• Help Support The Rugby Forum :

Australian (ARL) Centenary Test Team

M

melon

Guest
Fullback (1): Billy Slater
Wing (2): Greg Inglis
Centre (3): Mark Gasnier
Centre (4): Justin Hodges
Wing (5): Israel Folau
Five-Eighth (6): Darren Lockyer
Halfback (7): Johnathan Thurston

Prop (8): Brent Kite
Hooker (9): Cameron Smith
Prop (10): Petero Civoniceva
Second Row (11): Ryan Hoffman
Second Row (12): Paul Gallen
Lock (13): Greg Bird

Interchange: Carl Webb, Anthony Tupou, Willy Mason, Kurt Gidley


I totally agree with Hindmarsh being left out of the team. Whilst the article tries to make an excuse for his omission, that being a useless team, I really don't think that is the case. He doesn't seem to have that burning desire, that insatiable hunger that he once had. His runs are lacluster and tackle count each game is pretty average compared to what he would rack up week-in week-out in the club, origin and test arenas. I think his time as a representative rubgy league player is over.

Lockyer is in the team. Good. Nuff said.

The fullback debate has ended. Thank you for choosing Billy Slater! I must admit, I am a massive fan of Karmichael Hunt, being a Broncos fan and all, but watching Billy Slater play has been terrific. He's in a league of his own at the moment. There was talk of Hunt retaining the #1 spot because of his proven ability at the test level but it was time for a big call to be made. It wasn't because Hunt was playing average, in fact he is playing pretty well, but the choice was made because Slater has been a dominant force in the past month and a half.
A massive question now arises: Who will be Queensland's fullback? I think it will be Hunt, but Slater will still be there at wing, with fellow Melbourne players Israel Folau and Greg Inglis fighting over a centre and wing spot with the Bronco's Hodges claiming a centre jumper, Lockyer at 6 and Thurston at 7. On the bench there should be once specialist back, that being Matt Bowen and a utility player to cover both the backs and forwards (David Stagg).

I can't wait to see how Carl Webb plays in his test debut. Fireworks are sure to go off!

Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, North Queensland enforcer Carl Webb and Cronulla's Paul Gallen will make their Australian Test debuts in the Centenary clash against New Zealand at the SCG on May 9.

Slater's sensational start to the NRL season was rewarded when he was named in the 17-man Kangaroos team to be captained by returning Brisbane champion Darren Lockyer.

The Melbourne custodian wasn't the only rookie named in the squad with Gallen named in the second row and Webb selected on the interchange bench.

Gallen had been picked for last year's end of season Test against New Zealand but had to withdraw with a shoulder injury.

Lockyer and Gallen have been included despite playing limited football in 2008.

Lockyer has played just four NRL games this year, and only one full 80 minute game last Friday, in his return from a knee reconstruction while Gallen missed three weeks with a contrary conduct suspension.

Australian selectors have made seven changes from the side which annihilated the Kiwis 58-0 last year, with Lockyer, Slater, Gallen, Webb, Justin Hodges, Johnathan Thurston and Anthony Tupou added to the team.

Manly fullback Brett Stewart, Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne and forward Nathan Hindmarsh, Melbourne half Cooper Cronk, lock Dallas Johnson and firebrand Michael Crocker were omitted while Warriors prop Steve Price was unavailable due to injury.

Lockyer (knee), Hodges (hamstring) and Thurston (shoulder) all missed last year's end of season Test due to injury and were always going to be reinstated to the team when fit.

Hindmarsh, Johnson and Crocker were omitted, with coach Ricky Stuart saying the Eels workhorse Hindmarsh should feel particularly unlucky and his axing was more a reflection of Parramatta's poor start to 2008.

"He has been rewarded for good form," said Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart of Slater.

"There are a number of great fullbacks in the game and for Billy to get selected shows he is the elite at the moment."

Stuart said selectors left Lockyer's selection up to the skipper himself, saying the Brisbane five-eighth had told them he believed he was capable of playing the full Test match despite his ongoing knee troubles.

"He was very happy with the way he pulled up," said Stuart.

"The selectors gave him the respect to tell us whether he felt his knee was up to Test footy.

"He is not a person who would put the team in jeopardy."

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney will not name his side until next week.
NRL.com

[/b]
 
****! Well that's basically the QLD Origin team right there... But hey, you guys are bloated with freakish talent right now, so I suppose it's only right (said VERY begrudgingly). All in all that's a bloody dangerous team. Aus to win by 30+ .
 
Awesome team, great to see Slater getting a crack at test level, should be fine. No Scott Prince though, hes been awesome!

Eagerly waiting on NZ's team lol
 

Latest posts

Top