Centenary Test

[sanzar]

Right, so no Lockyer and Bennett is now a consultant for the Kiwis... Kangaroos are still overladen with talent, but this one might just get interesting.
Predictions?
Thinking Aus will probably be too strong as usual, but you never know how with Bennett being behind the scenes in NZ and Aus's best 6 out.

 

[melon]

I was quite disappointed to hear that Prince wasn't going to be brought in to the team in place of Lockyer, however Bird has proved himself so I suppose he will get the job done. (If Lockyer misses origin which it seems will happen, i'll be sleeping a lot better if Prince partners Thurston...anyway, thats another story.)

There's no telling what kind of influence Wayne Bennett will have on the Kiwis. He might have made the a smarter team with less flamboyant streaks or he may have simply inspired them to end up winning the game at any cost.

I agree with sanzar, regardless of Bennett's involvement, Australia should pull off a convincing victory but expect to see some increased maturity from NZ's play.

 

[nam97]

Will be the same old story. Kiwis will open the scoring, 6 nil after 30 minutes. Then Aus will turn it on at the end of the 1st half, making it 12-6 to the 'Roos at half time.

Then they'll run away with it in the 2nd half, ending up 52-6 winners. Happens all the time, nothing will change.

 

[sanzar]

If only League were more popular in NZ... would have loved it if the Kiwi's had the same aura as the All Blacks. Would make the trans tasman tests bigger than Origin.

 

[sanzar]

Just thinking, wouldn't it be funny if Australia demolished NZ in this test but then as a result underestimate them at the RLWC and lose to them in the final (assuming they meet of course)? Sure it's a long shot, but I'd love to see the headlines in NZ if the Kiwis won the RLWC before the ABs got a chance to win the RWC again. Would be absolutely hilarious.

Just thought I'd add that lol.

 

[Gay-Guy]

Just thinking, wouldn't it be funny if Australia demolished NZ in this test but then as a result underestimate them at the RLWC and lose to them in the final (assuming they meet of course)? Sure it's a long shot, but I'd love to see the headlines in NZ if the Kiwis won the RLWC before the ABs got a chance to win the RWC again. Would be absolutely hilarious.

Just thought I'd add that lol. [/b]

Anything is possible. i mean it is possible even for Australia to lose by 24 points in a final. It is possible for Australia to NOT score a try in a final. It is possible for Australia to not put any points whatsoever in a final. It is possible. If it is possible for the AB's to lose to an average team in a RWC quarterfinal in an environment where most of the supporters were on their side then it is possible for the Kangaroos to no score a try, not score a point, get beaten by 24 points...in a final.

 

[sanzar]

<div class='quotemain'> Just thinking, wouldn't it be funny if Australia demolished NZ in this test but then as a result underestimate them at the RLWC and lose to them in the final (assuming they meet of course)? Sure it's a long shot, but I'd love to see the headlines in NZ if the Kiwis won the RLWC before the ABs got a chance to win the RWC again. Would be absolutely hilarious.

Just thought I'd add that lol. [/b]

Anything is possible. i mean it is possible even for Australia to lose by 24 points in a final. It is possible for Australia to NOT score a try in a final. It is possible for Australia to not put any points whatsoever in a final. It is possible. If it is possible for the AB's to lose to an average team in a RWC quarterfinal in an environment where most of the supporters were on their side then it is possible for the Kangaroos to no score a try, not score a point, get beaten by 24 points...in a final.
[/b][/quote]
Yeah, I know the Kiwi's won the TN final 24 nil a couple years ago GG, but lets be honest that's the worst Australia has probably played for about 30 years. The RLWC will be a slightly different setting... In any case I would love to see it happen just for the sake of seeing the media reaction in NZ.
WORLD CUP"

 

[Vambo]

Even without Lockyer those Aussie backs are awesome! Their forwards however aren't.
The Kiwis can win the forward battle but that backline will take some stopping.

