Ben Roberts left out of Kiwis 23 man squad

[Hansta]

wouldnt roberts exclusion have to do something with him representing samoa last year in the world cup

and for those kiwis keep gloating they are world champs... just back up the performance on why NZ are the world champs.

No. Hayne didnt play for Australia in the world cup but i can assure you Australia will pick him now.

TBH i have no problems with NZers gloating, as if we dont gloat when we are world champs in league, union (distant memory), cricket etc etc

 

[OTTO]

who won the world cup?..not the roos!

who has won 9 of them?..not the kiwis!

 

[craig]

maybe cos he played for samoa in world cup.

 

[Hansta]

maybe cos he played for samoa in world cup.

where did hayne play in the world cup?? pretty sure it was fiji. Yet im sure he will play for australia

 

[roberts_6_leb]

where did hayne play in the world cup?? pretty sure it was fiji. Yet im sure he will play for australia

yep it was fiji

 

[phelps_fan]

Leuluai has been playing well for Wigan this season so is deserving of his spot. In saying this I am surprised Roberts didn't make it given his form this year.

 

[Hog]

I thought Roberts would have been picked.

Here's a question though.

Why was Hayne allowed to play for NSW and undoubtedly Australia so soon after for playing for Fiji, when Tuiaki had to miss most of the WC because he played for NZ too soon before the tournament to switch for Tonga?

I have no idea how elligability works. If someone can explain it.

 

[Hansta]

Leuluai has been playing well for Wigan this season so is deserving of his spot. In saying this I am surprised Roberts didn't make it given his form this year.

well tbh on reflection id say he has had a couple of good games in between some poor and solid games.

Remember he is viaing for a 5/8 spot, something he wont get against Benji Marshall who ****s all over him.

 

[Shawty]

My team.

1. Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors)
2. Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters)
3. Steve Matai (Manly Sea Eagles)
4. Krisnan Inu (Parramatta Eels)
5. Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs)
6. Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
7. Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)
8. Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters)
9. Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
10. Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta Eels)
11. Frank Pritchard (Penrith Panthers)
12. Adam Blair (Melbourne Storm)
13. Bronson Harrison (Canberra Raiders)

14. Jeff Lima (Melbourne Storm)
15. Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs)
16. Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors)
17. Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters)

 

[Moe]

Too bad NZ have a few players unavailable, they could have had a top team.


And LOL @ Marshall and Roberts in the halves together

 

[B-Train]

Too bad NZ have a few players unavailable, they could have had a top team.


And LOL @ Marshall and Roberts in the halves together

It's about 100 times better than Foran/Marshall, Marshall/Leuluai, Marshall/Fein or Hohaia/Marshall.

 

[Slippery]

I wouldn't have selected him either.

 

[Moe]

It's about 100 times better than Foran/Marshall, Marshall/Leuluai, Marshall/Fein or Hohaia/Marshall.

No it isn't.

Roberts is about as erratic as Marshall, and both of them have the direction of a mule.

Fien is not a flashy player but he has a good kicking game and direction. He and Witt led the warriors to a qualifying semi last year.

Foran is a good player, but i haven't seen enough of him to know how he leads a team around.

I would have

6. Marshall
7. Fien
9. Luke

14. Roberts/Leuluai (not both)

Fien for his direction and Marshall for his creativity.

Leuluai always goes MIA when he plays in the halves for NZ, when he was moved to hooker last year for a bit he was electric. I would have either him or Roberts interchanging hooker.

 

[B-Train]

Moe, Witt and Rovelli were the halves that led NZ to the finals that time. Fein was hooker.

Fein is a proven failure at all levels as a halfback. He got axed by the Warriors FFS because he was going so bad at halfback. There is no way on earth he provides anything good at half.

Like Leuluai, Fein is better at hooker. Foran doesn't have a kicking game and is just a runner. Out of all of the guys available, as bad as it seems, a Roberts/Marshall combo would have been the best and made the most sense based on form.

 

[Moe]

hmmm i have to double check, but im sure Fien was playing at 7 towards the end of last year. I though roveli was dumped for henderson

 

[B-Train]

hmmm i have to double check, but im sure Fien was playing at 7 towards the end of last year. I though roveli was dumped for henderson

Last year? I thought you meant the year before when they finished 5th or whatever it was and played Nth Qld and the Roosters in the semis. Yeah last year Fein was the halfback I think. But was still useless.

 

[Moe]

Wrong Again Btrain. You're losing your touch

Last year? I thought you meant the year before when they finished 5th or whatever it was and played Nth Qld and the Roosters in the semis. Yeah last year Fein was the halfback I think. But was still useless.

Stats from 2008 season (from rleague.com http://www.rleague.com//db/year/2008/nrl_telstra_premiership/new_zealand_warriors/index.php)

Round l Position Fien Played l Result

rd 12 - 6, w
rd 13 - 6, l
rd 14 - 6, l
rd 15 - 7, l
rd 16 - 7, w
rd 18 - 6, draw
rd 19 - 6, w
rd 20 - 7, w
rd 21 - 6, l
rd 22 - 7, w
rd 23 - 7, w
rd 24 - 7, l
rd 25 - 7, w
rd 26 - 7, w
week 1 fianls - 7, w
week 2 finals - 7, w
week 3 finals - 7, l

Fien played in the halves for the Warriors last 17 games.
They won 10 of those
Drew 1
Lost 6

Fien is a better half then he is a hooker, IMO

 

[bulldogs2010]

I say they should go for:

6. Marshall
7. Fien
9. Luke

14. Leuluai

Leuluai played well at dummyhalf last year in the WC so I see no need for that to change.

Fien to control the right side of attack and Marshall to control the left.

Marshall hit some real hot form at the back end of the year IMO.

I wouldn't have picked Roberts myself. The last month of football from him was nothing short of craptacular.

 

[Moe]

I say they should go for:

6. Marshall
7. Fien
9. Luke

14. Leuluai

Leuluai played well at dummyhalf last year in the WC so I see no need for that to change.

Fien to control the right side of attack and Marshall to control the left.

Marshall hit some real hot form at the back end of the year IMO.

I wouldn't have picked Roberts myself. The last month of football from him was nothing short of craptacular.

looks strangely similar to my post

Great minds

 

[B-Train]

Stats from 2008 season (from rleague.com http://www.rleague.com//db/year/2008/nrl_telstra_premiership/new_zealand_warriors/index.php)

Round l Position Fien Played l Result

rd 12 - 6, w
rd 13 - 6, l
rd 14 - 6, l
rd 15 - 7, l
rd 16 - 7, w
rd 18 - 6, draw
rd 19 - 6, w
rd 20 - 7, w
rd 21 - 6, l
rd 22 - 7, w
rd 23 - 7, w
rd 24 - 7, l
rd 25 - 7, w
rd 26 - 7, w
week 1 fianls - 7, w
week 2 finals - 7, w
week 3 finals - 7, l

Fien played in the halves for the Warriors last 17 games.
They won 10 of those
Drew 1
Lost 6

Fien is a better half then he is a hooker, IMO

Haha. You spaz, I just said the year before in the post above yours. Meaning 07, not 08. I admitted that he was halfback in 08. Clown! I still got my touch. The midas touch baby!