*Official" NRL Tips discussion thread

[age_master]

1 Anthony Minichello
2 Willie Tonga
3 Ryan Cross
4 Brent Tate
5 Matt Sing
6 Darren Lockyer (c)
7 Craig Gower
8 Shane Webcke
9 Danny Buderus
10 Jason Ryles
11 Nathan Hindmarsh
12 Craig Fitzgibbon
13 Shaun Timmins
Reserves
14 Petero Civoniceva
15 Michael Crocker
16 Willie Mason
17 Matt Bowem/Craig Wing/Shaun Berrigan

Andrew Ryan has got to be a shot (should have got the medal last night)

i have a feeling Wing was abit quiet last night and that may just cost him a spot in the side.

 

[age_master]

the squad:
Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane)
Matt Bowen (North Queensland)
Danny Buderus (vice captain, Newcastle)
Tonie Carroll (Brisbane)
Petero Civoneciva (Brisbane)
Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra)
Michael Crocker (Sydney City)
Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney City)
Craig Gower (Penrith)
Scott Hill (Melbourne)
Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta)
Ben Kennedy (Newcastle)
Brett Kimmorley (Cronulla)
Darren Lockyer (captain, Brisbane)
Willie Mason (Bulldogs)
Anthony Minichiello (Sydney City)
Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs)
Luke Rooney (Penrith)
Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs)
Jason Ryles (St George Illawarra)
Matt Sing (North Queensland)
Brent Tate (Brisbane)
Willie Tonga (Bulldogs)
Shane Webcke (Brisbane)
Craig Wing (Sydney City).

 

[Simon]

I forgot ryan, i suspect he will be in the 17 somewhere, ryan cross played himself out of a test jumper last night too, i am outraged kenndey has been selected, he doesnt deserve to be in the team, hes well and trully past his best. Tonie Carroll is a good selection and wont let anyone down if he gets a chance, Tonga and Tate will be starting centres, Sing and Rooney are really the only specialist wingers and will probably play there...

 

[Tim]

I think its an outrage that Tonnie Carroll should be allowed to play for both NZ & Australia. Im sick of players constantly changing countries when they feel like it..especially for World Cup's.

Something has to be done about this State of Origin Rule. If Australia want international league to be competitive they must allow NZ to be able to select players like Carroll, Hunt etc...it's a very similar problem to the one that the Pacific Island nations find themselves in with the All Blacks.

 

[bugssy]

I think its an outrage that Tonnie Carroll should be allowed to play for both NZ & Australia. Im sick of players constantly changing countries when they feel like it..especially for World Cup's.

Something has to be done about this State of Origin Rule. If Australia want international league to be competitive they must allow NZ to be able to select players like Carroll, Hunt etc...it's a very similar problem to the one that the Pacific Island nations find themselves in with the All Blacks.

i agree, but how did he even get picked, finch is better than him!

 

[Simon]

carroll had a massive end to the season, the fact he was picked in front of timmins and waterhouse proves just how good he was. he should win broncos player of the year, a big effort for a team that came 3rd.

Carroll never played a test for NZ anyway. He did represent them at the World Cup, but World cup matches are not considered tests.

Tim whats your feelings on NZ pinching Thurston then. Hes only eligible because his father was born there. If you dont whinge about that ill be disapointed...

 

[Mister Wright]

carroll had a massive end to the season, the fact he was picked in front of timmins and waterhouse proves just how good he was. he should win broncos player of the year, a big effort for a team that came 3rd.

Carroll never played a test for NZ anyway. He did represent them at the World Cup, but World cup matches are not considered tests.

Tim whats your feelings on NZ pinching Thurston then. Hes only eligible because his father was born there. If you dont whinge about that ill be disapointed...

And Brent Webb.

 

[Simon]

the difference is that Thurston is good enough to play origin, being a queensland and all, a few good games for the cowboys and he could be in the squad, but if he plays for NZ, hes giving up that chance...

 

[Tim]

I doubt Brent Webb would be in the Kiwi team had the State of Origin rule not applied. Webb probably realised his chances of making Queensland are virtually nil with the likes of Slater, Hunt coming through so he's decided to qualify as a New Zealander.
But this is where I get annoyed also...I don't think a player should be allowed to gain the right to play for NZ just because they've been playing club footy in NZ for 3 years. I personally think you should play for the country you're born in & thats final.

