Australian Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis – Friday night – Hunter Stadium
Australian Kangaroos
- Darius Boyd
- Semi Radradra
- Greg Inglis
- Josh Dugan
- Blake Ferguson
- Jonathan Thurston
- Cooper Cronk
- Matt Scott
- Cameron Smith (c)
- Paul Gallen
- Josh Papalii
- Matt Gillett
- Corey Parker
- Josh McGuire
- Michael Morgan
- James Tamou
- Sam Thaiday
- Aiden Guerra
Coach - Mal Meninga
New Zealand Kiwis
- Jordan Kahu
- Jason Nightingale
- Shaun Kenny-Dowell
- Gerard Beale
- Dallin Watene Zelezniak
- Tohu Harris
- Shaun Johnson
- Jesse Bromwich (c)
- Lewis Brown
- Adam Blair
- Kevin Proctor
- Manu M'au
- Jason Taumalolo
- Kodi Nikorima
- Greg Eastwood
- Martin Taupau
- Sam Moa
- Brad Takairangi
- Kenneth Bromwich
Coach - Steve Kearney
* note: team line-ups are subject to considerable change, but will be updated as news filters through.
Two things jump out at me as I work my way through the teams for the ANZAC Test. Firstly, the rise of Josh. Josh used to be the name of the nice boyfriend in US sitcoms, but we've got three of them playing for the Green and Gold on Friday night, and none of them look like the nice boyfriend in a US sitcom. The other thing I noticed was that, despite all the injuries and issues in New Zealand, their side is, by some measures, more stable than the Kangaroos. Just five players in the Kangaroos line-up are playing in the same position as they were in the corresponding test last year. The Kiwis have seven, and they've got the same coach too. Stability is usually a good thing, but some of the stability is borne out of the fact that the Kiwis have less depth to draw on. Of greatest concern to me is the changes to the Kiwi spine, with some vital players unavailable and three of the four playing outside of their club position. Now I like Tohu Harris more than most people. He's chronically under-rated (check out his season stats this year), but he's no Jonathan Thurston. I love the way Lewis Brown plays the game too, but he's no Cameron Smith. And Jordan Kahu gets shunted to a wing at the Broncos for you know who. These are key positions, and all three will give it their all, but they aren't in the same league as the players opposite.
I do like the Kiwis forward pack - that's an all-star pack with three big boppers coming off the bench, and they'd be even more frightening if Tamou and Papalii swapped jerseys. If the Kiwis win this they win it in the middle, Shaun Johnson finds his best form on the back of that, and he gets them home. It's unlikely, but far from impossible.
While we're talking about size and how much it matters, take a look at the Kangaroos numbered 2 through 5 - that's like having four Mal Meningas in your backline. Can the Kiwis contain them all? I say no. That's where the points will come, but it's the experience of the Kangaroos at 1,6,7 and 9 that will prove the difference. A Kanagroos victory...it's been a while.
Verdict – Kangaroos 25 : Kiwis 12
First try scorer - Blake Ferguson
Man of the Match - Cooper Cronk
Comments
Submitted by christine on
The point is I had to say something first to get you to stop & I didn't tar you with that brush you guys tarred yourselves .
Submitted by christine on
I'm not against you guys having some fun I put up with that on a daily basis from all the yobos I went to school with , you guys can resume doing what u like & when I've had enough of it i'll just tune out for a while .
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Thank Christ, Mitchell Pearce has finally grown up enough to realise he's not State of Origin material. You could even say there's a common denominator.
Only 4 wins out of 15 games.
Zero series wins out of 6 series contested.
2008 - 1 game - Qld Champions
2010 - 2 games - Qld Champions
2011 - 3 games - Qld Champions
2012 - 3 games - Qld Champions
2013 - 3 games - Qld Champions
------------------------------------------
2014 - 0 games - NSW Champions
------------------------------------------
2015 - 3 games - Qld Champions
The Pearce Free Blues Zone was the ingredient I was waiting for before I was ready to load up on a Blues win.
Load up Blues fans. Time's up old timers.
Submitted by The Thinker on
I'm liking this clean looking Australian jersey. If there is a sponsor it's hard to find them.
Submitted by a on
Austrilia won Yes
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Great win by the Aussies but the test match itself was average to say the least bring on round 10. That's ok mark but I believe that we could be in for 2 great games on the double header just have a feeling that the mighty eagles may shock will see buddy .big Pete how are ya mate looking fotward to meeting up oneday ok.and as I always say go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssss
Submitted by mark ashford on
Good to see the Aussies have a win and also happy to see Gal with MOM.
