edd
What a team...
These guys are red hot favorites to win for sure...
Look at the star power... How many Origin players are in their squad exactly?
They certainly are the Goliath team of the comp, and have every thing to lose...
What a team...
These guys are red hot favorites to win for sure...
Look at the star power... How many Origin players are in their squad exactly?
They certainly are the Goliath team of the comp, and have every thing to lose...
Sup42
Contributor
Good on you edd , sporting of you, we should have a thread for the Australians.
They are the best as we all know well , however that is also their weakness , they are expected to win and are under a lot of pressure to deliver.
Aussie have been exposed by the kiwis for not coping very well with being under pressure on the score board.
Stressed looking Aussies at half time is a big part of beating them.
They expect NZ to fall away in the final quarter , in the one off wins over Aussie the reverse has happened , NZ are as fit , play as fast , and the Aussies don't know how to respond to that.
They play poorly when they're under pressure.
They are the best as we all know well , however that is also their weakness , they are expected to win and are under a lot of pressure to deliver.
Aussie have been exposed by the kiwis for not coping very well with being under pressure on the score board.
Stressed looking Aussies at half time is a big part of beating them.
They expect NZ to fall away in the final quarter , in the one off wins over Aussie the reverse has happened , NZ are as fit , play as fast , and the Aussies don't know how to respond to that.
They play poorly when they're under pressure.
RidingPie
Isn't origin supposed to help with their national team selection? So technically all of them, at least most?
Red hot favourites of course, but the Kiwis's showed last time that they do have their weaknesses. Can lightening strike twice? Honestly I doubt it but damn I'm looking forward to the tournament!
edd
- 1 Billy Slater - FB
- 2 Darius Boyd , FB
- 3 Greg Inglis - CE, FB
- 4 Michael Jennings - CE
- 5 Brett Morris - WG
- 6 Johnathan Thurston - FE
- 7 Cooper Cronk - SH
- 8 Matt Scott - PR
- 9 Cameron Smith (c) - HK
- 10 Nate Myles - PR, SR
- 11 Luke Lewis - SR, LF
- 12 Sam Thaiday - SR, PR
- 13 Paul Gallen (vc) - LF, PR, SR
- 14 Robbie Farah - HK
- 15 James Tamou - PR
- 16 Boyd Cordner - SR
- 17 Corey Parker - LF, SR
- 18 Greg Bird - LF, SR
- 19 Daly Cherry-Evans - HB
- 20 Jarryd Hayne - WG, FB
- 21 Josh Morris - CE
- 22 Brent Tate - CE, WG
- 23 Josh Papalii - SR, PR
- 24 Andrew Fifita - PR
RidingPie
wallacenz
Sup42
Contributor
2002 off the bench according to the ever reliable Wiki , I thought it might have been a wee bit longer.....
edd
surfin
And those relationships (NSW/Queensland) are possibly going to have a major affect on the whole tournament especially if they have a poor start against the poms. Personally I'm all for a split Kangaroos.
Defence
I think the form of smith and thurston is gonna be pivotal to this tournament- both getting a bit long in the tooth- u never write of a champion and they both fit that description but on the other hand all good things must come to an end.
Can they see off the challenge of Luke and foran- their younger and more dynamic opposites or could this be the passing of the guard?
Can they see off the challenge of Luke and foran- their younger and more dynamic opposites or could this be the passing of the guard?
Sup42
Contributor
Roos set to unleash Fifita on England
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
4:57am Tue 22nd October, 2013
Having done it to devastating effect for club and state, Andrew Fifita looks set to get a chance to wreak havoc off the bench for his country in Australia's rugby league World Cup opener.
Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has vowed to stick largely with experience and familiar combinations for Saturday's tournament-opening showdown with England at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
But he has hinted Cronulla wrecking ball Fifita will be rewarded for his stellar season with a first international cap.
The 24-year-old is one of three rookies in the squad and while Sheens indicated fellow debutants Josh Papalii and Boyd Corner would have to wait for their chance, Fifita is firmly in the mix for an interchange spot in the opener.
"He's going to figure in the selection issue for sure," Sheens told AAP.
"I don't know whether the other two young guys will, I don't think so at this stage, but Andrew will.
"He's a big strong forward and has got plenty of go-forward in him.
"Without saying he's in the side, he figures very closely in what we're thinking for the first game."
Fifita's inclusion in the side to face England would cap a remarkable rise, not least because two years ago it was then-Wests Tigers mentor Sheens who deemed him surplus to requirements at the NRL club.
Fifita joined the Sharks and has since developed into one of the most feared forwards in the game.