So then players like Brent Webb, Jonathon Thurston become irrelevant for NZ despite the fact that Thurston has a NZ father.
Likewise for Australia with Karmichael Hunt, Willie Mason etc who were all born in NZ.

I also find it ridiculous that Tonnie Carroll came out in the media today & said he would have played for NZ again had Queensland's State of Origin campaign gone to plan this season.

The whole eligibility system needs a complete overhaul..there are too many players taking it ransom. Brad Thorn played league for Australia, but he suddenly decided he wanted to play rugby for NZ..so the next minute he's over here gaining 12 caps & deciding he's had enough after he's dropped & he's back off to Australia to play league again!

 

[Tim]

I've also read reports that certain league officials were trying to convince Sonny Bill Williams to give up his NZ citzenship to that he could play State of Origin & then eventually play for Australia...even though he has played league in Australia for just 2 years.
Fortunately NZ got him to play that test in Newcastle, so he's no longer available for State of Origin.

 

[Mister Wright]

I doubt Brent Webb would be in the Kiwi team had the State of Origin rule not applied. Webb probably realised his chances of making Queensland are virtually nil with the likes of Slater, Hunt coming through so he's decided to qualify as a New Zealander.
But this is where I get annoyed also...I don't think a player should be allowed to gain the right to play for NZ just because they've been playing club footy in NZ for 3 years. I personally think you should play for the country you're born in & thats final.

So then players like Brent Webb, Jonathon Thurston become irrelevant for NZ despite the fact that Thurston has a NZ father.
Likewise for Australia with Karmichael Hunt, Willie Mason etc who were all born in NZ.

I also find it ridiculous that Tonnie Carroll came out in the media today & said he would have played for NZ again had Queensland's State of Origin campaign gone to plan this season.

The whole eligibility system needs a complete overhaul..there are too many players taking it ransom. Brad Thorn played league for Australia, but he suddenly decided he wanted to play rugby for NZ..so the next minute he's over here gaining 12 caps & deciding he's had enough after he's dropped & he's back off to Australia to play league again!

I think it is wrong to ask a player to play for the country they were born in, if like Hunt they have spent most of their lives in Australia & consider themselves Australian. I know if I was born in New South Wales (shudders at the thought) and I was forced to play for them, after living in Queensland and considering myself a Qlder. I would make myself unavailable if that were the case.

I think once a player chooses who they want to play for they should be made to stick with that choice and not chop and change which country they want to play for, whether or not the match they play has test status or not.

 

[iamdavid]

I forgot ryan, i suspect he will be in the 17 somewhere, ryan cross played himself out of a test jumper last night too, i am outraged kenndey has been selected, he doesnt deserve to be in the team, hes well and trully past his best. Tonie Carroll is a good selection and wont let anyone down if he gets a chance, Tonga and Tate will be starting centres, Sing and Rooney are really the only specialist wingers and will probably play there...

Cooper played on the wing his entire junior carear , he isnt a specialist there these days but he could still do the job.

Im also delighted to see Matt Gidley wasnt part of the squad , they are learning.

 

[Tim]

Hunt moved to Australia when he was 11, right? he's only 17 still..so thats only 6 years in Australia.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hunt moved to Australia when he was 11, right? he's only 17 still..so thats only 6 years in Australia.

Yeah, but he has played all of his representitve career in Australia.

 

[nibbs]

it is strange imo. didn't Sonny Bill Williams play all of his representative career in Australia as well?

 

[Tim]

I just find it amusing that Carroll has actually admitted he'd play for the Kiwis had he still not wanted to play Origin for Queensland.

NZ would be a much better challenge to Australia if we had a team of guys like Williams, Marshall & Hunt playing. Fortunately Marshall & Williams have already declared that they will play for NZ.

 

[Tim]

So if we're going by representitive career..then Williams, Marshall, Asotasi, The Cayless Brothers etc should all be playing for Australia.

I view the NRL as a club system...not a system where if you're playing for the Warriors you earn the right to play for NZ & if you play for Brisbane for example you earn the right to play for Australia.
It should work like the European football system.

 

[age_master]

definatley

 

[Tim]

I just think there is enough talent coming out of Australia that there is no need for Aus league officials to be trying to convince NZ youth players to play State of Origin & then for Australia.

It would certainly make for better international league competition anyway.

 

[Tim]

Looks like Ivan Cleary has convinced Todd Byrne to come to the Warriors, as he has just signed a 3 year deal.

Haven't seen much of Todd Byrne, but I gather he's a solid winger. The Warriors need a winger who can do the job consistently.