Not normally a Gal fan but he was exceptional tonight.
Channel 9 commentators saying Aussie win was ordinary. Would like to see them out on the field doing what our boys did.
An ageing team, maybe but still a winning one.
Yes FORTRESS looking forward to my Broncs playing your Manly should be a cracker of a game.
Very happy to see no injuries tonight for either team.
How good was Broncs Jordan Kahou for the kiwis...almost a MOM for the losing side.
Christine, come on Christine, you know we love and support you with your MS. Don't take anything personal.....for all you know Footy Chick could be my brother!!!
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Yeah mark mate it should be a cracker capacity crowd expected can't wait we get all our troops. back witch wil make it very interesting anyways better get back to the fort and in my famouse words go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssss
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yeah get back on guard Fortess. The place has been a visitors paradise this year and you know who your next visitor is don't you? Lost 3 out of the 4 previous Panther visits and the other was the famous 26-25 in 2014 when the clock somehow broke with a minute to go, allowing time for the last try. We finished top 4 in 2014, but this year we are a far more complete outfit. Get back on guard. History shows you sleep on your watch.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Toovey agrees with me, Thinker & Baggy ....
Toovey, though, is dead against Parramatta being given any hope of winning the competition this year.
"Because you've assembled a group of players that otherwise wouldn't be there - and very good players too," Toovey said on Fox Sports' NRL 360.
"I mean, last year they signed four key, high-profile players (Kieran Foran, Beau Scott, Michael Jennings and Michael Gordon).
"How do you do that if you're over the cap the two years before?"
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Coach your up very early what happened the wife kicked you out of bed. anyway well if u look back in history and I hope u do your research the clock fiasco has happened before ,I remember thT game very well one of the games of that year if not the game of that year for mine a draw was the best result biut what a try to win the game I remember spears argued with the ref as he normally does but to no avail.if we can upset the broncos and your mob wins it will set up a mighty battle . To be hounest I'm my previous posts I said that the panthers were one of my tips for the comp this year only concern was they have lost many close matches but they seem to of addressed that they beat the broncos and hope rite for memory the ran the cowgirls to the wire.a definite threat if your mob stays healthy, the othe team was the mighty eagles in paper it's as good a forward pack as any the back line by many experts is still the best if we can get our fulfill squad on the park and play to our potential than the 50 bucks I put on the eagles vs panthers grand final at the start of the year could come to light , yes I know the broncos and cowgirls are favourites but with the rep games state of origin both eagles and panthers not as effected it could be a pitival turbo round in the comp injure thurston and Morgan the cowboys can't win injure Milford and Parker the bro is are gone what I'm saying is both those teams will soon have smaller turnarounds and heavy rep input this is where injuries set I'm then we may see a twist in the title race it's a long way to go but I think we may see a shock grand final and if it is the long shot though both teams are more than capable than I may well shout u a ticket to the big one and if your mob than happens to lose than you can always come back and party with the rest of the mighty eagles at the fortress drinks on the house now you see coach I'm not that bad after all . And as I always say go the mighty sea eaglesssssssss
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Sorry coach I meant soward argued with the ref just to correct myself.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Coach
A very fair point from Toovs....or is it Tooves?
He's an accountant by trade.....still good with numbers.
Submitted by christine on
Mark you don't have to worry about my ms it's not your concern it's my battle & I don't even want to do that battle any more .
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Just checking you were still on guard and you were but unfortunately you'll be guarding for a while. Don't move, we are there in 5 weeks and 1 day.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Blatant bloody discrimination towards inanimate objects.
Coach CueBall makes the same point as Coach Potato but Thinker only says that C.C has a good point.
CueBall basically shot down Thinker's plan to get Parra back in 2016, but without saying as much. Yours truly took no prisoners, shot from the hip. Challenged Thinker to go back and sit on the ThinkTank a bit longer. Push a bit harder to produce something that didn't stink so bad.
Discrimination against the good ol' potato. That's it. I'm going to come up with my own Adam Goodes style war dance. Just need to work out how I can scare people without arms or legs, just facial expressions.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I've up and working already since 6 am this morning and now I have some time off before hitting my paying job. Sorry if this comes across as shirty. If the allegations that Foran is still owed $140,00 from Manly are true, then are Manly under the cap? And if they aren't did the use the same carrot that Parramatta used, and if that is true, are there any other players who have had the same done using this third party idea. Will Parra be the thread that unravels the entire cap mess that exists now?Does this mean that everyone in the compertition is guilty of the same offense as Parra and if so, can we have our money and our points back.
