Pre-season Kangaroos Camp

[DIEHARD]

Man it is a pretty sad state of affairs if the Kangaroos captain won't be at the camp.

[Queenslander]

Man it is a pretty sad state of affairs if the Kangaroos captain won't be at the camp.

Is that the argument now First off it people were complaining about the fact that the Broncos are not attending (because of the Ricky vs Wayne War)...Now that some other clubs may pull out..The argument now moves to the fact that the captain isnt turning up Just remember that the Kangaroo captain is also the captain of the Broncos

[DIEHARD]

I wasn't making an arguement, but an observation of the situation.

No matter what happened, who did what and who didn't do what.

Having a training camp and not having your captain present, for whatever reasons, is embarrassing.

[Queenslander]

I wasn't making an arguement, but an observation of the situation.

No matter what happened, who did what and who didn't do what.

Having a training camp and not having your captain present, for whatever reasons, is embarrassing.

I agree it is embarrassing. Thats why the broncos are keeping Lockyer and other senior players at their own camp .

[Lennox Titan]

A camp with Bennett, how exciting. Everyone have thier prune juice and then its off to bed before dark. I heard Bennett plays Bette Midler tunes on his Harmonica as a pre game rev up.

Why shouldn't it be a Bennett v Stuart thing? that's an interesting story. Two arrogant you knows whats going at it. I'd say Bennett and the Broncos have got the better of him lately. The only combacks he makes are two weeks late.

[DIEHARD]

Young Roos to hop into squad

Emerging NRL stars Ashton Sims, John Sutton and Anthony Tupou are set to be catapulted into the national selection arena by winning places in a potential Australia squad announced today.

In a first-time move, newly appointed Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart has called a preliminary Australia camp to be held in Bondi this weekend.

Rising trio Sims, Sutton and Tupou are three names set to be read out when the Australian Rugby League announces an expected 48-man squad today.

The camp will comprise a combination of current and potential Australia players who may feature in the May 5 Test match against Tri-Nations champions New Zealand in Brisbane.

Four Brisbane players - Petero Civoniceva, Darren Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan and Brent Tate - will not be present due to a pre-arranged Broncos camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Premiers Wests Tigers are another team who will go unrepresented due to the Tigers squad departing for World Club Challenge commitments this Sunday.

Other players understood to have won selection for the camp include St George Illawarra stars Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh and Dean Young along with prize Roosters recruit Braith Anasta.

Anasta's selection returns the Roosters five-eighth to the representative radar after missing out on the Kangaroos' train-on squad at the end of last season.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr will announce the full squad of players to attend the camp today.

"The camp will consist of a group of players who Ricky and the selectors feel may play for Australia," Carr said.

"There will be a lot of current players along with some others who the selectors feel are potentially good enough to represent their country."

The Daily Telegraph

[DeeGan]

I can't be happier with what Ricky Stuart brings to the Australian team and the selections here are again moves in the right direction - NEW BLOOD finally getting more of a look in. First we had Greg Inglis, now Sims, Sutton and Tupou. Hats off to Ricky

DeeGan

[DIEHARD]

I can't be happier with what Ricky Stuart brings to the Australian team and the selections here are again moves in the right direction - NEW BLOOD finally getting more of a look in. First we had Greg Inglis, now Sims, Sutton and Tupou. Hats off to Ricky

DeeGan

Absolutely.

Having new blood and a team selected on form, only makes the Kangaroos the best of the very best and adds to the Kangaroos prestige and grandeur.

It is what people want to see. The selection of the new look Kangaroos should get a lot of media coverage. It will be an exciting issue.

[Dakink]

Bye bye Petero Bye Bye!!!!

But seriously we do need an influx of new talent - though perhaps the players had simply become tired under the same coach for a long period?

[DIEHARD]

Maybe not, but maybe they are looking towards the World Cup.

Might blood 1-2 at the Anzac Test or Tri Nations.

[DIEHARD]

Kangaroos Pre Season Meeting

The Kangaroos preparations for the 2006 Tri Nations campaign begin with an overnight camp at Bondi this Saturday 28 January.

A mixture of established representative stars along with potential debutants combine to make up the 44 players who will attend the camp.

Due to obligations with the World Club Challenge Wests Tigers players were not considered for selection and prior commitments have seen the following players excused from attending the camp: Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Brent Tate, Craig Gower, Danny Buderus, Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva, Shaun Berriga

