Internationals Kiwi's will ALWAYS be on the Back-foot.

[da mad maori]

Our Kiwi team will always be under pressure because of NRL and the ESL. The Nrl controls the game down under and the ESL controls our players up there. Until there is neutral ground where both identities modify their calender to compliment the International game, then we are stuck in the middle gasping at thin air.
Last night was a very good example of that. We were under-strength in most areas of the park.
One person I wont have wear the kiwi jersey again is one of our stars from the tri-series. Shontayne Hape. One of the most pathetic excuses I have heard in a long time. That is if why he was excused, was the truth.
Unfortunately for bluey he had to make do with what was available. Even to the extent of playing players out of position.
Now the tri-series is a fairer contest, as both the NRL and the ESL are both involved. And that is when we will be at full strength.

 

[Bulldog_old]

I actually think that the Kiwis are entering a golden era...as someone mentioned in another post, Joey Johns made a huge difference to that aussie team last night...not only was it his last game, but just as Newcastle treat him as a safety blanket, so do the aussie national team, and without him, you are going to see a different australian team next time around. Yes, Thurston is a very capable player, but he doesnt inspire a team a la Joey Johns...I thought the Kiwis sorely missed Wiki last night to inspire them.

 

[ozbash_old]

we,ll never enter the golden era while we have to fight both NRL and ESL to get a full squad on the paddock.

we are paying for the gutlessness of our previous administration.

the NRL and ESL should never have been allowed to get away with blackmailing our players.

 

[AliN_old]

one off tests are tough especially when you only have 6 days to prepare, and that's both teams.
Aussie did it right by picking their squad on proven combinations, ie. the Newcastle connection.
We had a very young side on the field, that is the biggest positive of all for our future games.

 

[Chelsea-Lee_old]

I think the Kiwis have some good up and coming players, and with more experience they'll get better. IN saying that so does Australia, we are always going to have a good crop of players to pick from.

But thats not meaning NZ can't thrash us in the future, they did last year.

 

[PHANTOM MENACE_old]

To Shontaynes credit he did tell the kiwi management more than 2 months ago he would be unavailable. Its not like he told them when they emailed him to tell him he was in the team last week