Why not Luke Lewis?

[Razor]

I would have had Lewis in my side right from the start. I'd actually have him in my full strength Aussie side.

But Darren Smith ahead of Lewis? Come on. What's the go there? Surely Lewis deserves a go ahead of Smith.

 

[eastsrule]

Fact is Lewis was on the tour along with Waterhouse and Clinton, for experience. I didn't see the pre aashes matches but maybe his form in those was not up to scratch.

Smith apparently had a good season in ESL and has versatility, I can understand Anderson's selection.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Chris Anderson = the most biased Aussie coach ever.

 

[Eskimo Sharkie]

It would be easy to slot Lewis into the starting line up and give him some international experience in what is a dead rubber. But Anderson wants this to be a clean sweep and have this as the first Australian side to achieve this in years. Hence Smith's inclusion. Heaps of experience and solid out wide. Defensively, Lewis is suspect and I personally think that would hand the advantage back to Great Britain. Putting Crocker into 5/8th is also a shrewd move and Australia will have a very strong defensive line up.

As much as I'd love to see Lewis play, I'd much rather see a 3-0 clean sweep as beating the Poms is one thing that you never get sick of (apologies to any Poms who may read this). It may not be a pretty game to watch but I'll bet it's effective.

 

[PB]

its not like the poms have either of their first choice centres so why not give Lewis a go. I feel for Lewis and would be asking to return home to help prepare with my club for next year, and screw Anderson.

There is a reason you take a "squad" on tour. Anderson clearly had this idea in mind before he left our shores, otherwise i dont think Girdler would have gone and they would have taken another centre.

 

[JJ]

It would be easy to slot Lewis into the starting line up and give him some international experience in what is a dead rubber. But Anderson wants this to be a clean sweep and have this as the first Australian side to achieve this in years. Hence Smith's inclusion. Heaps of experience and solid out wide. Defensively, Lewis is suspect and I personally think that would hand the advantage back to Great Britain. Putting Crocker into 5/8th is also a shrewd move and Australia will have a very strong defensive line up.

As much as I'd love to see Lewis play, I'd much rather see a 3-0 clean sweep as beating the Poms is one thing that you never get sick of (apologies to any Poms who may read this). It may not be a pretty game to watch but I'll bet it's effective.

I actually suggested either Crocker or Bailey at standoff with Gower at half in these forums a while back (I like Wing off the bench). But that's not a shrewd move, it's a desparate one because the squad was poorly selected - i.e., no 5/8 was picked.

Suggesting Darren Smith is a better option to cover the backs than Luke Lewis is ridiculous. He's an old man, and was never a centre at this leve anyway. If Lewis was never good enough to come into test consideration (which, clearly in Anderson's opinion he's not) why the hell was he picked in the first place?? The games he's had were against 3rd rate opposition, so his game won't have benefitted. So, in short he's been on the piss for a month - hardly what the kid needs I would think.

And!! Why not give Clinton and Villa a go? It's not like the side would be wekened for their inclusion (for Kearns/Civo and Mason). It's a poor side anyway, has been since it left Australia. But I'd go as far to say that taking Willie Mason out of any side strengthens it!

 

[Caged Panther]

And!! Why not give Clinton and Villa a go? It's not like the side would be wekened for their inclusion (for Kearns/Civo and Mason). It's a poor side anyway, has been since it left Australia. But I'd go as far to say that taking Willie Mason out of any side strengthens it!

I think clinton's tackle on mason in the city vs country game this seaon pretty much sums up how the players compare to one another ie clinton has it all over mason. :lol: :lol:

 

[JJ]

And!! Why not give Clinton and Villa a go? It's not like the side would be wekened for their inclusion (for Kearns/Civo and Mason). It's a poor side anyway, has been since it left Australia. But I'd go as far to say that taking Willie Mason out of any side strengthens it!

I think clinton's tackle on mason in the city vs country game this seaon pretty much sums up how the players compare to one another ie clinton has it all over mason. :lol: :lol:

Of course he does. For that matter - so do these guys - Mark O'meley, Steve Price, Andrew Ryan, Dennis Scott, Steve Reardon, Jamie Feeney, etc. How Mason is the 1 Bulldog forward picked is a bit beyond me - I'm not saying that more than 1 should have gone - but Mason???

