Kangaroos Squad for October 14 test

[HodgoBerro]

what a rip....berrigan wasnt even named and if the broncos won yesterday he would of been playing this week

[Queenslander]

what a rip....berrigan wasnt even named and if the broncos won yesterday he would of been playing this week

After the Broncos loss yesterday he is now a ESL player and ESL players don't have much chance of getting into the Australian squad no matter who they are. Although now that I have said that Matt King will get a jersey.....

[HodgoBerro]

but hes still contracted with the broncos until the 31st of oct.

if matt king gets a start thats a rort coz hes going to the esl

[Kelvinator]

what a rip....berrigan wasnt even named and if the broncos won yesterday he would of been playing this week

how on earth would he get a start??????????????????????
hasn't played for 4 weeks(?), won't play again before the test, thats about 9 or 10 weeks without football. would only be vying for a bench spot anyway, and there are plenty of players who will get that before berrigan.

[HodgoBerro]

because hes one of the best utilities in the game thats why. he was given clearance to play this week if the broncos made it this week

how many players have you seen who can play every position except prop AND has a Clive Churchill Medal? not many...

[Kelvinator]

i'm sure there are plenty of players who can play all these positions, just that most don't get a chance these days because clubs have depth in most positions (not a dig at the broncos either). and clive churchill medal is an award for one game, not consistency over a long period.

i don't want to take anything away from the clive churchill medal or from berrigan, he is a good player. but i think you have you're broncos glasses on, because their are plenty of players in the nrl who could fill the utility role with more match fitness then berrigan.

he's a good player, but by no means far above the rest.

[Steelers]

Ben Hornby is a very handy utility who happened to play halfback last year for Australia...
He was also actually playing before the season ended...



If Berrigan was considered, I would consider it an absolute joke! Noone deserves to be picked based on their reputation alone... that is what I believe, and if they picked Berrigan despite the fact that he hasn't played for a few weeks, then it would be disgraceful IMO. I don't want to see Matt King either... unless he is in the centres. If he gets picked on the wing, then that will be just as disgraceful. Anyone remember SOO?

[Queenslander]

he was given clearance to play this week if the broncos made it this week

But he still didn't so selectors don't have any recent form to look at. Berrigan has been gone for a few weeks now, and like I said his move to the ESL doesn't help his cause.

If he holds onto his form from the past couple of years over in England than he may be a bolter for the World Cup squad; but for a one-off test against New Zealand I think the selectors would like to explore other options for the future.

[jenny]

Fight over Fuifui

By Steve Mascord and Nick Walshaw
September 21, 2007

AUSTRALIA coach Ricky Stuart last night made it clear he wants Fuifui Moimoi as Australia prepares to make history by delaying team selection for one player.

For the first time in 100 years, ARL officials are prepared to put off the announcement of a team for two days so the 108kg Parramatta prop's eligibility can be determined.

Moimoi has played in World Cup qualifiers for Tonga, been pencilled in for the Kiwis' 2007 train-on squad - and now a big performance in Sunday's preliminary final against Melbourne will lead to selection for Australia.

"He's been mentioned in our phone hook-ups because he's shown such great impact," Stuart said.

"Each game he plays from here on will be watched with special interest. What Fuifui has done for Parramatta over the last eight weeks is one of the main reasons they've got to where they are.

"These big games are the ones that tell you whether guys can handle Test football."

Moimoi's name had been raised at an Australian selection meeting despite his having already played for Tonga in 2006 and New Zealand A in 2002.

The Australian side to play New Zealand in Wellington on October 14 was to be named the day after the grand final. Thanks to Moimoi, that is now unlikely to happen.

"He can change his choice in a World Cup period but it needs the ratification of the International Federation executive," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said.

"As fate would have it, there's an executive meeting on the Wednesday after the grand final. It may be that we have to delay the announcements of both (Australian and New Zealand) Test teams to allow the executive to consider an application."

Not even the Super League War in 1995, Wally Lewis' broken arm (1990), Wayne Pearce's knee (1986) or incomplete finals series between 1908 and 1952 stopped Australian teams being named on time.

Asked who he wanted to play for, the laconic prop said: "Whoever I get picked by. If I get picked for Australia first, I'll play for them. But if New Zealand pick me first then I'll play for them."

Moimoi was born in Tonga, raised in New Zealand and has lived in Australia long enough to qualify under the three-year residency rule.

Asked what he would do if both trans-Tasman rivals tried to select him, Moimoi replied: "I would have to make a decision. When I was young I always dreamed of playing for New Zealand but I will have to see who approaches me first."

Carr confirmed Moimoi was the only player affected by the situation.

"His popularity, one way or another, could be determined by how he plays this weekend," he said.

"Fui is the only one who has come up, given his recent outstanding form. Given the convenience of that executive meeting...instead of naming that team traditionally on the Monday, we may need to push it back so that we can consider Fui's wishes."

NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz said: "The (train-on) list that's going around is not official yet but comments attributed to Fuifui and Taniela Tuiaki suggest they wanted to play for the Kiwis.

"We have proceeded on that basis. We've had some talks with Australia about Fui and we will probably put off making any more additions to our train-on squad until the matter is resolved by the RLIF."