He made some impressive contributions off the bench for NSW in his maiden State of Origin series, and Queensland and Australia skipper Cameron Smith is welcoming a chance to join forces with the 116kg forward.
"I've never had the opportunity to play alongside him and I know playing against him in State of Origin was a handful," Smith said of Fifita.
"Let's hope he's got that same mindset for us and can do the same job."
Sheens biggest selection headache against England is deciding who will partner Greg Inglis in the centres in the absence of the injured Justin Hodges.
Premiership-winning Sydney Roosters star Michael Jennings and Bulldogs' Josh Morris are leading contenders while Sheens said veteran Brent Tate, a right-sided specialist, was also in the mix.
"Deciding that will be difficult," Sheens said.
"It's very highly-contested which has been very interesting in training."
While the team for the opener will have a familiar look, Sheens challenged his younger and fringe players to apply selection pressure by taking their chances in pool matches against Fiji and Ireland.
"In the next two games you're going to see a lot of those guys," Sheens said.
"Hopefully by the time with get to the quarters and semis, that's when I'll really have a selection headache."
The Kangaroos will travel to Cardiff on Tuesday having spent a week acclimatising to English conditions at their training base in Manchester.
Sheens reported a full bill of health for the England match with Matt Scott (thumb), Nate Myles (ankle) and Luke Lewis (shoulder) shaking off injury concerns to be available for selection.
__________________
Best Forward in the world ?
We're about to find out.
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
4:57am Tue 22nd October, 2013
Having done it to devastating effect for club and state, Andrew Fifita looks set to get a chance to wreak havoc off the bench for his country in Australia's rugby league World Cup opener.
Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has vowed to stick largely with experience and familiar combinations for Saturday's tournament-opening showdown with England at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
But he has hinted Cronulla wrecking ball Fifita will be rewarded for his stellar season with a first international cap.
The 24-year-old is one of three rookies in the squad and while Sheens indicated fellow debutants Josh Papalii and Boyd Corner would have to wait for their chance, Fifita is firmly in the mix for an interchange spot in the opener.
"He's going to figure in the selection issue for sure," Sheens told AAP.
"I don't know whether the other two young guys will, I don't think so at this stage, but Andrew will.
"He's a big strong forward and has got plenty of go-forward in him.
"Without saying he's in the side, he figures very closely in what we're thinking for the first game."
Fifita's inclusion in the side to face England would cap a remarkable rise, not least because two years ago it was then-Wests Tigers mentor Sheens who deemed him surplus to requirements at the NRL club.
Fifita joined the Sharks and has since developed into one of the most feared forwards in the game.
He made some impressive contributions off the bench for NSW in his maiden State of Origin series, and Queensland and Australia skipper Cameron Smith is welcoming a chance to join forces with the 116kg forward.
"I've never had the opportunity to play alongside him and I know playing against him in State of Origin was a handful," Smith said of Fifita.
"Let's hope he's got that same mindset for us and can do the same job."
Sheens biggest selection headache against England is deciding who will partner Greg Inglis in the centres in the absence of the injured Justin Hodges.
Premiership-winning Sydney Roosters star Michael Jennings and Bulldogs' Josh Morris are leading contenders while Sheens said veteran Brent Tate, a right-sided specialist, was also in the mix.
"Deciding that will be difficult," Sheens said.
"It's very highly-contested which has been very interesting in training."
While the team for the opener will have a familiar look, Sheens challenged his younger and fringe players to apply selection pressure by taking their chances in pool matches against Fiji and Ireland.
"In the next two games you're going to see a lot of those guys," Sheens said.
"Hopefully by the time with get to the quarters and semis, that's when I'll really have a selection headache."
The Kangaroos will travel to Cardiff on Tuesday having spent a week acclimatising to English conditions at their training base in Manchester.
Sheens reported a full bill of health for the England match with Matt Scott (thumb), Nate Myles (ankle) and Luke Lewis (shoulder) shaking off injury concerns to be available for selection.
__________________
Best Forward in the world ?
We're about to find out.
SBC183
Sup42
Contributor
Smith hopes SBW hogs Cup limelight
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
9:50am Tue 22nd October, 2013
As raging favourites to lift the Rugby League World Cup trophy for a 10th time, it's almost unthinkable Australia could fly under the radar.
But skipper Cameron Smith is hoping the sideshow surrounding New Zealand superstar Sonny Bill Williams could allow the Kangaroos to enjoy some valuable time away from the spotlight.
Dual international Williams is the undoubted headline act of the event, beginning on Saturday.