Submitted by christine on
I don't care what they say all clubs are doing it ...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Parra should have copied Bronco's and Sharks blueprint for salary cap breach / illegal substance use success. Refuse to allow auditors in the door, have any executive involved resign and then plead the equivalent of America's 5th amendment (not that we have one). Worked for Brisbane re salary cap. Worked for Sharks re illegal substance use. Look at both of them now.
Submitted by The Thinker on
You win Coach....I'm just trying to cut down on the carbs at the moment.
The Eels have been great this year - they look like one of the few teams outside Queensland that can contend this year. I just want an interesting competition.
Those at Manly shouldn't bellow too loudly. They've been buying players from elsewhere since Noah was a rampaging back-rower - and the Eels gifted them Jamie Lyon not so long ago.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Baggy, the example of Foran chasing $150k in owed 3rd party deals must beg the question, were these deals all just a lie? Was it Manly's way of keeping Foran at Manly by simply flashing a piece of paper saying "IOU $..." ?
I hear Radradra is also having 3rd party deals falling through at Parra. Did Parra play the same "IOU" card with Semi and scores of his teammates?
Is Parra over the cap based on Monopoly money false promises? Money that is never to be paid out. Figments of our imagination. Just pieces of paper saying "IOU" to get players to sign.
I wonder.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
No worries coach this is my fortress and no one dares as eagles dare to disturb it, we will be welcoming your mob a royal welcome and than giving u all a rite royal send off after ur mob has lost the battle trough the exit gates, mark Ashord buddy where in brissy do you reside hope u blokes up there at suncorp will welcome the king eagle with kindness bit of red carpet treatmemt or is that only reserved for mr bennett. Hey big Pete what's happened mate are u still with us hope ur keeping good how bout tooves the other nite the legend is still in fine voice but everything he said was rite what a rort talk bout digging your own grave. And rocket I hope if the mighty eagkes win you don't blast off into space if you do happen to say hello to Venus and on your way drop into Uranus well back to my kingdom and as I always say with pride go the mighty sea eaglessssssssssssssssssssz
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Ok on the IOU's, does getting a plum job count? Let's take Bob, Bob is worth $500,000 on the open market, if Club X wants him to stay but can only afford $150,000, if he gets $150,000 under the cap and then the promise of a role within the club for the missing $350,00 to take him up to market place value. Is it cheating to provide a sweetener to stay loyal but cheat under the cap? Bob gets the cash and then the career after NRL. But does this take away the chance that Club Y can't pick up the player. Is that cheating the intent of the salary cap?
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hello Coach and Fortress.
Well mate, there we standing in line at the Anzac Test (not Alamo), waiting for the National Anthems.
What did you notice most?
I bloody did, and as my first ever boss (work) who managed our R/League team, always said " have clean boots to play in, comb your hair and pull you socks up".
I'll leave the rest to you - what a disgrace. All but two Aussie Kangaroos had their socks up and all but about five NZ Kiwis - had theirs down.
Try and have a nice weekend lads - enjoy the rest and we'll be back into it again, next week. Double Header in Brisbane..........bringing in the dollars.
Big Pete in Bx.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Howdy Fortress - I am about Bro, but got a bit on the admin plate to attend to, plus 21st for my daughter next weekend.
I have meeting on Monday night for our Bathurst Sports Council of which I am an Exec Member.
Yes, the G. Tooves and A. Lockyer, seem to both have that gravelling, raspy voice. I hope you and King Lyon have a magic carpet ride into Suncorp. Hope Mark A catches up with you and you both give a Fourex (XXXX). He seems a nice bloke in his writings/bloggings. He gives credit where credit is due. Remember Young Fortress Fella, that most Qlder's love their sport and support it well. I just hope you dont get stuck amongst a tribe of them.
Cheers - Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Baggy G - the points should never be taken away from the teams. It is the supporters it hurts the most. I have been saying for years, before I joined you guys here at The Thinker site - that the Salary Cap is going to crucify rugby league. These high paid club execs, should be kicked hard and hit extra hard. The Shonky Deals they dream up and Third Party arrangements should always be passed through a Monitoring Panel.
Otherwise, you get what we have today and what was with The Melb. Storm.
Lift the cap on The Salary Cap and make this game better and stronger.
I know the population far exceeds ours, but get them to go take a look at UK and Euro Football (Soccer). BTW - The Real Football.
Dont forget also, that Manly has a Contracts Guru as their CEO who was once with Chelsea FC in the EPL. Name Joe Kelly and yes, he was once with Souths RLFC. Have a quiet chat with him and get this game right in the back board rooms.
