Well, it looks like that the salary cap scandal has hurt league so bad that the test this Friday in Melbourne is a sell out. Just imagine how many tickets they would have sold if there was no shenanigans with the cap.
If there was some sort of nuclear holocaust all you would have left is cockroaches playing rugby league. You can’t kill either.
The Aussie team is pretty much as expected. The axing of Folau may hasten his departure but as long as he continues to much around and not commit to league he doesn’t deserve the privilege of wearing the green and gold. Cronk is natural choice for the half back spot as he under rated. His understanding with Slater and Smith will hurt the Kiwis.
As for the Kiwis, not a bad side though lacking experience and form for some. Losing Fui Fui through injury is a blow but their forwards will still have some grunt if they all decide to play together. The back line does look a bit weak and won’t trouble Australia even with Marshall.
Australia to win easily no matter how many penalties the Kiwis can make Gallen give away.
Australia
Billy Slater (Melbourne), Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Jamie Lyon (Manly), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta), Darren Lockyer (c) (Brisbane), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), David Shillington (Canberra), Luke Lewis (Penrith), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Josh Perry (Manly), Anthony Watmough (Manly), Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra)
New Zealand
Adam Blair (Melbourne), Kieran Foran (Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Aaron Heremaia (New Zealand), Lance Hohaia (New Zealand), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (New Zealand), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney), Sam Perrett (Sydney), Sam Rapira (New Zealand), Junior Sa’u (Newcastle), Zeb Taia (Newcastle), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney)
I don’t mind the City v Country game. It serves as an origin trail but also gives reward to some players who may never play Origin or for Australia. Like Luke Burt for example. A true club man and one of the most consistent wingers in the comp. A just reward for good service to the game. The battle I’m interested in the centres. The word has it that Jamie Lyon may play five-eight for the Blues (congrats to Queensland on another series win if this happens) so the centre are up for grabs. And Tahu and Idris make a fearsome combination and good games by both could see them as the Origin pairing. You’ll think Jennings will get a run at centres at some stage as he will be wasted on the wing and got hard done by in Origin last year.
And while his body is probably not upset by having a week off, the selectors have treated Hindmarsh shabbily once again. If he was a Queenslander, he’d never have been dropped. Shows how little Bellamy and Daley understand about what has made Queensland so successful over the past 4 years.
City Origin
1. Lachlan Coote (Penrith)
2. Anthony Minichiello (Sydney)
3. Beau Champion (South Sydney)
4. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)
5. Michael Jennings (Penrith)
14. Kris Keating (Parramatta)
7. Trent Hodkinson (Manly)
8. Bryce Gibbs (Wests Tigers)
9. Robbie Farah (c) (Wests Tigers)
10. Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers)
11. Trent Waterhouse (Penrith)
12. Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast)
13. Luke O’Donnell (North Queensland)
Interchange:
15. Tim Mannah (Parramatta)
16. Tim Grant (Penrith)
17. Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne)
18. Joel Reddy (Parramatta)
18th Man:
19. Liam Fulton (Wests Tigers)
Country Origin
1. Josh Dugan (Canberra)
2. Michael Robertson (Manly)
3. Jamal Idris (Bulldogs)
4. Timana Tahu (Parramatta)
5. Luke Burt (Parramatta)
6. Greg Bird (Gold Coast)
7. Brett Kimmorley (c) (Bulldogs)
8. Kade Snowden (Cronulla)
9. Michael Ennis (Bulldogs)
10. Brett White (Melbourne)
11. Ben Creagh (St George Illawarra)
12. Glenn Stewart (Manly)
13. Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast)
Interchange:
14. Todd Carney (Sydney)
15. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra)
16. Willie Mason (North Queensland)
17. Dean Young (St George Illawarra)
18th Man:
18. Joel Thompson (Raiders)