 

[Number10]

Aussie always has the better team, they have far more players to choose from. I think the Kiwi team is pretty alright but I dont rate our halves and if you dont have good halves you are pretty much screwed. In saying that I cant wait for this game as on the odd occasion the Kiwis cause an upset and lets hope that this is one of those occasions.

 

[melon]

Even without Lockyer those Aussie backs are awesome! Their forwards however aren't.
The Kiwis can win the forward battle but that backline will take some stopping. [/b]

What are you smoking my friend?

It will be close as all hell in the forwards battle, with the most likely team to come out on top being Australia. The only player I'm worried about it Brent Kite, but he'll be replaced by Mason or Webb.

Australia's forwards will murder NZ.

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotemain'> Even without Lockyer those Aussie backs are awesome! Their forwards however aren't.
The Kiwis can win the forward battle but that backline will take some stopping. [/b]

What are you smoking my friend?

It will be close as all hell in the forwards battle, with the most likely team to come out on top being Australia. The only player I'm worried about it Brent Kite, but he'll be replaced by Mason or Webb.

Australia's forwards will murder NZ.
[/b][/quote]

Don't get me wrong... I think Australia will win but your forwards aren't the powerhouses of years gone by. Your backline however is one to be feared but if I was coaching the Kiwis my attention would be focussed fully on winning the forward battle and not letting the Aussies build a platform for those backs to work from.

England would beat that NZ side so I expect Australia to as well.

 

[ak47]

am going to the game at the great SCG
to witness the usual drubbing
folau to score 3
aussies by atleast 24

 

[Silver Arrow]

Thurston in doubt with an ankle injury. Rolled it at training today. Cooper Cronk has been flown to Sydney as cover.

 

[melon]

Thurston in doubt with an ankle injury. Rolled it at training today. Cooper Cronk has been flown to Sydney as cover. [/b]

Argh, you beat me to it! :lol:

At first I was ****** off to heard that Cronk was being brought in instead of Prince, but then I realised that if Cronk were to play then his combination with hooker and fullback, that being Cameron Smith and Billy Slater respectively, would be lethal!

 

[BLR]

How many tickets have been sold, I was reading an opinion piece of another website and the writer commented only 7,500 tickets had been sold. :wacko:

 

[sanzar]

How many tickets have been sold, I was reading an opinion piece of another website and the writer commented only 7,500 tickets had been sold. :wacko: [/b]

Probably right... the build up and promotion for for this has been virtually non-existant and the interest in international league wasn't fantastic to begin with. They really could have made something out of this if they wanted to by securing the release of key players from the UK and cancelling all NRL games for the round (I mean f*** it, it's the 100th anniversary so why not?!), but instead the boneheads at the ARL have managed this event as incompetently as they always do and we'll probably be staring at an empty SCG. Which is a shame, cause it could have been good if they put the effort into it they do with Origin.

 

[melon]

Good news, Thurston passed his fitness test this morning.

I think there'll be a crowd of somewhere between 20 000 and 25 000. Apparently there was a sudden increase of ticket sales last night and when you factor in the average amount of the crowd who are just walk-ins, then it seems the crowd will manage to tip 20k.

Still, the promotion of this event has been substandard especially for what is such an important event in rugby league history. I really hope for NSW's sake that the fans come in droves tonight because if they don't then an increasing number of rugby league rep games will be played in Queensland which I support because more often than not they provide sell out crowds.

 

[esoj]

would love for the kiwis to get up but can't really see it happening in this test. Kiwis have always struggled with this test around this time it simply does not suit them. they generally need a few games to build up the momentum and you get results like you saw in the tri-nations a few years back. one off test at the end of the season kiwis would be more of a chance.

 

[esoj]

some bad news for the kiwis ben roberts gone with a hamstring injury it seems. lance hohaia almost certain to take over the no 6 shirt

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1772560

 

[jawmalawm24]

Doesn't seem to be much hype for this test I think if the Aussies win its just normal but if the Kiwis win the whole New Zealand will be celebrating like people prices dropped or something.