PLAYER - CLUB
Andrew Ryan - Bulldogs
Anthony Minichiello - Sydney Roosters
Anthony Tupou - Sydney Roosters
Ashley Harrison - Sydney Roosters
Ashton Sims - St George Illawarra
Ben Creagh - St George Illawarra
Ben Hornby - St George Illawarra
Ben Ross - Melbourne Storm
Billy Slater - Melbourne Storm
Braith Anasta - Sydney Roosters
Brent Kite - Manly Sea Eagles
Brett Kimmorley - Sharks
Cameron Smith - Melbourne Storm
Carl Webb - North Qld Cowboys
Clint Newton - Newcastle Knights
Craig Fitzgibbon - Sydney Roosters
Craig Wing - Sydney Roosters
Dean Young - St George Illawarra
Eric Grothe - Parramatta Eels
Greg Inglis - Melbourne Storm
Jason Ryles - St George Illawarra
John Sutton - South Sydney
Johnathan Thurston - North Qld Cowboys
Luke Bailey - St George Illawarra
Luke Lewis - Penrith Panthers
Luke O'Donnell - North Qld Cowboys
Mark Gasnier - St George Illawarra
Mark O'Meley - Bulldogs
Matt Bowen - North Qld Cowboys
Matt Cooper - St George Illawarra
Matt King - Melbourne Storm
Michael Crocker - Melbourne Storm
Nathan Hindmarsh - Parramatta Eels
Rhys Wesser - Penrith Panthers
Ryan Cross - Sydney Roosters
Steve Menzies - Manly Sea Eagles
Steve Price - New Zealand Warriors
Steve Simpson - Newcastle Knights
Timana Tahu - Parramatta Eels
Tim Smith - Parramatta Eels
Trent Barrett - St George Illawarra
Trent Waterhouse - Penrith Panthers
Willie Mason - Bulldogs
Willie Tonga - Bulldogs

Source: ARL

[Dakink]

If Barrett goes to Wigan is that the end of his selectionchances. What do people here think of only selecting from the NRL? League is one of the few sports top select exclusively from one competition. I cant think of any other that does - in any country in the world.. I am talking if there is a better player playing other than in the domestic competition.

[DIEHARD]

I think we should only select from the NRL except in extraordinary circumstances.

[DIEHARD]

Stuart uses Origin model for Roos

National league coach Ricky Stuart will take a leaf from the State of Origin preparation book when he takes a 44-man Australian rugby league squad into camp 10 months ahead of the 2006 Tri Nations series this weekend.

The ARL today announced the squad for the camp at Bondi with several big names excused, bolters Greg Inglis, Tim Smith, John Sutton and Ashton Sims included, and Matt Orford among the surprise omissions.

Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Brent Tate, Craig Gower, Danny Buderus, Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva and Shaun Berrigan were all given pardons due to "prior commitments".

Players from NRL premiers Wests Tigers, who are preparing for the World Club Challenge, were also excused.

But new Manly recruit Orford and Sydney Roosters' half Brett Finch were notable exclusions, particular given the selection of young halves Smith and Sutton.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr, though, said the squad was not a final list of players in line for national selection this year.

"Matt Orford can still get picked ... He might use this as a motivator to make sure he is picked and he'd be capable of that," Carr said.

Stuart, who succeeds Wayne Bennett following last year's Tri Nations defeat, has stated his intention to stress the pride, honour and passion that should come with wearing the green and gold.

Carr said the former NSW mentor was keen to follow a State of Origin model, and a weekend in the pre-season was the only one available before the one-off Anzac Test against Tri Nations champion New Zealand on May 5.

"It's something Queensland Origin do, it's something New South Wales Origin do," Carr said.

"Ricky was very mindful that he wanted to have them for a weekend and the only time he could do it was before the pre-season games start."

"He saw it work in Origin and he thought there were some benefits to it. He's the first Australian coach to do it but we supported it."

Carr said although the Kangaroos first outing is the Anzac Test the squad was picked with an eye to the Tri Nations series at year's end.

The selectors did not have to make a decision on whether to include 2005 Kangaroo tourist Craig Gower following the recent bad behaviour at a celebrity golf tournament which cost him the Penrith captaincy and a $100,000 partly suspended fine.

He was unavailable in any case as he's getting married this weekend.

Meanwhile, Stuart's nominees for his assistants at the Kangaroos will go before a meeting of the ARL board in February.

Australian squad (by club)

Bulldogs: Andrew Ryan, Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason, Willie Tonga

Cronulla: Ben Ross, Brett Kimmorley

Manly: Brent Kite, Steve Menzies

Melbourne: Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Matt King, Michael Crocker

Newcastle: Clint Newton, Steve Simpson

New Zealand Warriors: Steve Price

North Queensland: Carl Webb, Johnathan Thurston, Luke O'Donnell, Matt Bowen

Parramatta: Eric Grothe, Nathan Hindmarsh, Tim Smith, Timana Tahu

Penrith: Rhys Wesser, Trent Waterhouse, Luke Lewis

St George Illawarra: Ashton Sims, Ben Creagh, Ben Hornby, Dean Young, Jason Ryles, Luke Bailey, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Trent Barrett

South Sydney: John Sutton

Sydney Roosters: Anthony Tupou, Ashley Harrison, Braith Anasta, Craig Fitzgibbon, Craig Wing, Ryan Cross, Anthony Minichiello

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

[Steelers]

If Barrett goes to Wigan is that the end of his selectionchances. What do people here think of only selecting from the NRL? League is one of the few sports top select exclusively from one competition. I cant think of any other that does - in any country in the world.. I am talking if there is a better player playing other than in the domestic competition.

I think we should be able to pick from the ESL. Just imagine if Joey went over to England to finish his career and he didn't have a bung knee. Imagine if Mark Gasnier went to England. Imagine if Minichiello went to England? English based players SHOULD be available for selection IMO.