 

[PB]

Why have selectors?! I mean if you were a selector back in Australia who named a squad in the faith that they were all going to get a go, then the coach goes plucking blokes out of england to play, doesnt it make a mockery of your role?

regardless of wether Smith plays the game of his life, or plays crap, it shouldnt happen unless in a desperate situation, which we are not.

And if enjoy a good conspiracy theory, what about this. Girdler was named to tour despite clearly having a bad injury, and know back up centres were taken. Darren SMith was conveniently at an early training session them named 18th man for the second test. I think he intended to use Smith all along, which makes you ask, why take Lewis at all?

Add to that the rumor that Anderson is linked to the Bulldogs as a coaching director if his job falls by the by at the sharks, and with Smith being a life member at the "family club", you have to do what you can to show you still love the dogs to the new board....

 

[socksie]

i would've given lewis a go...

the poor bugger had to train with the roos after the grand final and travelled all the way to GB to watch to watch the first two games on the sideline... now it's the last game and makes no difference to the outcome of the series and he's not a bad player at all. coming off a minor and major premiereship and being selected for the tour makes him a much better player than a lot of other wingers.

it is unbelievable that they would choose a player who doesnt even play in the nrl and hasnt been part of the team from the beginning and thus has to learn quickly and adapt to the playing style whereas lewis has been there since day one and still not given a chance to prove himself

ditto for joel clinton who has been wonderful for the panthers this year

 

[aqua_duck]

i would've given lewis a go...

the poor bugger had to train with the roos after the grand final and travelled all the way to GB to watch to watch the first two games on the sideline... now it's the last game and makes no difference to the outcome of the series and he's not a bad player at all. coming off a minor and major premiereship and being selected for the tour makes him a much better player than a lot of other wingers.

it is unbelievable that they would choose a player who doesnt even play in the nrl and hasnt been part of the team from the beginning and thus has to learn quickly and adapt to the playing style whereas lewis has been there since day one and still not given a chance to prove himself

ditto for joel clinton who has been wonderful for the panthers this year

I think if you asked Lewis whether he'd rather play or sit on the sideline, well lets just say it'd be a rhetorical question. I thought the bloke should've been there from the outset in front of that hopeless lump of lard Phil Bailey (good thing Crocker injured him), he's the best young centre in Australia in my opinion, and surely he's a better centre/utility back than Darren Smith. Considering Smith was considered too slow for the centres at NRL level 2 years ago, is basically semi retired after playing out his one year deal with St helens. I also can't believe Willie Mason keeps getting rewarded for crap performances with reselection, does Anderson actually watch him play?

 

[Caged Panther]

I found it laughable that in saturdays telegraph anderson was qouted as saying lewis isn't quite ready for the step up to test footy. I mean fair dinkum the guy played in a a grand final winning side if he wasn't good enough to be on in the test side he shouldnt have been on tour.

 

[try]

according to lewis' mum, he's a non drinker and thus wasn't part of the 'bonding sessions'

apparently the jumper has to be earned, not given away :roll:
bailey at centre? :roll:
darren smith? :roll:

he must really think of them as future super players, why else would he put them through such setbacks? huge lessons he wants them to learn??

 

[aqua_duck]

I think Anderson claiming Lewis isn't ready for test football is an insult to Luke Lewis, by saying that a bloke who's semi retired in darren smith has more to offer, its an insult to the Penrith junior leagueswho have developed Lewis, an insult to John Lang by saying that his player isn't up to scratch, and an insult to NSW and Australian selectors who both had Lewis in various rep squads.

 

[PB]

Perhaps Luke accidently let slip that he thinks Preston campbell is a good player.

we all know what Anderson does to Presto sympathises!...sends them packing!

 

[Mr Angry]

I thought it was nice of Chris to give Luke an English Holiday after his hard season. He even saved him when it looked like he might have to play - bought in a sub.
Lewis will be nice and refreshed.