Ben Roberts left out of Kiwis 23 man squad

[Squatting Bull]

Grand final-winning Melbourne forwards Adam Blair and Jeff Lima are both in the squad as is centre Krisnan Inu from the beaten Parramatta side. Blair and Lima both played in this year's Anzac Test but Inu didn't.

Also back after missing the Anzac Test is Manly centre Steve Matai while Benji Marshall is again captain after leading the Kiwis once during the World Cup and again in the May international against the Kangaroos.

The Kiwis will be in camp for 10-days, starting in Auckland on Wednesday before moving to Rotorua on Saturday to prepare for their one-off Test against Tonga in Rotorua on October 14.

They fly out for England on October 16 ahead of their opening Four Nations match against Australia at The Twickenham Stoop on October 24.

KIWIS SQUAD

Adam Blair (Melbourne Storm)
Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs)
Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)
Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs)
Bronson Harrison (Canberra Raiders)
Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors)
Krisnan Inu (Parramatta Eels)
Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors)
Jeff Lima (Melbourne Storm)
Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors)
Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
Steve Matai (Manly Sea Eagles)
Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors)
Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta Eels)
Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters)
Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters)
Frank Pritchard (Penrith Panthers)
Junior Sau (Newcastle Knights)
Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly Sea Eagles)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10601428&pnum=2

Cannot see why he'd be overlooked for players like Leuluai who time and time again has failed at International level, a rookie in Kieran Foran and a QLDer in Nathan Fien.

 

[B-Train]

:roflol:

What a joke! This is exactly what I said would happen!

I knew Kearney would stick with the exact same players. How proven failures at International level like Fein and Leuluai made it ahead of him is beyond me. And Foran made it ahead of him? He's played like 10 FG games and wasn't that great. Plus Roberts was even better than Hohaia this season. What a joke. Poor Benny.

 

[gians]

its easy he was left out cause his ****... whats so hard to understand

 

[B-Train]

its easy he was left out cause his ****... whats so hard to understand

Yeah cos Foran is so proven, Leuluai is so great and Fein and Hohaia played so much better than him this year?

As bad as people might think Roberts is, he still has played way better than every single one of those guys without doubt.

 

[Squatting Bull]

This team will get flogged badly come the 4 nations.

Sam Perrett
Jason Nightingale
Steve Matai
Krisnan Inu
Bryson Goodwin

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Fui Fui Moi Moi
Issac Luke
Adam Blair
Bronson Harrison
Frank Pritchard
Greg Eastwood

Lance Hohaia
Jeff Lima
Iosia Soliola
Frank Paul Nuuausala

 

[B-Train]

This team will get flogged badly come the 4 nations.

Sam Perrett
Jason Nightingale
Steve Matai
Krisnan Inu
Bryson Goodwin

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Fui Fui Moi Moi
Issac Luke
Adam Blair
Bronson Harrison
Frank Pritchard
Greg Eastwood

Lance Hohaia
Jeff Lima
Iosia Soliola
Frank Paul Nuuausala

Yep. No Cayless, Asotasi, Mannering, Rapira, Roberts, Manu, Tuiaki, Vatuvei and others. Bad selections and the usual 10 withdrawals that happen every year and their team isn't as good as it could be. It never even comes close.

 

[steve1700]

Issac Luke 7 Marshell 6 think this will happen?

 

[Squatting Bull]

The backline is dreadful for what it could be. That backline up against this:

Slater
Folau
Hodges
Inglis
Hayne

lol NO chance

 

[Squatting Bull]

Issac Luke 7 Marshell 6 think this will happen?

I wouldnt weaken the 9 to strengthen the 7 when they have Fien and TL.

Let them cop the floggings and suffer.

 

[Aristidiz]

Poor Roberts, he so deserved a spot over some of these guys. Roberts is rising it to another level regardless.

 

[halfcast]

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

 

[Scooby doooo]

I'm happy to see Goodwin there I didn't know he's a Kiwi though... Learn something new and all that.

 

[Aristidiz]

I'm happy to see Goodwin there I didn't know he's a Kiwi though... Learn something new and all that.

He has a grandmother who is kiwi or something. Could have played for the roos but he knew he had a slim chance of getting chosen for them anytime soon so he got the nzl papers signed.

 

[fobsicle]

Sorry who are the world champs again? haha

We won the RLWC without Roberts, sorry but he won't be that missed tbh

 

[Costaki10]

tbh im surprised he dint make it, was sure he would get into the squad no problems

 

[fobsicle]

I knew Kearney would stick with the exact same players. How proven failures at International level like Fein and Leuluai made it ahead of him is beyond me.

F*ck me I've been saying it for years, Leuluai is hopeless! The only guy to ever pull on the black and white I've ever despised.

 

[roc-a-fella]

is the test against tonga gonna be televised?

 

[roc-a-fella]

F*ck me I've been saying it for years, Leuluai is hopeless! The only guy to ever pull on the black and white I've ever despised.

I dont know why but I like Leuluai and always look forward to watching him play

 

[will.i.am]

Unlucky for Benny

Shame the same players selected have been tried again and again

 

[fobsicle]

I dont know why but I like Leuluai and always look forward to watching him play

Kinda like how I feel about Kidwell haha