Catch ya mate - Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Yeah Bro, same here.
I might have to go paddle across the water to meet you at The Corso or you come over to The Quay and we'll sample a couple of new brew "ginger beers". I would never expect you to migrate across The Sandstone Curtain, especially in Winter. Keep well mate.
Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
G'day Coach and Thinker.
It is Tooves. Yes, a good accountant and I dont know, but the way the Salary Cap is knocking on clubs doors, like ASADA did. We might need Tooves to move a decimal point or three, as well.
Cheers - Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by Coach Potato on
#short answer Baggy? Yes.
#fortress hope it's a typo and the trough and gates are separated. I guess I could ask Watmough if they are the same.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Manly off to Disneyland again ,surely thats the same place they hope to be playing the panthers in a grand final this year.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Nice win by The Kumuls over Fiji Bati tonight. Well done lads.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Here's an idea lifted roughly from the NBA. have a soft cap of 7 million, and a hard cap of 10 million. That three million is made up of a slush fund of third party payments, capped at 3 million no matter what. If you over spend on the soft cap, you are "taxed/fined/whatever" 5% per million you are over or part there of. Example 7.1 million, is taxed $5,000 dollars due at the start of the next season before kick off, use all 10 million be "charged" $450,000 (15% of the overdraft). If you fail to pay that into the fund, play for no points until it is paid. If you are over in three out of four years by more that 1.5 million (arbitrary figure) then that penalty rate is doubled. So you can have a killer team, but your contributions back to grass roots football/ developing nations/ anywhere but consolidated revenue will be massive, potentially $900,000.
Can't see how to stop player worth being artificially inflated as T.V. deals go through the roof, so lets find a way to keep the lower levels of the game well funded and functional.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Yes Baggy (BG) - I now your feel and where u r coming from with that.
Fortress will most likely remember The Northern Eagles saga.
There were a couple of players that left the club and Manly said "ok, you go, but you'll be getting paid last". Come to mind, was that Adam Muir who went to Newcastle and Brett Kimmorley who left for Storm.
Seems to have a tune to it - but one can see why Manly stuck to their digs and paid current contracted players out first. Because they also had the issue of a merged club to offload the issues with.
Keep well and enjoy the remainder of your weekend. Go NSW Country.
Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Gee Fortress - love that astronomic spray there.
Hey you guys, get onto this one. Speaking about cheering a team on.
Like when we say Up Manly or Up Parra or Up Penrith or Up Bronco's........well.
Many years ago here, when I once also played a fair bit of basketball.
We had an A-Grade team and they had match singlets and jackets and on the back they had Uranus (which was their team name). Needless to say, they werent allowed to use the word Up on the front.
My thought for the round lads.
Cheers - Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Hey rocket what's wrong with Disneyland we can play the grand final there I'm sure the yanks will come out in droves and when we win we can all get on some rides and party with mickey and minney and I'm sure they will welcome me with open arms an Aussie icon the king eagle maybe I can be another mascot for disney land great idea rocket I'll put it to the legend himself the immortal bozzo Fulton hey coach what ya reckon bout rockets idea bout my dre grand final the mighty eagles against your panthers he seems to think the broncos and cowgirls are home and hosed well sport is a funny game unless rocket knows something we don't although bennett does have quite a pull with the nrl,and they did lose last years grand final lots of sentiment for hunt when he knocked on there at the end I wonder if he knows something we don't know. Nah I don't think so the nrl couldn't possibly be plotting another qlds grand final with all this talk bout staging it in brissy or is my mind playing games with me anyways just. Thought .big Pete thanks for the compliments mate yes the corso at bueatiful place down here in gods country we can fly around and you can meet the rest of the mighty clan the fortress is a great place to be bit like jr from Dallas's ranch only this one is run by eagkes chat soon buddy and with might and pride go the mighty sea eaglesssssssss
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
I'm tipping upsets galore this comming round.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Grand final between two teams celebrating 50 years of footy would be epic. If there tussle last time was an indication, it could test last years GF for greatness. Might only be a pipe dream but you gotta start with a pipe dream.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Just a darn tootin minute. The Sunday Tele says about Pearce, it's an NRL rule that a player who a/ withdraws or b/ makes themself inavailable to be selected for rep duty must be stood down for any period where other rep players are not allowed to play club footy.
I will need to check the records but I have a doubt Manly have followed this rule with Lyon over several several years. I'm almost sure he has not abided by the rules. Cheated if that's the case hey Fortress?
