*Official* 2007 NRL Thread

[Perm]

I doubt he'd play even if asked.

That's what we all thought about Stacey Jones, around 3 or 4 times it must have been.

 

[Simon]

Then why would he have retired? It's not like he retired because he was playing badly, or because there was pressure on him to do so - he retired because he didn't want to do it anymore. I doubt he'd play even if asked.

His club form since joining the Sharks was quite poor, i think this was the main reason for his rep retirement, in all honesty someone announcing their retirement from rep football doesnt mean anything anymore that many players make comebacks...

 

[Blaze]

Doubt Whatuira will play wing. More chance of someone like Kenny-Dowell getting a game there - NZ are never scared to pick players with bugger all experience, and Whatuira is by no means a winger. Harrison has been used as a prop for the Tigers this year so he'd be your third prop - and the likes Pritchard and Fa'alogo have played there in the past.

I reckon Fien (who is now legitimately eligible after the farce last year) or Hohaia would grab the hooker role over Seu Seu - purely on the basis that Seu Seu can't seem to play 20 minutes without getting knocked out!

I thought Fien wasn't eligible til the Tri Nations this year?

Hohaia is crap so that rules him out.

Vagana's rep days are over. He was ordinary in the Tri Nations last year, and we don't really need him. We have Whatuira, Soliola, Mannering, Webster, Hape looking forward into the future.

I know that Whatuira won't get picked on the wing in reality. I just love the guy, so put him in my team lol.

Webster should get the other wing spot imo, although he is more of a centre as well

Kenny-Dowell is still too raw. He hasn't adjusted to first grade yet imo. His defensive decisions have been questionable at times. He is still learning.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Will Leeds release Webb for the test?

 

[Prince EWS]

Will Leeds release Webb for the test?

Yeah, it's been announced that they will.

I know that Whatuira won't get picked on the wing in reality. I just love the guy, so put him in my team lol.

Webster should get the other wing spot imo, although he is more of a centre as well

Even though he plays centre at club level, Webster is quite obviously a winger. He couldn't set up an outside player if he life depended on it - but he's good under the high ball, a strong returner of the ball and a good finisher. He'll be on the wing... unless he's still injured. If you want to squeeze Whatuira into your side, put Mannering into the back row where he played so well in the Tri-Nations.

 

[Johnners]

likely Australian side imo...

1 Karmichael Hunt
2 Brent Tate
3 Justin Hodges
4 Greg Inglis
5 Matt King
6 Darren Lockyer
7 Johnathon Thurston
8 Willie Mason
9 Cameron Smith
10 Petero Civoniceva
11 Nathan Hindmarsh
12 Andrew Ryan
13 Reni Maitua
Reserves
14 Brent Kite
15 Ryan Hoffman
16 Shaun Berrigan
17 Luke Bailey

Hmmmmmm Would've thought that Maitua would be behind Dallas Johnson & Paul Gallen for the Lock position. Also, as much as i think you'll be right about Tate & King on the wings, imo we've now got enough specialist wingers that we don't have to play these 2 out of position, that and Tate is possibly one of the most overrated hacks, and its time people realised it.

 

[mikeW]

Those Storm, surely premiers this year.

 

[Simon]

Hmmmmmm Would've thought that Maitua would be behind Dallas Johnson & Paul Gallen for the Lock position. Also, as much as i think you'll be right about Tate & King on the wings, imo we've now got enough specialist wingers that we don't have to play these 2 out of position, that and Tate is possibly one of the most overrated hacks, and its time people realised it.

Johnson yes, Gallen no. I rate Gallen highly but he has only had 1 game back from injury and it was off the bench, Maitua was in the squad last year and has been outstanding this season, again i picked him cause the incumbents are likely to be given a shot. I like Dallas Johnson and if i was picking the team he'd make it, unfortunately im not a selector so i dont think he'll make it.

Australia have always picked centres and fullbacks to play on the wing, from ET to Mullins and now Tate these guys keep getting picked out of position. Even as a Broncos fan i agree Tate is rubbish as a centre, he's kick happy and doesn't pass, throw him on the wing and he's shown he's a far better player.

Not sure who these "specialist wingers" that you are picking are, only ones i can think of are Merritt (no chance despite his tries) and Hayne (no form).

Wingers are likely to come from Inglis, Tate, Cooper, Minichiello, King and Hunt.

 

[Prince EWS]

As with each level of rugby league you progress through, more centres and fullbacks become wingers as the skill level increases. In terms of complete purity of positions and roles, King and Tate should play on the wing for their clubs, too, but because the quality of NRL football is lower that of complete purity, they play centre to get themselves more involved.

Similarly, if you dropped Merritt and Hayne back to Premier League, they'd play fullback. Chris Hicks would play centre. It's just how those outside back positions work really.

 

[Blaze]

Even though he plays centre at club level, Webster is quite obviously a winger. He couldn't set up an outside player if he life depended on it - but he's good under the high ball, a strong returner of the ball and a good finisher. He'll be on the wing... unless he's still injured. If you want to squeeze Whatuira into your side, put Mannering into the back row where he played so well in the Tri-Nations.

disagree there. Webster is a natural centre imo. His distribution skills will improve the more he plays there.

His goal line defensive option taking as a winger can be terrible.

aggre about puting mannering in the forwards, although I really like the mannering/ vatuvai combination.

 

[chaminda_00]

A bit early to talk about the Anzac Test isn't it, a lot of football to be played between now and then. Mini will play on the wing also, if you pick Tate infront of him you got to be kidding yourself. Should play fullback really but Hunt done a good job there.

 

[Craig]

At least New Zealand will have a decent half back other then Stacey Jones (let's face it when he was at his peak he was one of the best players in the NRL) this time around.

 

[Prince EWS]

At least New Zealand will have a decent half back other then Stacey Jones (let's face it when he was at his peak he was one of the best players in the NRL) this time around.

Who is this so-called decent halfback then?

Ben Roberts is a five-eighth who has been playing out of position all year - and he's been pretty poor too ITBT. Jeremy Smith is a completely rubbish player - who himself is a five-eighth anyway.

If you're referring to Marshall, he'll be at five-eighth - not halfback.

 

[Craig]

Who is this so-called decent halfback then?

Ben Roberts is a five-eighth who has been playing out of position all year - and he's been pretty poor too ITBT. Jeremy Smith is a completely rubbish player - who himself is a five-eighth anyway.

If you're referring to Marshall, he'll be at five-eighth - not halfback.

True but it is him or that hack Thomas Leuluai?

 

[Prince EWS]

True but it is him or that hack Thomas Leuluai?

It'll be Roberts or Smith. Neither are anyone close to being test standard halfbacks though. Jeremy Smith is one of the worst players in the NRL and Roberts, although quite talented, is playing poorly and is not really a halfback.

 

[magpie_man]

Great win by the Sharks tonight.

 

[Perm]

Glad to see the Dragons beaten.

 

[chaminda_00]

Glad to see the Dragons beaten.

You're going to see a lot of that this season IMO.

 

[magpie_man]

You're going to see a lot of that this season IMO.

Here's hoping.

 

[Perm]

Here's hoping.

Amen to that.