The former All Blacks rugby union star originally ruled himself out of selection for the reigning champion Kiwis, before backtracking and his presence has sent interest in the tournament skyrocketing.
Smith says that could work in favour of Australia, the perennial tournament favourites who are used to shouldering much of the publicity, pressure and scrutiny.
"That's the type of bloke (Williams) is - a lot of people follow him and they're pretty keen on the way he's playing and what he's doing," Smith told AAP.
"A lot of the interest will be on him, there's no doubt about that, and that's great for us.
"We just get to do our own thing and hopefully fly under the radar a little bit and do what we have to do to be successful."
Understandably, Smith has mixed feelings about Williams' inclusion.
"As a lover of rugby league, yes (it's great), as an Australian representative, no," Smith said.
"He's a fantastic player and he only makes their squad stronger.
"It creates some positive headlines for the sport, but hopefully it if there comes a time when we're playing against him, he's not playing that well."
Williams was instrumental in helping the Sydney Roosters to the NRL premiership and looms as a pivotal part of the Kiwis' World Cup title defence.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said Williams' on-field qualities were plain to see but his off-field influence was already being felt among the squad.
"Just the way he goes about his business is a real eye-opener (for the other players)," Kearney said.
"When you've excelled at three sports like he has ... it's not only your talent that's getting you through, it's other qualities which have to be a part of his makeup.
"He's as driven as any other athlete I've seen to want to be the best. That helps the group around him."
The Kiwis open their campaign against Samoa in Warrington on Sunday.
https://www.nrl.com/smith-hopes-sbw-h...9/default.aspx
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
9:50am Tue 22nd October, 2013
As raging favourites to lift the Rugby League World Cup trophy for a 10th time, it's almost unthinkable Australia could fly under the radar.
But skipper Cameron Smith is hoping the sideshow surrounding New Zealand superstar Sonny Bill Williams could allow the Kangaroos to enjoy some valuable time away from the spotlight.
Dual international Williams is the undoubted headline act of the event, beginning on Saturday.
The former All Blacks rugby union star originally ruled himself out of selection for the reigning champion Kiwis, before backtracking and his presence has sent interest in the tournament skyrocketing.
Smith says that could work in favour of Australia, the perennial tournament favourites who are used to shouldering much of the publicity, pressure and scrutiny.
"That's the type of bloke (Williams) is - a lot of people follow him and they're pretty keen on the way he's playing and what he's doing," Smith told AAP.
"A lot of the interest will be on him, there's no doubt about that, and that's great for us.
"We just get to do our own thing and hopefully fly under the radar a little bit and do what we have to do to be successful."
Understandably, Smith has mixed feelings about Williams' inclusion.
"As a lover of rugby league, yes (it's great), as an Australian representative, no," Smith said.
"He's a fantastic player and he only makes their squad stronger.
"It creates some positive headlines for the sport, but hopefully it if there comes a time when we're playing against him, he's not playing that well."
Williams was instrumental in helping the Sydney Roosters to the NRL premiership and looms as a pivotal part of the Kiwis' World Cup title defence.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said Williams' on-field qualities were plain to see but his off-field influence was already being felt among the squad.
"Just the way he goes about his business is a real eye-opener (for the other players)," Kearney said.
"When you've excelled at three sports like he has ... it's not only your talent that's getting you through, it's other qualities which have to be a part of his makeup.
"He's as driven as any other athlete I've seen to want to be the best. That helps the group around him."
The Kiwis open their campaign against Samoa in Warrington on Sunday.
https://www.nrl.com/smith-hopes-sbw-h...9/default.aspx
Im hoping for more Billy blunders if we come against them. Pretty oldish team compared to ours.
Sup42
Contributor
They would fear Luke after his showing this year and knowing that his runs and pass selection are powered by Two Nuclear Power plants at any given time for 80 minutes.
The way Luke lobbed cheecky balls all over the Kuki game till he was pulled demands they play him for eighty , even if it means TL never gets off the bench / or even makes the Bench.
They Fear Williams for real
They fear Pritchard because he carves the more fancied Kangaroo Ruck up
SBW, JWH , I.L , F.P.
We're starting to catch up with them on people to genuinely fear.
In Both clips there is a NSW table and a QLD table...
Also, the last time James Tamou was in the World Cup he was playing for NZ Maori
InsideBall
Moreover, I can guarantee you they fear KF. No half runs to the line like he does.
Tonbridge (Swanley)
They will smash England on Saturday.
If 6 poms are on the piss 4 days before their biggest match of the World Cup, then they are not in a good space.
If 6 poms are on the piss 4 days before their biggest match of the World Cup, then they are not in a good space.
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