Cunningly, rather than Soward be unavailable for the Dragons in '09 and '10, Bennett came out on his behalf and told selectors he wasn't ready. Cunning old &@#%.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Inavailable / unavailable same difference
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Yeah, not a worry Coach. I noticed it also - just a typo, as the two keys are next to each other on your keyboard, mate.
Fortress has so much to write, he cant get it out quick enough before Zorba pounces on it for the next News Flash, it happens to him with a bit of punctuation out of whack. The occasional happens to me - we are only Human after all.
Can I ask Coach, do you have a NSW RL Referee's Ticket or an expired one from your more active days from sitting in a Couch.
I've been about a bit in Sports Admin and like the way you address issues - especially Rules of The Game. If you havent, then a Silver Star for doing your homework, before it goes to print.
Cheers and GO NSW Country.
Big Pete in Bx (West of The Sandstone Curtain)
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Sorry Coach, I have to interrupt for a News Announcement.
If Manly is one of those two teams you describe as Celebrating 50 Years of Footy. I think you might like to retract that statement.
Manly is celebrating 70 years this year (2016 Season). They joined "Sydney" comp in 1947.
Keep well mate - Big Pete in Bx
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings BigPete
Coach will be talking about a Panthers/Sharks grand final. Probably a tad optimistic, but I can't say it can't happen.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hi RL fans and happy mothers day to all the mothers out there.
Watched the city/country match and was definitely entertained.
Great game with plenty of skill and big hits.
COACH your Panthers contingent excelled and if they didn't play their way into a blue jersey...well Laurie needs new glasses (if he wears them)
Also James Maloney and De Belin and Frizelle in a losing team surely require consideration.
Is Frizelle eligible? I believe he's a Pom so may not be.
Heard Gould say" Laurie needs to inject a lot of new blood, we may still lose for a year or two but we can then build a dynasty".
Qld needs to do the same with our ageing team.
Looks like SOO has a great future.
Can't leave out the Souths guy (sorry can't remember his name) but what a performance 4 trys...is he blue material?
Submitted by christine on
I wanted country to win but that's the way life is for me right now ,what I want & what I get are two different things .
Submitted by christine on
Mark I think the person from souths your referring to is aaron gray.
Submitted by a on
Aaron Gray scored 4 tires today
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Bennett is wrong when it comes to rep season.
He is all for as many of his team not being picked.
Quietly sipping warm Cognac over Hunt and Milford's suspensions.
Truth is Origin betters a player.
Pick as many Panthers as you want Laurie.
With all the byes in between, Origin season is not as tough on individual teams, and teams with players involved are better when they return. Go on Laurie. Pick.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
The problem for the broncos and cowgirls like the mighty eagles and the storm who dominated the last decade ur always expected to win the bookies have it as a broncos cowgirls grand final already forget the rest, the pressure starts to mount and the other clubs who are more than capable excluding this year titans,newcasle,roosters,west tigers, the other 12 teams can beat them history shows upsets do happen I believe this is the year where the favourite won't win it for mine if the refs are fair and no conspiracy for an all qlds grand final than this May happen yes the top 2 are favourites but not to the extent the media paints it out to be. Anything can happen in semi final football ref error bad options and we have seen upsets in grand finals history shows that. I'm sticking my neck out and going for 2 sydney clubs to fight out this years decider yes last years grand final was great but in my mind there has been better the fact is the media made it a bigger deal cause they wanted to build the interest as both clubs were out of Sydney and also the push to have it played in brissy knowing that if this years decider was fought out by the same 2 than that push could become realistic,I believe it should stay in sydney this is the home of rugby league can u imagine if the afl grand final was played in Sydney there would be riots. Anyway that's my opinion like it or lump it. And just one more thing Brisbane and Melbourne do not run the nrl .and in one famouse radio commentators words punt high and follow on and in my famose words go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssssss
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Fortress, you are right that there's no walk up start to Grand Finals. To me, it's about bringing something to the table that other teams aren't used to having for breakfast. Really, there are a dozen teams that don't even bother to bring a plate. When they do it's only last week's left overs. There a only a few teams that have a dynamic edge to their game and they bring it week in week out. Of the top teams, I don't see the Cowboys and the Storm doing anything new. Thurston throws the same dummy he threw when e was six. Don't be fooled and 60% of his running game is shot. Broncos, Sharks, Panthers. They are the teams I see putting other teams in two minds. Not anyone else from what I see.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Is he delivering my pizzas or not?
Do i have to pay if they are not hot?
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