NZ v AUS Rugby League Test- May 5

[chaminda_00]

The Kiwis have something to cry about when they stop picking Australia born players, Webb, the Cayless boys, Webster and Pritchard are as bad as Hunt, get over it.

 

[Simon]

haha i hope the kiwis go in thinking only to smash hunt, they'll soon forget Johns and Lockyer are on the field. Seems to me NZ are more intent on injurying Hunt than winning the match...

 

[Blewy]

Kiwis to put heat on Hunt
Mick Daly

May 02, 2006

AN angry New Zealand has lit the fuse for Friday's trans-Tasman Test by vowing to punish Australian fullback Karmichael Hunt for turning his back on the country of his birth.

The Kiwis gathered on the Gold Coast yesterday as news of Auckland-born Hunt's elevation to the Australian squad filtered through the camp.

Hunt, who moved to Australia from New Zealand when he was 10, earlier this year considered making himself available for the Kiwis after his chances of representing Queensland in State of Origin appeared slim.

The Kiwis tried to be diplomatic when told of Hunt's selection in place of injured fullback Anthony Minichiello, but several players were privately seething at his perceived lack of loyalty.

It was too much for young Kiwi stars Jake Webster and Frank Pritchard – both Australian-born – who said Hunt would finish the Test wishing he had never made it on to the field.

Melbourne Storm winger Webster claimed Hunt would "pay the consequences" for his swinging allegiances.

"It doesn't look good for him and I think he's going to find that out," he said.

"He's going to get it. You can't do what he has done and expect to get off lightly.

"We will definitely be out to make him pay. He'll get his share of treatment.

"It's pretty ordinary, really. A lot of the boys will be out to touch him up. I know I will be."

Pritchard, the Penrith Panthers second-rower, claimed Hunt had proved he only cared about himself by failing to commit himself to one country or the other.

He said there was no place in the New Zealand squad for players who were unsure where their loyalties rested.
Several Kiwi representatives have made their choices. Fullback Brent Webb was born in Cairns, Webster in Melbourne, while Pritchard and the Cayless brothers, Jason and Nathan, were born in Sydney.

"It's his decision. Come Friday, just bring it on," Pritchard said.

"All the boys, out of respect for the black and white jersey, are going to show him what he has turned his back on."

Hunt said he was expecting a backlash from the Kiwis as he prepares to become one of Australia's youngest debutants.

"I'm expecting it quite a bit, even the dirty stuff," he said yesterday after he was rushed into the Australian camp following Minichiello's withdrawal because of a lower back complaint.

At 19 years and 169 days, Hunt will be the youngest Australian fullback in 95 years and the fifth youngest national team debutant.

Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall said he had accepted Hunt's decision but was far from happy.

He said he had previously tried to convince Hunt to play for NZ in the belief the Kiwis could dominate the international game with him in the team.

"I'm a little bit disappointed to be honest, but that's life," Marshall said.

"I've always expressed that I wanted him to play for New Zealand."

Marshall can also expect to be targeted, with Australian players yesterday admitting they would test the condition of the young star's suspect shoulder.

Pritchard was born in Australia and is of Samoan decent, is he kidding??

 

[Blewy]

I have a feeling this could be a very very physical Test Match.. I reckon it could blow up early if they arent kept apart..

Id love to see a bit of biff, would show that the players are passionate about international league...

 

[Simon]

Pritchard was born in Australia and is of Samoan decent, is he kidding??

yeh i loved O'Meley's and Mason's comments this morning...
The Aussie forwards arent gonna allow the kiwi's to have it their own way with Hunt, i think it could get very nasty pretty early in the game...

 

[howardj]

Let's bloody hope so

 

[Blaze]

haha i hope the kiwis go in thinking only to smash hunt, they'll soon forget Johns and Lockyer are on the field. Seems to me NZ are more intent on injurying Hunt than winning the match...

I love the pre match talk though... at least they are being honest. Adds to the hype.

 

[howardj]

Mason v Wiki

What a combustible match-up.

 

[Blaze]

Pritchard was born in Australia and is of Samoan decent, is he kidding??

I think the problem they have with him is that he came out about a month ago and said that he could be interested in playing for NZ, has previously said that he would play for NZ if he was allowed to do so and play origin, and wants to play for the All Blacks one day.

What they are trying to say is that he hasn't exactly been consistant with wanting to represent Australia.

Whereas Pritchard and co, despite being born in AUS have been raised by their parents as kiwis and always considered themselves to be NZers.

I am over it now anyway. I hope he plays well for QLD if he gets selected one day. Still hope he has a shocker on Friday though

 

[Burpey]

I think people are missing the bigger picture. Hunt is crap and isn't good enough to be playing for Australia.

 

[Simon]

I think people are missing the bigger picture. Hunt is crap and isn't good enough to be playing for Australia.

hes been picked now and people need to get over it...
Fans like you always say "pick the team on form" and finally when someone (Hunt) has been picked on form they all crack the *****. If you dont think he hasnt been in the top 2 or 3 fullbacks in the NRL over the last month then you havent been watching any broncos matches...

 

[howardj]

I love rep games where Gould or Stuart are involved.

The hatred factor goes through the roof.

I'll miss those boys come Origin time.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I personally don't watch any Broncos matches, at least this season.

 

[Burpey]

So we're not even allowed to discuss whether he should be in the team or not? Fair go.

I never said he wasn't a good player or wasn't in good form, just not good enough to be playing for Australia yet. Plus, there have been other fullbacks in better form.

 

[Simon]

So we're not even allowed to discuss whether he should be in the team or not? Fair go.

I never said he wasn't a good player or wasn't in good form, just not good enough to be playing for Australia yet. Plus, there have been other fullbacks in better form.

you said he was crap, that suggests u dont think much of him as a player...
ive seen 90% of all NRL games this season and i can say the only 2 fullbacks in better form have been Minichiello and Bowen, and for whatever reason the selectors decided to go with Hunt over Bowen...

 

[Burpey]

'Crap' was an overexaggeration, I tend to do that when I get fired up. I would also say that Bowen, Inglis, Schifcofske, Hornby, and Thaiday (just off the top of my head) deserve to be there ahead of Hunt.

 

[howardj]

I'll stop watching the game when Thaiday plays rep footy.

 

[Simon]

'Crap' was an overexaggeration, I tend to do that when I get fired up. I would also say that Bowen, Inglis, Schifcofske, Hornby, and Thaiday (just off the top of my head) deserve to be there ahead of Hunt.

i dont disagree that they all (except Thaiday) deserve to be there instead of Hunt, but to say any of them (except Inglis who's played 2 games of first grade at fullback) is in better form than Hunt is wrong...
Thaiday is injured anyway, Hornby's game doesnt compliment Johns and Lockyer either i dont think, Schifcofske's rep days are finished and Bowen well we can only guess why he wasnt picked...

 

[Burpey]

Hunt is a decent first grader, but not the Australian fullback.

 

[Simon]

Hunt is a decent first grader, but not the Australian fullback.

its all opinion really, fact is though he will be playing for Australia on Friday night...