Anzac Test thread

packo said:
I can see why the players pull out but, what's the point of them playing? Hayne is going to be selected, so why add an extra game to your season and risk burn out or injury. And for players like champion pulling out, he is no chance of being selected for NSW, so why increase your chances if hurting yourself for Souths?
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I take your point mate and it's a good one ... Here is my explanation..

Its about the fans in the country towns especially the kids who look forward to this match for 12 months and get excited about potentially meeting their idols like Jarryd Hayne or Robbie Farah only to be let down when these guys pull out with bull**** injuries.

City vs Country has been around since 1930 it is a great tradition in our game it should be an honor for these players to pull on those representative jerseys but instead they treat them and the fans with contempt by making up excuses as to why they don't want to play. This isn't just about a game of footy it's about looking after the game at grass roots level and reaching out to those fans who rarely get to see NRL football up close and promoting our game to even the most remote communities.

Thats why its disappointing to see them not wanting to play.It makes them and their clubs look selfish and uninterested imo.
 
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rhugh89 said:
I take your point mate and it's a good one ... Here is my explanation..

Its about the fans in the country towns especially the kids who look forward to this match for 12 months and get excited about potentially meeting their idols like Jarryd Hayne or Robbie Farah only to be let down when these guys pull out with bull**** injuries.

City vs Country has been around since 1930 it is a great tradition in our game it should be an honor for these players to pull on those representative jerseys but instead they treat them and the fans with contempt by making up excuses as to why they don't want to play. This isn't just about a game of footy it's about looking after the game at grass roots level and reaching out to those fans who rarely get to see NRL football up close and promoting our game to even the most remote communities.

Thats why its disappointing to see them not wanting to play.It makes them and their clubs look selfish and uninterested imo.
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Well bloody said.
 
The Country lineup is okay, maybe im biased but I think Robbie Rochow should have been in the line-up....
 
GODLEY said:
The Country lineup is okay, maybe im biased but I think Robbie Rochow should have been in the line-up....
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Not biased mate I agree he has been one of our best performers this year....These are some averages and keep in mind he started from the bench in the first 2 games....

Average Minutes - 57 per game

Average Meters - 104 per game

Average Tackles - 30 per game

Average Runs - 12 per game

Average Missed Tackles - 2 per game

1 error all year (6 games)

That is outstanding imo remembering he is only in is first full season of NRL football with us
 
packo said:
I can see why the players pull out but, what's the point of them playing? Hayne is going to be selected, so why add an extra game to your season and risk burn out or injury. And for players like champion pulling out, he is no chance of being selected for NSW, so why increase your chances if hurting yourself for Souths?
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If you really love footy you shouldn't care you just go out there and play even if it's an extra game you should love footy enough to play a game every day especially if it's rep and if you think your not gonna get picked more reason to play to show you are good enough and you want to play, people can pull out with "injuries" as much as they wont but to me that just shows they don't have the passion and desire to deserve that spot.
 
They should include some sort of prize for this match. Like the players from the winning teams gets money donated to all there junior clubs, would sort of give them a reason to play, the'd be giving back to the club that brought them up? Would really show the heart of some of the players? Or even money to charities of there choosing?
 
Phil Rothfield is so confusing...2 days ago he was so critical of this match but now he's writing a piece to support the match...Wow this guy takes the cake...


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Beau Ryan (right) with Country teammates Michael Gordon (left) and Trent Merrin Source: Getty Images



BEAU Ryan is normally up for a joke or a laugh about anything rugby league.

Just don't try to tell him the annual City-Country game is a waste of time.
The comedian you see on The Footy Show every Thursday night is a passionate advocate for the under-fire game.
So much so that he even phoned The Daily Telegraph yesterday to voice his support and reveal his pride at being chosen as 18th man for Country.
"I've been in camp since yesterday and I'm pumped and couldn't be happier," he said.
"It's one of the goals I set at the beginning of the year.
"I read your column bagging the game and I know some guys have had to pull out but I'd give a kidney to play.
"Guys like Alex McKinnon, Boyd Cordner and Tariq Sims - these guys are so proud . It's been their dream. This game's not a waste to the players, trust me."

Country coach Trent Barrett has Ryan on standby for his Cronulla teammate Michael Gordon.
He trained with the team at Allianz Stadium yesterday and then flew to Coffs Harbour to go into camp with the rest of the squad.
"The jersey, if I get one, means everything to me," he said. "I'm from Warilla on the south coast.
"I'll frame it if I get one. I'm proud for my family and proud for where I come from.
"I lived down the road from Trent Barrett and I idolise Trent Barrett.
"Now he's my coach. I love being in camp with guys like Willie Mason, Akuila Uate and Jimmy Maloney. It's f ... ing great. I'm over the moon."
Barrett will make a decision on his starting line-up at training tomorrow when a decision is made on Gordon.
Either way, Ryan won't have wasted his trip to Coffs Harbour because he's shooting for The Footy Show while in camp.
"We'll find out Thursday," he said. "My whole family is on standby. I hope half of Warilla will come up to Coffs if I get a start.
"I'm thinking about putting a nail in one of Mick Gordon's shoes."
Country centre Jamal Idris is equally motivated, hoping to use Sunday's game as his first step back towards a NSW jumper.
'Last year I didn't have any expectations on myself but this year I am putting it on myself to make the Origin team," said Idris, who hasn't featured for the Blues since the 2010 series.
"I want to make all the rep sides ... I want to get into it all this year.
"In Origin, you want to see the best players on the field and if I wasn't playing my best (the past two seasons) that's fair enough."

