Wests Tigers for Origin????

[simon says]

I can see two possibilties.Ive ruled Skandy out,just too many in front of him IMHO.The two I think are possibles are Sattler and Prince.

Reason being that both positions are low on candidates.

At lock all I can think of would be Crocker and Carroll.Neither are full on locks,more utility players.If Sattler keep his form up,which has been awesome,I reckon he could jag a spot at lock.

Second one is Scott Prince.His competetion is Fien and Seymour.Well we have just played both of them and Prince was by far the best half against both.By so far its not funny.Ive watched all of Seymours games this year and havent seen to much really.And Fien was way out of sorts against us.Unless they move Berrigan back to half,which they could do as they have plenty of centres(Tate,Hodges,Hegarty and co).But Berrigan is going so well at centre I doubt(and hope) they will.

We may just have ourselves two origin players for the first time in donkeys,and both playing for QLD....who would believe it????

 

[Mighty Tiger]

Mate I think you could be spot on ;-)

Prince is just starting to show some signs that he is getting back into his best form and well we all know how good that would be not just for the club but for himself as well

Sattler I think ever since that tackle he made in the GF he has like become nearly the god of locks in Australia, well at least around the Wests Tigers.

Hagan has big raps on Sattler and I have no doubt that both could very well be picked during this years SOO

However in saying this we do want them to go as far as they can but at the same time do you think we could cope without those 2 key players for 3 weeks during the SOO period ????

 

[Tigerpete]

Prince and Sattler i believe are out two most realisti hopes. City /Country though should see skando at least be named.

 

[tiger_nick]

Unfortunetly I can't see Skando getting picked no matter how good his form is. Rep selections can be very political and there are two very influential groups in league. One is the channel 9 crew (Gould, Sterling, Warren etc) the other is News/2GB (Friligoose, Hadleyetc). Sadly for Skando they don't get on at all and while the News/2GB reguarly give Skando wraps, he dosen't wear a knights, roosters, broncos or saints jumper so the people that matter in rep selections (9) won't even give him a look in.

 

[Mighty Tiger]

I somehow doubt that Ray Warren has ever had any influence on a player being selected in any side let alone under 8's out at Dapto :roll:

Gould on the other hand does have a right to select who he wants to play in his side over the last few years, just remember nick that Skando has been selected for City/Country and Gould does have a say in those sides as well.

I think more to the point Skando would only be selected if injuries happened (Gobbs in 2 rounds time start Knee capping ok ;-) )

Bailey, Ryles, Waterhouse, Villasanti, O'Hara, Parsons, O'Mealy, Clinton, and Perry just to name a few would all be infront of the big man at the moment not people from the media :roll:

 

[simon says]

Ill shorten that list of front rowers Phil,I reckon Bailey,Clinton,Perry,O Hara,Davico would be in front of him.That puts him at 6.O Meley and Vilasanti have to prove they are fit and ready.Waterhouse is a lock.Ryles is injured.

So he is thereabouts.Shoe in for city/country.NSW....well if he has a blinder in that game he might sneak in.

I dont know about anyone else,but Im stinging to get some players in the rep matches.They just arent the same without any WTs there.

 

[tiger_nick]

I can promise you Villasanti will never play city/country again let alone soo or test.

So you think Warren has no influence on selections?

Wouldnt you think a man whos voice is the most associated with league in the land has some form of influence over who you think is playing well? If all you hear all game is 'How good is Skandalis going? Mark this kid down for a blue jumper!' from Rabs for a few weeks do you think people arent going to start mentioning him more often? Do the selectors watch the games with the sound turned down? Its all part of the media my friend. The same as why the most played songs on radio sell the most records and win the most accolades. I suppose Ray Martin has no influence on A Current Affair issues :roll:

The only reason Andrew Ryan played Origin was cause of Warren. I remember he wrapped him all night on a Friday. I said that night 'watch Ryan get picked in Origin on Sunday' sure enough he was despite his name not ever been mentioned in city/country let alone origin team talks previously.

Bailey had his name on the number 8. Clinton will be there somewhere. The other one or two will be between O'Mealey, Davico, Perry , O'Hara, Stevens and Skandalis.

Gee thats not a great list is it?

I remember about 5 years ago when it was between Haragon, Carroll, Lazourus, Pay, Howe etc.

 

[Balmainia]

if any of them at all get chosen for origin I hope they turn it down to focus on their club team

 

[innsaneink]

I doubt that Prince will see a maroon jumper this year unless his form improves dramatically....he's be luck to get a city or country jumper if he was a blue.
Satts age could be a factor though I doubt it, I think he'd be more of a chance than Prince, bench maybe ....which is where I think Skandos opportunity will be if his form keeps up and improves.
I'd rate Skando the best chance, then Satts then Prince, though all fairly long odds.

if any of them at all get chosen for origin I hope they turn it down to focus on their club team

Fat chance of that happening.

