that there would be a lot more versatility in the team and we could the pick two more frontrowers on the bench besides Mason who can play second and front row.

I think we need to acknowledge the blokes playing 7 for their clubs aren't up to scratch at origin level and start picking our best players.

Last season Gidley, Farrah, Bird, Gallen and Laffranchi were dominating the competition, and none of them were picked in the first games.

So yes, I agree we need to look outside the starting halfbacks for NRL clubs.

Something like Gidley 7 Anasta 6 or even Anasta 6 Bird 7 would be fine by me. Its not Stuart and Daley or Sterling and Kenny but we would at least be throwing hard, fit ferociouis competitiors at them and not conceding errors.

Throw our best 17 players at them. Worry about positions later. It's not ideal, but either is picking blokes who aren't good enough because they are in the right positions...

 

[Eels Dude]

I agree with Stuart's comments. I don't think Hindy has been playing that poorly. There's just too many in form back rowers running around at the moment, and unfortunately any bloke in a poor performing side isn't going to look as good as others.

There's not too many players who've not ben dropped from a rep side at some stage. Hindy's been picked in pretty much every rep side he's been available for over the last 4 to 5 years, that's a great record.

 

[Nikki]

Sticky is a cat just like his Captain Gallen. Gallen did not deserve a spot over Laffranci. And secondly, Hindy didnt deserve his spot and Sticky should have been man enough to say it rather than blame the whole Parramatta team.