 
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Drug testers swoop on New Zealand rugby league team ahead of Anzac Test


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The New Zealand test team are being closely monitored. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph



ANTI-DOPING agents have sprung random drug tests on the New Zealand team ahead of tomorrow night's Anzac Test against Australia in Canberra.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal New Zealand players and officials were stunned when a large contingent of officials from Drug Free Sport New Zealand arrived at the team hotel last night.
"They certainly turned up in numbers," reported one Kiwi player.
It is understood that between "eight to 10" players were tested. Drug Free Sport is the equivalent of Australia's anti-doping authority ASADA.
News of the move shocked the Australian camp because drug-testing rarely happens during the lead-up to a Test.
There have been lingering fears that ASADA investigators would interview players of interest in the current probe into peptide use during the build-up to the Test, proving an unwanted distraction for the likes of Sharks skipper Paul Gallen.

Last night's drug tests have nothing to do with that investigation, and some league officials last night saw the bizarre move as grandstanding from the New Zealand authority.
New Zealand Rugby League high-performance manager Tony Iro last night confirmed the drug tests had taken place.
"We have no issue with it - we can see why there would be interest given the current climate," Iro said.
"We work together with Drug Free Sport New Zealand all the time.
"We tested about a dozen times a year but we haven't been tested in camp for a few years, so it was probably time it happened. We weren't that surprised and we're not worried," he said.
Of greater importance for the Kiwis was news that halfback Shaun Johnson will take his place in the side despite lingering concerns about an injured quad and knee.
The Warriors playmaker, who was selected in place of the injured Benji Marshall, has resorted to acupuncture in a bid to play in the Test alongside halves partner Kieran Foran.
"I'm sweet to go," Johnson told New Zealand media.
It is a timely boost for the Kiwis, who would be forced to play utility forward Elijah Taylor in the halves if Johnson was ruled out.
Taylor might still be forced to move into the halves if Johnson aggravates the injuries tomorrow night, after coach Stephen Kearney controversially opted against selecting Warriors pocket rocket Thomas Leuluai.
Both Australia and New Zealand will have their final training sessions today ahead of the Test which the Kiwis have not won since 1998.
 
Just a quick stats update...I never really knew before Today that some of the the Australian backline have an amazing strike rate in regards to try scoring...

Billy Slater - 18 tries in 19 tests

Darius Boyd - 8 tries in 10 tests

Greg Inglis - 19 tries in 22 tests

Brett Morris - 11 tries in 11 tests

There are a few standouts for NZ too....

Sam Perrett - 12 tries in 20 tests

Jason Nightingale - 11 tries in 16 tests

Shaun Kenny Dowall - 6 tries in 8 tests
 
If New Zealand actually go alright in this game against a full strength Aus team, bring on the World Cup! New Zealand have quite a bit of injuries to star players eg Inu, Marshall, Kasiano, SBW. A full strength NZ team against a full strength Aus team is something to get excited about!
 
Afro Zac said:
If New Zealand actually go alright in this game against a full strength Aus team, bring on the World Cup! New Zealand have quite a bit of injuries to star players eg Inu, Marshall, Kasiano, SBW. A full strength NZ team against a full strength Aus team is something to get excited about!
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Definitely something to look forward to.....And even though NZ have injuries to key personnel they will still come out firing....Australia can't afford to be complacent or we will get beaten.
 
NZ hasn't had a full week's preparation for a test in over a year. Given they haven't lost by more than eight points in that period, I'm really looking forward to the World Cup.

The Anzac test is really set up for the Kiwis to lose, there's only ever been two home games in sixteen years, and the three day's preparation makes it very difficult to combat the club and state combinations that Australia has.

If I could get the Anzac test off the schedule, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Or at the very least move it to a Wednesday and give it the same amount of preparation as an Origin match.
 
jamesgould said:
NZ hasn't had a full week's preparation for a test in over a year. Given they haven't lost by more than eight points in that period, I'm really looking forward to the World Cup.

The Anzac test is really set up for the Kiwis to lose, there's only ever been two home games in sixteen years, and the three day's preparation makes it very difficult to combat the club and state combinations that Australia has.

If I could get the Anzac test off the schedule, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Or at the very least move it to a Wednesday and give it the same amount of preparation as an Origin match.
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I don't think you could construct any team within a couple of days to beat this side. The bulk if it have been playing together to long, and to make it worse they are all freaks.
 
I believe the Kiwis are definitely going to put up a difficult match for us tonight. Both teams are threatening and are going to go out and try to smash each other. Tight tussle me thinks.
 
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