The Final

[AuckMel]

Well done boys. Got the job done and unbeaten.

 

[MKEB...]

Is it time for a few of us (myself included) to re-assess our opinions of Stephen Kearney?

 

[Auckland4ever]

Is it time for a few of us (myself included) to re-assess our opinions of Stephen Kearney?

I had an issue with his conservatism, but the Kiwis played with a fantastic expansive style this series, exactly how you need to play against the Kangaroos. If we continue on in the same vain, I'll be all good with SK.

 

[WithTheDawn]

Fantastic to win the series undefeated and beat the Aussies twice in a row - what is the world coming to? It will be interesting the next time we play them when they hopefully have their full strength team back (and ours as well). As good as it is to beat them, its hard to know what to read into beating that Australian team.

 

[ozbash]

Is it time for a few of us (myself included) to re-assess our opinions of Stephen Kearney?

Yea maybe. The Kidwell influence was obvious. We never clocked off in either game.

 

[Rich102]

Really what Test Match football is all about. What a great series.
Well done Kiwi's.

 

[JJ]

Great game, and to be fair a fine effort by both teams - very understrength Aust team, but my got were they resilient - bring back Scott, Aussie Jim, Fifita, and Gallen and things are a bit different (for the reality check).

Manu was magnificent - he was my MoM, and the bench were awesome - Tapau on and Woods off and the game changed. Johnson had a wonderful game, and so too did Foran and Mannering I thought.

The ref was terrible, just horrible - the attention to kickers, the 10M being inconsistent, the soft penalties - just bizarre - the better team on the night won, but could well have gone to golden pt in the end - picking up a forward pass in that last move was bizarre, especially given the one missed in the preceding try...

Thoroughly enjoyable game, and tournament... and wonderful tournament by the Kiwis - lot to build on there...

 

[AuckMel]

Great game, and to be fair a fine effort by both teams - very understrength Aust team, but my got were they resilient - bring back Scott, Aussie Jim, Fifita, and Gallen and things are a bit different (for the reality check).

Manu was magnificent - he was my MoM, and the bench were awesome - Tapau on and Woods off and the game changed. Johnson had a wonderful game, and so too did Foran and Mannering I thought.

The ref was terrible, just horrible - the attention to kickers, the 10M being inconsistent, the soft penalties - just bizarre - the better team on the night won, but could well have gone to golden pt in the end - picking up a forward pass in that last move was bizarre, especially given the one missed in the preceding try...

Thoroughly enjoyable game, and tournament... and wonderful tournament by the Kiwis - lot to build on there...

Great post and well said.:thumn

 

[Skinner]

Yea maybe. The Kidwell influence was obvious. We never clocked off in either game.

Yes, maybe I. Should reassess my thoughts on Kiddy. My thoughts on Kearney remain.

 

[The European Polynesian]

The ref was terrible, just horrible - the attention to kickers, the 10M being inconsistent, the soft penalties - just bizarre - the better team on the night won, but could well have gone to golden pt in the end - picking up a forward pass in that last move was bizarre, especially given the one missed in the preceding try...

Not to mention policing playing the ball on the mark. Just about the only way the Aussies made meters was from playing the ball 1 or 2 meters off the mark and getting behind our markers.

 

[JJ]

Not to mention policing playing the ball on the mark. Just about the only way the Aussies made meters was from playing the ball 1 or 2 meters off the mark and getting behind our markers.

Maybe, he seldom had us back, which made it difficult... he was just poor all round, I didn't feel we were particularly disadvantaged...

In a way I was pleased he didn't do anything about the attention to Johnson on kicks - the Aussies had a (good) plan to get at him - and the great thing was he responded in the right way - just got on with it, no histrionics, no pissing and moaning, just lifted his game... I've made no secret I am not a huge Johnson fan, largely because he's never done what he did last night - which was just great...

 

[Mr Angry]

Time to open that can of whoop arse.

Not a whooping, but deserved winners.

Do you think English have figured out, they need all of their top squad playing NRL?

The kiwis do that is why they can beat us. They play in the best comp in League.

If Samoa had decent halves the would have ran third.

 

[ozbash]

In a way I was pleased he didn't do anything about the attention to Johnson on kicks - the Aussies had a (good) plan to get at him - and the great thing was he responded in the right way - just got on with it, no histrionics, no pissing and moaning, just lifted his game... I've made no secret I am not a huge Johnson fan, largely because he's never done what he did last night - which was just great...

I was pretty disappointed with that, if SJ had stayed down and they replayed it for the VR, aussie would have been pinged for it each time.. It encourages diving but it would have stopped it.

what about Bird, surely there's an Oscar waiting for him at the next academy awards

 

[playdaball]

Not a whooping, but deserved winners.


If Samoa had decent halves the would have ran third.

If the Poms had a decent #7 they may have finished 2nd. Their half (Smith?) has terrible whilst Widdop is class.

 

[playdaball]

Just a thought ...

How much influence did Kidwell have this year? The team seemed to play a different more open Kiwi style.

 

[TheDMC]

Bellamy had a lot of influence.

Bromwich, Harris, and Proctor, they are real solid international forwards.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Winning the tournament is great, but it's the back to back that matters most to me. And nothing resembling luck being involved in either of those wins. Manu and Johnson both brilliant. Hate to say it, but Johnson is wasted at the Warriors. To much weight on one pair of shoulders.

Probably not true, it just shows you what he can do when he has forwards that go forward

 

[Cold Roses]

Just a thought ...

How much influence did Kidwell have this year? The team seemed to play a different more open Kiwi style.

I think it was more apparent in our defensive structures. We showed real steel this tournament. Most tries conceded were out wide or through 2nd phase play.

It just felt like they really had their shit together and had a lot of confidence.

It was notable that the traditional Kiwi style of trying to assert dominance by smashing everything that moves in the opening 20 mins was not even a consideration. That's why we were still in the contest for both Ausiie games in the last 20 mins as well, rather than having run out of steam and standing around with hands on hips. Good stuff.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

[/B]

Probably not true, it just shows you what he can do when he has forwards that go forward

This.

And saying Johnson is wasted at the Warriors because theres too much weight on his shoulders is arse backwards thinking- Johnson isn't the problem, its the players that aren't giving him the platform to work off that are. Get the forward pack firing, back and a consistent 5/8th to work with and I've no doubt he'll be playing like a champion week in, week out.

 

[Mr Angry]

If the Poms had a decent #7 they may have finished 2nd. Their half (Smith?) has terrible whilst Widdop is class.

Perhaps, just proves the point.

One NRL quality, one not.