Team v Roosters

[Iron Lion]

Wow, Villsanti, home built and marque in the same sentence - new heights of absurdity IL (not to mention Marsh, Webb etc) :lol:

Think about it dummy, those guys except maybe marsh above had barely no status until playing under Daniel Anderson, so yes home built.

Villasanti under Anderson became a Kangaroo and a top 3 prop in the game, it was an controversial tour incident that seriously impacted his career. His rise to the top was absolutely phenomenal.

In fact has there been a harder hitting prop in the game since he left? I struggle to think of a bigger hitter, Matulino on his best day maybe.

 

[JJ]

PJ Marsh was already a good player at the Eels

Villisant top 3 prop in the game?? Are you serious?? He had a good year, but I've not heard him described as one of the top 3 props in the game before, and a ridiculous selection on the Kangaroo tour...

But whatever floats your boat - from memory in the Australian squad Webcke, Civo, Kearns, Clinton, Mason and probably Waterhouse were all ahead of him - Poms had Fielden who was definitely better than him, probably McDermott too - not to mention Kiwis Rauhihi, N (& J) Cayless, Seuseu, and that Wiki fella

 

[Iron Lion]

PJ Marsh was already a good player at the Eels

Villisant top 3 prop in the game?? Are you serious?? He had a good year, but I've not heard him described as one of the top 3 props in the game before, and a ridiculous selection on the Kangaroo tour...

But whatever floats your boat - from memory in the Australian squad Webcke, Civo, Kearns, Clinton, Mason and probably Waterhouse were all ahead of him - Poms had Fielden who was definitely better than him, probably McDermott too - not to mention Kiwis Rauhihi, N (& J) Cayless, Seuseu, and that Wiki fella

Mate not sure if you watched the 2001 and 2002 NRL seasons but Villasanti was the boss. Mason and Waterhouse were not props, they played in the 2nd row, Waterhouse mainly at lock.

That leaves Webcke, Civo, Kearns and Clinton from the Aussie. Webcke and Civo - legends season in and out. Villasanti raised to that level over those 2 seasons he was that good. Kearns and Clinton while good wernt better than Villasanti. Clinton had had a breakout year and Kearns was solid as always but not blockbusting.

Fielden, fantastic prop, man of steel but wasnt playing season in and out of NRL quality. Wiki ..... thats a stupid one, great player and legend but as a prop very solid but not a superstar. Seuseu I really rate, world class prop and consistent. Rauhihi was so up and down, when motivate he crushed it, when not was a passenger. Cayless brothers both strong, huge hearts but not top 5 props.

So I struggle to see your argument here, especially when you throw 2nd rowers into the mix I think you probably missed the 2001/02 seasons

 

[JJ]

The Aussies 3 prop rotation was Webcke, Civo and Kearns. Waterhouse was at his best off the bench as a ball playing prop early in his career - from memory the Aussies only picked Villa because there was a worry we might. Pretty sure CLinton and Mason were on the bench, Mason as an impact prop, because they had the likes of Fitzgibbon and Ricketson in the back row

Nathan Cayless was 5 times the player Villa was, and Rauhihi was exceptional for a season or two, like Villa - but better than him

 

[Iron Lion]

The Aussies 3 prop rotation was Webcke, Civo and Kearns. Waterhouse was at his best off the bench as a ball playing prop early in his career - from memory the Aussies only picked Villa because there was a worry we might. Pretty sure CLinton and Mason were on the bench, Mason as an impact prop, because they had the likes of Fitzgibbon and Ricketson in the back row

Nathan Cayless was 5 times the player Villa was, and Rauhihi was exceptional for a season or two, like Villa - but better than him

Its criminal how you dont rate Villasanti, He got picked for Australia because he was on fire those 2 seasons, if the Kiwis could of got him that would of been brilliant. I remember rabs and sterlo waxing superlatives about him and what monster he was on both attack and defense. In his time at the warriors he is far better than any prop that has played NRL for the Warriors over the last 5 years except Matulino.

 

[jaseg]

JWH out, Matagi in

Tomkins still in doubt :/

 

[ozbash]

Tomkins still in doubt :/

I doubt we'll see him again..

 

[Blair]

I doubt we'll see him again..

Putting politics aside for a minute, knee injuries usually stuff people for a fair amount of time. It won't be surprising if he's gone till later in the season, or the rest of it for that matter.

Or, he could try and hobble around for a game or two, here and there, and be pretty average.

It's a big shame, I think most of us wanted Tomkins to live up to the hype. He definitely had his moments though and I agree with sentiments expressed previously in this forum that we're a much better team when he's playing.

 

[jamaman]

J

Tomkins still in doubt :/

Forget about the Pom! as Devlin says on Radio Sport

 

[WithTheDawn]

We have a much better chance winning with a fit Tomkins in the team - but yes, not much point having him hobble around. When fit I feel that our attacking plays just seem to link together better, he really knows how to come up and insert himself into the line at the right time. Need him back and fit already, but if he is touch and go to play then I doubt he will play today.

Obviously Tui comes off the bench to FB if that is the case, who do we get on the bench then? Wright 18th man, but no point playing him off the bench. Maybe Havilli, or another forward?