Australian Kangaroos World Cup Squad

[Chaos]

I reckon we're a bit light on for props and I wouldn't have selected Josh Perry. Surely Luke Bailey and Ben Hannant were better options along with a number of others. Thaiday must be the unluckiest but agree that he and Hunt will have been sidelined by the nightclub incident. Nate Myles and Tupou can also consider themselves unlucky. I reckon David Williams was an excellent selection as he has been a standout this season and not necessarily as a try scorer but for the tough work he does.

Igree with the lack of props available...but my main question is
Why isn't Thaiday in the squad?

I'd also have taken Tupou over Fitzgibbon.

[TITAN PETE]

Igree with the lack of props available...but my main question is
Why isn't Thaiday in the squad?

The same reason Hunt isn't as they may be busy with the Police

[titanstattman]

Igree with the lack of props available...but my main question is
Why isn't Thaiday in the squad?

Im glad he is not there as he is one of the 3 in voled in the police thing.....

[Chaos]

The same reason Hunt isn't as they may be busy with the Police

Has anyone been found guilty?

[titanstattman]

Has anyone been found guilty?

No they hav'nt but they shouldnt have the right to play untill they have been cleaned.......

[Boofhead]

Tupou, Hayne handed World Cup lifelines
By Steve Jancetic

The murky nature of rugby league's international eligibility rules were exposed again Wednesday with Australian rejects Anthony Tupou and Jarryd Hayne both handed World Cup lifelines.

Parramatta winger Hayne was named to play in the Fijian side while Tupou - who Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart admitted was an unlucky omission from the Australian side - was picked in a powerful Tongan line-up.

Tupou and Hayne both need clearances from the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) before turning out for their country of heritage, Hayne having played three Tests for the Kangaroos in 2007 while Tupou was in the Australian side which won this year's Centenary Test against New Zealand.

Complicating matters is the rib injury which has Melbourne backrower Michael Crocker in some doubt to take his place in the Australian side. Tupou, along with the likes of Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday, are believed to be on standby for the Storm enforcer.

"I spoke to Tupes this morning, I said I'd be naming him in the side and he's pretty keen to play," Tongan coach Jim Dymock said.

"They're worrying about the Australian side, if someone gets injured there, he might slip in.

"At the end of the day it's up to Tupes to make the decision ... if he goes back to Australia, all well and good."

RLIF chairman Colin Love would not pre-empt a decision on Tupou's eligibility, with the executive of the RLIF set to meet on Thursday via a phone hook-up.

"A player has to make an application to the international federation to change allegiances - that application hasn't been made yet," Love said of Tupou's situation.

The executive will also make a decision on the eligibility of several other players named in various squads, including NRL-based Ireland pair Shannon McDonnell and Brett White, Samoan selections Ali Lauititi, Ben Roberts and Misi Taulapapa and Tongan nominees Awen Guttenbeil, Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki.

RLIF rules prohibit players from changing allegiances more than once between World Cup campaigns, Tuiaki and Moimoi facing an uphill battle to play for Tonga having switched to New Zealand last year.

"They're keen to play in the World Cup," Dymock said.

"They went and played for New Zealand last year, they had a disappointing tour and they didn't get selected in the New Zealand side (this year).

"I think being a World Cup, it's a big occasion ... every player wants to play in it."

The Tongan side looks favoured to emerge from the two groups of minnow nations to claim a semi-final spot, where they would more than likely run into an Australian side at the Sydney Football Stadium on November 16.

The winner of Pool 2 - which contains France, Fiji and Scotland, will meet the winner of Pool 3, which includes Tonga, Samoa and Ireland - for a spot in the last four.

"There's going to be some really competitive matches," Love said.

"You aren't going to see any blowouts and the team that does come through from those two pools to be the fourth team in the semi-finals is going to give it a shake."

The Tonga-Samoa match at Penrith's CUA Stadium on October 31 shapes as the highlight of the preliminary round matches.

"I can't wait, there's going to be a lot of fireworks," Tonga and Sydney Roosters prop Lopini Paea said.

"We're like brothers off the field but on the field it's going to be a different story."

AAP

[titanstattman]

Just heard thett crooker is out and Tupou has replaced him

[DIEHARD]

Just heard thett crooker is out and Tupou has replaced him

Really really disappointed with that. This nation switching doesn't help the credibility of the World Cup.

[Dummy Half]

they shouldnt have the right to play untill they have been cleaned.......

It should it be that they have the right to play untill they have been charged.

Isn't being Innocent until proven guilty a legal right in this country??
The presumption of innocence i believe its called

But back on topic, the tupou flip-flopping is a terrible look and a giant slap in the face for Tonga.
-

[titanstattman]

It should it be that they have the right to play untill they have been charged.

Isn't being Innocent until proven guilty a legal right in this country??
The presumption of innocence i believe its called

But back on topic, the tupou flip-flopping is a terrible look and a giant slap in the face for Tonga.
-

The reason why i say that is all year wen a playe4r ****ed up they got stood down so why should they be any diff

[quins rl]

Really really disappointed with that. This nation switching doesn't help the credibility of the World Cup.

,totally agree,the international media cant take our game seriously until we sort out the whole eligibilty/selection mess,it just makes a mockery of the pride that should be involved in wearing an international shirt.

[Steve]

On one hand I think allowing unselected players to play in their heritage nation helps make not only the games more competitive and the non NRL/super league players get a huge boost playing alongside them and learn a lot.