 

[simon says]

Well if Prince doesnt get it,who will???

 

[Dale.2.]

Sattler might be a chance for QLD but i see more competition in that spot than i do the NSW front row,Flannery,Crocker,Carlaw,Norton,Harrison, Wagon,Campion,Carroll in that order are contenders and i'd say Sattler would be about 4th or 5th in line.

With Prince and Sattler it depends on how big a say Hagan has and who he would favour because based on past selections Bennett will pick Berrigan at half and someone like Flannery at lock,a bench spot for both of them looks the best chance but hey at least we are in contention.

I was reading the other day that without Skando our win% drops from 35.4 to 14.3,thats a big drop and highlights how good he is.

Unfortunately the NSW selectors have this thing for "leg speed" and "winning culture" but if Skando makes city/country and plays well he could force their hands.

Who else do we have,it's a shame Boof is injured he'd go close maybe the old fella Moodie might be a show lol.

 

[Papa_smurf]

Hodgson has bein playn good but he woodnt get the fullback role over Minichello but what about on the wing who wood b infront of him their?

 

[HappyTiger]

Prince and Satts would be good chances for Qld.Skandalis should get a bench spot for the blues.

 

[tiger_nick]

Hodgson has bein playn good but he woodnt get the fullback role over Minichello but what about on the wing who wood b infront of him their?

Umm Lewis, Tahu, Rooney, ElMasri, MacDouggall, Monaghan, De Vere, Roberts, Grothe, Geyer and even Moodie!

 

[steven_tiger]

Hodgson has bein playn good but he woodnt get the fullback role over Minichello but what about on the wing who wood b infront of him their?

Umm Lewis, Tahu, Rooney, ElMasri, MacDouggall, Monaghan, De Vere, Roberts, Grothe, Geyer and even Moodie!

pfff... you're dreaming.

minichello is far more likely to get a wing spot then monaghan, devere, roberts, grothe, geyer and moodie... none of them re even in the same league as him!

wont happen anyway... he's killing it at fullback. hodgos got no chance.

 

[steven_tiger]

my back 3 for nsw at this stage out of that lot would be:
1. Minichello
2. Lewis
5. MacDougall

that wont even happen though.
id say it will be:
1. Minichello
2. Tahu
3. ???
4. MacDougall
5. Lewis

 

[Kid]

Skando won't play origin simply because he is not , how can i put this without offending people, an enforcer? He does lots of hit ups, a lot of tackles, but i doubt very much that he is the sort of player that strikes fear into the opposition. One thing origin has proven over the years is you need blokes who hit HARD, run HARD and can get to their feet QUICKLY to play the ball. Skando runs hard, although there are harder runners, imho he doesn't tackle hard, and he plays the ball too slow. I don't think he will be in the team and as a Wt supporter, if i was a selector i wouldn't pick him either.

 

[oro]

If Harrison can string a few good games together he may win a spot in the kiwi side. Hadley spoke well of Halatau as well. Mentioned that he was in the running for a kiwi spot.

 

[magpiemax]

S.O.O. Great That's all we need more oppurtunity's for injuries.I understand players want to play in origin but i hope none of our players make the squad.I know i may sound selfish but that's only because i am. ;-)

 

[Gobbso]

I think more to the point Skando would only be selected if injuries happened (Gobbs in 2 rounds time start Knee capping ok ;-) )

Mate, i'm way ahead of you. I've got the crowbar ready and waiting 8)

Every man and his dog knows that Skandalis is in brilliant form, and has been carrying Wests Tigers all season. As he's done for years. He's trimmer and fitter than he's been, and it is showing in his performance's. Leading the hit-up's in the NRL and is making his fair share of tackles aswell. Does he deserve Origin consideration? HELL YES! Will he get?

I doubt it very much. As everyone has stated, sadly politics play a very big role in representative selections. Gould and co. have their favourites. I really hope i'm wrong, because there's no other Prop in the comp that deserves a Blues jersey more than John Skandalis. City Origin is his greatest hope, but even that can prove to be a bit of a joke. In 2002, he was the best forward and possibly the best player on the field, still he was overlooked.

Either way, he's doing one hell of a job for Wests. And he'll always be a hero for the Tigers. As usual he's leading the way, and setting the platform. Nothing out of the ordinary really. We've come to expect that from Skando 8)