"You don’t understand Test footy if you don’t play it" - Mal Meninga

[Jatz Crackers]

Paps is a myth of cordner proportions I mean.

Is that a Pap smear ?

 

[Brutus]

Here's what Mal doesn't understand. The NRL competition has fans who support individual clubs who's sole priority is to win a premiership. Most don't care for test football because its significance to the regular season is nil.

These games are for the players of the game to be rewarded for their form and represent their country. For them it must be a great privilege but for the fans we all want our players back in one piece and playing the following week.

In addition to the above the eligibility laws make the whole selection process a farce. I believe you could make some very good teams using players who actually played for their country of birth.

fans just wanted to see the best players play a showcase game, we did that, we made the all stars and it was great to begin with but now players just pull out and the meaning is lost.

The game is for the fans Mal, if we don't like it then maybe you don't understand the fans.

f**k you and f**k Gould.

 

[nomis88]

Couldn't give a stuff about test footy

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Gould needs to stop commentating. He is a complete annoyance at pretty much all times.

 

[butchmcdick]

So are the NRL club officials allowed to bag the refs, players and officials each week or is it just Gus who can say what he likes without fear of penalty ?

 

[big hit!]

I'm still hoping that's media hype. Duges at the back for mine, otherwise leave Duges out completely.

don't you know how to pick a rep rugby league side?? you now have to select 3 to 4 fullbacks. one at fullback, one at centre and one or two on the wing. f**k most of the guys who actually play as centres and wingers week-in, week-out.

on Gould, he has valid points, but as usual chooses to use the commentary gig where he should limit his opinions to what is happening on the field but instead voices shit that should be left to his SMH column.

18 months from a world cup and this Roos team is already the oldest in history. age shouldn't be the only determinant to decide whether a player's time is up, but f**k me, some of these guys are going to be geriatrics by the time the next WC is staged, and these players have already been 2nd best for the last 2-3 years against the Kiwi's best.

The issue is, The Roos don't play enough games where you can have a play with the team and expose up and comers to the stage. 3 or 4 games a year and that's it. Meninga doesn't have the luxury of an ANge Postacoglou who has up to 15 games a year to try players before a major tournament.

end of the day, most of the players selected were on the winning side of the last meaningful trial - 52 to 6.

 

[johnny plath]

I think that the reaction to the Aust team is a bit over the top. Meningas not going to blood a crop of new players all at the same time. There were four debutants last night, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there is a similar number blooded in this year’s four nations. There’s a whole new generation of players developing in the nrl at the moment that will continue to develop this season, some of them will/should get more experience in this year’s origin. By the time next year’s world cup rolls around I think there will be plenty of new blood mixed in with the experience. To be fair to the dads army crop, other than Thaiday who isn’t even an NRL starter anymore, who would come in right now to take their places. Australia’s depth is its strength with a young crop still coming through. Just picking a few from each NRL team I can find a lot of quality developing. All of these might not become Kangaroos, but a good portion will, and I think apart from Chambers none have even played origin yet but must be somewhere around the mark.
Fullbacks: Coote, Mitchell, Barba, Holmes, Tedesco, Munster
Wings: Feldt, Oates, Trobjovic,
Centres: Roberts, Bird, Chambers Wighton
Halves: Milford, Mbye, Moylan, Austin,
Locks: Trobjovic, Grevshmul,
2nd rows: Lowe, Cartwright,
Props: James, Napa, RCG Vaughn
Hookers: Friend, Granville

 

[RedVDragon]

Poor old Gus. Since winning the Grand Final many many moons ago he hasn't really achieved anything. Yes he won some SOO for NSW but none as great at big Mals record. He gets in bed with the Rorters in a hope he brings glory to them only to find Sticky has success. Gus then gets jealous and gets rid of Sticky. Gus then goes off to the Panthers with a 5 year plan, Gus the plan was meant to be achieved 5 years ago so do you have another 5 year plan. Well I suppose you have spend money getting rid of a real good coach in Cleary hiring and ok coach in Hook and spending money on this so called centre of excellence. Are you getting my drift here Gus only knows how to spend other people's money and get rid of people he gets intimidated by.

So Ronald you under achiever p, yes you have a good football mind however if you park your ego and jealousy you may have realised more success in both your coaching and general manager life. Gus, get a reality check.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Mal is one of my favourite players but his response to Goulds comments was a rash desperate get back. Gould always goes on and makes some good points and some questionable ones. Despite the Roos winning it wasn't a thrashing and that's why I think Gus was really fuming. Long gone are the days where the Roos use to thrash the Kiwis on a fairly regular, in saying that, because we the Kiwis were to do without players, I too thought we'd get beat 50-0. At least I got the nil right FFS.

I wonder what WAYNE BENNETT the greatest League coach ever would be thinking? Did Wayne play test match footy?

The game has changed a lot since the destruction days of Mal Meninga. No current international coach has played the modern day Rugby League so how does Mal know how to coach the modern game? Almost the same as every other coach does or tries to.

So you don't have to play test footy to coach an international side to success? Of course not, you know that.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Didn't Hagan coach Qld anyway?

 

[siv]

Gus has never played Test football

So has no idea

 

[deluded pom?]

Why is this thread still open? I doubt anyone contributing to it has ever played Test football so none of us has a valid opinion according to Meninga.

 

[juro]

Thank goodness Meninga pulled the pin on his political career as quickly as he did, if this is how he handles a bit of criticism.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Gould and Meninga have never liked each other. Gould used to tell Daley to keep Mal waiting at the coin toss during Origin just to rile him up...although Mal was doing it first.