grouch said:
I think, if anything, that cheapens the Australian jersey, just as much as people have alleged Johns of doing. They should simply pick the best player.
good point. Lets take that line of thinking and have a look at the selections.
They need to fill two postions: Halfback and 5/8th. Now you say that they should pick the best player.
So the best halfbacks going around are:
Andrew Johns
Scott Prince
The best 5/8ths going around (Aussies only) are:
Barrett
Locky
Thurston
Anasta
Now johns wont get the 7 jersey because he is unavailable in which case, the 2nd best halfback available is Prince.
As for the 5/8th, Locky (although i recon he has dropped alot) is supposably the best with barret not far behind him and thurston not far behind him either. Who to choose from? Remember you said they have to pick the best player. Barrett or Locky?
If 'the best player' was chosen then it would be:
7. Prince
6. Locky or Barrett (personally i'd go barrett)
However this is where the 'favorites' games starts to come in and we will see that Barrett will be given the number 7 jersey and locky the number 6 jersey leaving Prince (who is arguably the best halfback in the game aside from Johns) in the cold.
Is it:
a - the "BEST" player in that position that should be selected or
b - the "BEST" player regardless of wheather or not he plays in that postion
Barrett hasn't played 1/2 all year, but i bet you anything that he will get it.
Now is that fair?