Do you look to the future for a world cup semi final? I would have thought concentrating on the job at hand would be the primary concern. You look to the future during mid season internationals. Why look at winning in the future what you can win today?Can't say I'm surprised at DCE not getting into the Semi Final team. His form there has been very good, but Meninga is also looking to the future and there is no doubt barring injury or suspension that Cleary will be the Kangaroos halfback for the next 5 or so years.
Truth be told Cherry, who will be 34 be the time next season starts, even as captain might struggle to get picked ahead of Sam Walker for Qld in 2023.
Do you look to the future for a world cup semi final? I would have thought concentrating on the job at hand would be the primary concern. You look to the future during mid season internationals. Why look at winning in the future what you can win today?
I'm not saying he should play, Cleary is a better halfback, Munster is a better foil for Cleary and Hunt is a better utility option. Surely that would have been the plan all alongIn all reality though, where do you play him? Cleary and Munster are the halves, Ben Hunt is a better dummy half and gets that bench spot and against NZ Mal will likely have 3 forwards on the bench.
At best he'll be the 18th man.
The reality is when it comes to the World Cup, they could play Jake at halfback and I wouldn't care less so long as Australia win.
I agree with selecting Cleary but I have noticed Munster stars regularly when paired with DCE, but he semed relatively quiet when paired with Cleary.I'm not saying he should play, Cleary is a better halfback, Munster is a better foil for Cleary and Hunt is a better utility option. Surely that would have been the plan all along
Munster gave an in depth interview saying he purposely held back and coasted in the first half to give Cleary his first hit out for the World Cup... He said he waited for the second half to insert himself some more in the direction of play.I agree with selecting Cleary but I have noticed Munster stars regularly when paired with DCE, but he semed relatively quiet when paired with Cleary.
Might have been a one-off.
It may not be popular to like them but, I've always liked the panthers team and appreciated their original personalities.Just an observation: we've all bagged at various times the over the top cockiness of the panthers players over the last 2-3 years. After the Samoa v Tonga match on Sunday Brian To'o and Jerome Luai went round the perimeter fence of the pitch and chatted to/ shook hands with and had selfies with absolutely anybody who wanted to. I know it may be easy because they won but they probably wanted to be with their team-mates to celebrate getting into a world cup semi final. I had a talk with them and they seemed like genuinely nice blokes. I guess the cockiness comes from playing for the panthers and KNOWING that they are head and shoulders above anyone else.
Maybe they would prefer wandering around the airport trying to get tickets homeThe Kiwis (via tosser Isaac Luke) are trying to beat up the story of the Kiwis being booked for a flight out of the UK, the day after playing Aus.
*** just in case anyone wants to hear both sides of the story, the tickets have been booked for ‘whoever’ loses the SF. But carry on anyway.
I have to tip my hat at whoever brought the old siege mentality into it. Dessie would’ve been proud of this one.Maybe they would prefer wandering around the airport trying to get tickets home
Guessing. No way you'd have DCE on the bench instead of a front rower against the forward strength of NZ.Daly on the bench? No Leota for NZ?
Is this right, or merely someone guessing? Surely the final sides are locked in by now...
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Australia v New Zealand
Australia versus New Zealand match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.www.nrl.com
Could Meninga be playing ducks & drakes? It seems highly unlikely that DCE, Grant & Murray are all on the bench v the heavyweight NZ pack. Surely, RCG will be included in the seventeen?Daly on the bench? No Leota for NZ?
Is this right, or merely someone guessing? Surely the final sides are locked in by now...
Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -6 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -22 | 0 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | -30 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | -36 | 0 |