Moimoi toured France and the United States with New Zealand A in 2002. Eels halfback Tim Smith has no doubt the hulking Tongan will be playing international footy in the near future.
FOX SPORTS

[jenny]

Bowen, Eels become Kangaroos


September 24, 2007

EXCITING fullback Matt Bowen was one of five players added to the Kangaroos' train-on squad today after their teams were knocked out of the NRL finals.

Bowen is joined by North Queensland teammate Carl Webb and Parramatta trio Jarryd Hayne, Eric Grothe and Nathan Hindmarsh in the squad preparing for the Test match against New Zealand in Wellington on October 14.

The Australian Test squad will be named next week after Sunday's grand final between Melbourne and Manly.

AAP

[Cowboy Titan]

Greg Prichard | September 26, 2007
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news...486312055.html


THE Australian fullback spot is Brett Stewart's to lose in Sunday night's grand final.

The Herald has learned Manly's Stewart has gained the inside running to make his Test debut against New Zealand in Wellington on October 14.

Stewart's brilliant form during the home-and-away rounds and in the finals series so far - and the fact he outpointed his nearest rival for the job, North Queensland's Matt Bowen, in the grand final qualifier on Saturday has given him the edge. The decision by Cowboys and Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston to undergo shoulder surgery ahead of the Test, ruling him out, has also worked in Stewart's favour.

Bowen and Thurston have an uncanny understanding on the field and the idea of them playing together for Australia had obvious appeal. But Thurston had an operation on one shoulder yesterday, and the other will go under the knife in five weeks. History shows that Thurston's presence help makes Bowen a better player for the Cowboys.

Stewart and Bowen were level-pegging for the Test spot before last weekend, but it is understood only a nightmare game against Melbourne will stop Stewart getting the nod. That would open the contest back up for Bowen and the other contenders - the Storm's Billy Slater and Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne.

As far as the halfback spot goes, Matt Orford (Manly), Scott Prince (Wests Tigers) and Cooper Cronk (Melbourne) all have a shot at getting the jumper. Orford is believed to be leading the race, but only just. The decision will be largely influenced by form in the grand final. The selectors will pick the side on Monday.

Meanwhile, Manly coach Des Hasler says the Sea Eagles will take any opportunity to put Melbourne winger Steve Turner under pressure after his nervous display during the second half of the Storm's win over Parramatta on Sunday.

Turner, after switching to fullback while Slater was off injured, let a grubber kick that he could have fielded eight metres off his own line go past him before he ran back into the in-goal and grabbed the ball. He slipped over trying to make his way back out and the Eels pinned him for a dropout. Soon afterwards, he dropped a bomb with no Parramatta players near him.

"It all goes into the mix," Hasler said. "He would be disappointed with what happened and we'll test him out in the normal course of things. But it's going to take more than a dropped bomb for us to beat Melbourne."

Manly had 11 players miss training on Monday because of injuries.

Yesterday, some of those players trained lightly and some again sat out the session but the only one at any risk of not playing on Sunday is winger Chris Hicks.

However, Hasler said he was "pretty optimistic" Hicks, who missed the win over the Cowboys with an ankle injury, would be fit to play.

[Cowboy Titan]

As far as the halfback spot goes, Matt Orford (Manly), Scott Prince (Wests Tigers) and Cooper Cronk (Melbourne) all have a shot at getting the jumper.

I was sure I'd seen Scott lining up for a different team this year. Oh well, I guess Greg Pritchard knows what he's talking about.

It's funny how one game can have so much bearing on selection. Matt was consistently brilliant all year, was the Dally M Fullback of the year and came 4th overall but looks a chance of missing out on based on one game that he went into with an injury. Stewart would do a great job for Australia but I'd still love to see Matt in the team.

[Queenslander]

Grothe rejected by Stuart

September 26, 2007

PARRAMATTA star Eric Grothe is no longer in Australia coach Ricky Stuart's plans after the wing failed to turn up to today's train-on squad gathering.

Grothe, who played in Sunday's preliminary final loss to Melbourne, is following a pattern after he infamously showed up two hours late for a New South Wales City Origin medical last year - before being ruled out of the City-Country Origin match.

"I'm not going to lie, he didn't lob," Stuart said.

"He knew about it and he'll be no longer in my plans. I hope the selectors and the ARL understand that's only my decision, but I hope they take it on board.

"A person who's not going to respect the jumper, as I said from day one when I got this job. He won't be in my plans this year and/or in the future."

Asked how he felt about Grothe's no show, Stuart said: "Satisfied actually. He gives me great evidence today as to where his indications lie, and that's obviously to have a drink with his mates."

Stuart said he had not received an apology from Grothe.

In other Test news, North Queensland forward Carl Webb has been ruled out of contention for the October 14 match against New Zealand in Wellington, with his calf tear still causing concern.

Sharks lock Paul Gallen will see specialist Dr Des Bokor on Friday to have a shoulder injury sustained in the Prime Minister's XIII match against Papua New Guinea checked.

AAP

[DIEHARD]

I can't believe Grothe didn't show up. People need to have more respect for the green and gold.

It offends players, legends, admins and fans alike.

[Cowboy Titan]

Silly boy Eric.

What a shame for Carl Webb to miss yet another test through injury. Hopefully he can stay fit next year and finally debut for Australia.