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 BigPeteBx on
So did I Christine. Smile they came back at them.
Country were the more experienced but City seemed to want it more.
The teams have changed their makeup over the years. Back in 1975, was a great year, Sat 17th May, when all Country players comprised the team. If I recall a Steve Hewson from Queanbeyan Kangaroo's got the Country Player of the Year.
However, better than that, a name that was to become household, was unearthed in a Michael Cronin from Gerringong. I think he might have been the first ever Country player to rep in State of Origin, straight from Country to NSW SoO
Try keep well.
Big Pete in Bx - West of the Sandstone Curtain.
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Rocket your menu will be bronco stew mate don't get too cocky buddy this is going to be a very interesting game the eagles have a full squad back if we can get an even share of possession and no biased ref calls then we may see a boil over not that were not capable as I said I believe this weekend is a weekend of upsets, coach totally agree with what u said but u may disagree here but the eagles are very unpredicatabe they can put a team in 2 minds not only does cherry Evans have a kicking game but walker and a few others have too . There backline is still up with the best, if there forward pack starts to gel and we havnt seen it at it's best yet on paper very potent than they are more than capable of shocking the broncos and the other top teams this may sound like a biased opinion but look at the team on paper it's a strong side with X factors across the park, many people say that this year is a work in progress for the eagles to build back after a decade of dominance . But coach they said the same thing about Penrith when they beat the roosters in that epic grand final so u see always expect the unexpected rocket. And as I always say go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssssssss
Submitted by Fortress eagle on
Rocket your menu will be bronco stew mate don't get too cocky buddy this is going to be a very interesting game the eagles have a full squad back if we can get an even share of possession and no biased ref calls then we may see a boil over not that were not capable as I said I believe this weekend is a weekend of upsets, coach totally agree with what u said but u may disagree here but the eagles are very unpredicatabe they can put a team in 2 minds not only does cherry Evans have a kicking game but walker and a few others have too . There backline is still up with the best, if there forward pack starts to gel and we havnt seen it at it's best yet on paper very potent than they are more than capable of shocking the broncos and the other top teams this may sound like a biased opinion but look at the team on paper it's a strong side with X factors across the park, many people say that this year is a work in progress for the eagles to build back after a decade of dominance . But coach they said the same thing about Penrith when they beat the roosters in that epic grand final so u see always expect the unexpected rocket. And as I always say go the mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssssssss
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Surely you can't mean 2003, Fortress. Upset against the Roosters?! We were clear minor premiers on 40 points and won 20 of the last 23 played.
That surely indicates the best team of the year. Anyone who doesn't think so, just doesn't know their stuff.
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