But in this case, he wasn't selected, he got picked for his heritage country, and if there's an injury or something they should now draw a different player into the squad. Plenty of great players not selected.

[Chaos]

Is Tupou thing really that bad...Firstly I'm a true blue Aussie but I'm still proud of my different ancestry.
I'm sure Tupou would be proud playing for either country...The Olympics seems to survive with the national changing.

[DIEHARD]

Hunt on for Hodges' replacement

A SHOT at redemption may loom for snubbed Bronco Karmichael Hunt after his Brisbane teammate Justin Hodges was ruled out of the Rugby League World Cup.

A gutted Hodges learned he would require a shoulder reconstruction - which requires a six month rehabilitation - after visiting a specialist in Brisbane.

The Broncos said Hodges would go under the knife next Wednesday.

Hunt is expected to loom large before national selectors name their replacement on Wednesday.

World Cup honours would provide some relief to a nightmare end to the 2008 NRL season for Hunt.

There was speculation that Hunt missed a spot in the initial 24-strong Australian World Cup squad due to off-field allegations.

Queensland Police have concluded an investigation into sexual assault allegations levelled at Hunt and Broncos teammates Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd.

A number of off-field indiscretions prompted the Broncos to announce a new system of curfews and a ban on Brisbane players drinking between Sunday matches and Friday games.

While Hunt kept his fingers crossed, Hodges cut a shattered figure as he trudged out of the specialist's office.

"I'm 26 now, it's probably my last chance to play in one (World Cup), so for me it's real gutting," Hodges told reporters.

"It's sort of like this year, very heartbreaking. It's just one of those things that happens in footy I guess."

The Broncos said Hodges should be fit for the start of the 2009 season - but that was not much consolation to Hodges.

"It's the worst case scenario for Justin and worst case scenario for the team," ARL doctor Hugh Hazard said.

To date, the Broncos are represented in the Kangaroos squad by skipper Darren Lockyer.

Hodges made the World Cup squad despite playing just 14 NRL games this season due to injury and suspension.

He initially suffered the shoulder injury during the Origin series and played out the season with it.

But it only got worse, with the specialist identifying two tears in his shoulder joint in scans.

"The doctor has told me I need to get it done straight away," Hodges said.

"The only positive right now is that everything goes well with the surgery next week I should be fit to start the NRL season next year."

Meanwhile, this year's World Cup will offer $2m in prizemoney for the 10 competing nations - including a $650,000 winner's cheque.

The runners-up receives $525,000.

The remainder of the money will be distributed on a sliding scale to other teams, according to where they finish in the competition.

"It represents an enormous financial commitment from the game as we underwrite everything from airfares to accommodation, tournament facilities and prizemoney, but it is a commitment that will provide new opportunity in the future," tournament director Colin Love said.

France has already arrived in Australia and has set up camp on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Ireland and England arrive on Wednesday with Papua New Guinea and Scotland due to land on Thursday.

The Australian team goes into camp in Sydney on Saturday.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

[Assassin]

Cooper ruled out as replacement
By David Beniuk
October 15, 2008 ST George Illawarra centre Matt Cooper has been ruled out as a possible replacement for Justin Hodges in Australia's Rugby League World Cup campaign.

Australian Rugby League chief Geoff Carr has confirmed Cooper has a groin injury and is unavailable, although Dragons officials were unable to provide details of the problem.

"The medical staff at the Australian Rugby League contacted St George and Cooper and he's got a groin problem so he's not in the frame," Carr told AAP.

"He was considered but he's definitely not available."

The Kangaroos have delayed naming a replacement for Brisbane match-winner Hodges, who will undergo a shoulder reconstruction next month, because selector Bob Fulton is on a pig-shooting expedition in the Northern Territory.

"He's taken a satellite phone so that he can be contacted in an emergency but obviously day-to-day he must be off that," Carr said.

"We're hopeful we'll be able to contact him.

"We haven't got a tight timeline, they don't go into camp until Saturday, and we want to observe the proper process and make sure all the selectors are consulted."

Hodges and Cooper's unavailability, as well as Manly star Jamie Lyon's unwillingness to play representative football, have fully exposed the hole created by former Dragon Mark Gasnier's flight to French rugby.

The loss of four world class centres has been compounded by the eligibility furore surrounding the World Cup after Australia recalled forward Anthony Tupou from the Tongan squad last week.

Carr has all but ruled out another raid on Australia's weaker opponents which means Penrith speedster Michael Jennings, who was named in the Kangaroos preliminary squad, will remain with Tonga.

"We made an early call on Tupou but the reality is Jennings would be a key player with Tonga but he might be a bit player for Australia, so my personal view is that he can stay where he is," Carr said.

"I've spoken to the coach (Ricky Stuart) about it, he agrees.

"The selectors may have another view, we may have a debate about it but certainly my view is we will allow him to play with Tonga."

Manly winger Michael Robertson, who scored a hat-trick in the NRL grand final, is likely to remain with Scotland for the same reason.

Former Kangaroos winger Jarryd Hayne, now with Fiji, is ineligible for Australia after his switch was rubber-stamped by the RLIF.

Several players within the Kangaroos squad, including likely wingers Israel Folau and Brent Tate, can cover centre and with the pickings so slim a utility back is the most likely replacement for Hodges.

Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt and utility Darius Boyd appear to be the favourites to join the squad, despite both having been investigated by Queensland police over sexual assault allegations in Brisbane.