The All Blacks half back situation

With the naming of the All Blacks training squad as we head towards the incoming tests against Ireland, there has been much debate about the selection of Piri Weepu, his form for the disappointing Blues hasn't been particularly impressive, and the shape he showed up in this season has been the subject of many a talkback argument. Having named four half backs in the current extended squad, Weepu, Andy Ellis, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Smith, the question begs, if we have so much depth, why does he deserve to be picked?


But firstly, let it be noted that this isn't the first time Weepu has gotten out of shape, but he always bounces back when it's time to play for the All Blacks, this bloke has served the jersey very well over the years. When it comes to Weepu, I always think back to him being passed over for the 2007 World Cup, which I still believe to be a mistake. How many in his position, in this "professional era" would have said OK, that's me done here, and went for the big bucks in Europe at that point? Weepu did no such thing, he fought back, turned out great performances and showed why he belongs in black. Was it really that long ago that we were cheering Weepu on as one of the most important parts of our World Cup effort? when the various pictures of Weepu with the "I've got this" caption did the rounds? and now we're ready to throw him to the wolves because he enjoyed his holiday a little too much? I'm not condoning this, but fact is there's many All blacks still recovering from World Cup hangovers in one form or another, Weepu's is one that can be worked out fairly easily, and the skill and heart he has shown for the All Blacks over the years is well worth it.


More importantly however, in what is no doubt a transitional period for the All Blacks as we move from the core of that World Cup winning group to blooding in the youngsters for a shot at defending the crown in 2015, is experience. With Jimmy Cowan and his 51 test caps out the door, a significant amount of time spent at halfback for the All Blacks over the last four years is now gone, all the experience and wisdom to teach the new generation gone with him. Weepu offers the experience of 56 test caps, he's done everything you can do in Rugby at this point, he's been around the block and back again, and the tips of the trade Weepu can offer to the likes of Smith and Kerr-Barlow will be invaluable. Many will point to Ellis and say he's been around a long time too so he can offer the experience. While it's true that Ellis has been around a long time, and I don't want to diminish his abilities, but he really hasn't been through the wars the way Weepu and Cowan have. Ellis hasn't amassed as many games, and he has never really held down a spot in the 22 let alone the number 9 jersey. He's performed very well this season and will hopefully continue to build off his All Black performances at the World Cup, but there is no replacement for the wisdom guys like Cowan and Weepu who have been all around the tracks can offer. We can't lose all that 100+ caps worth of experience at once.


When it comes to All Black selections, New Zealander's love to demand that the team be picked on "form", and with the blessing of depth we have here, there will always be plenty of guys in form sticking their hands up. But sometimes we forget the old adage "form is temporary, class is permanent". Don't be surprised when Weepu once again steps up in the black jersey and makes a few people eat their words while passing on his experience to the new generation in camp this year.

Panthers vs Dragons Round 10 recap

Another fantastic week in the NRL came to a close with the middle of the pack Dragons heading to Centrebet Stadium to take on the struggling Panthers. Coming into the game with just two wins on the season, the Dragons were heavy favourites, but a turbulent week with upset wins to the Titans and Sharks reminded us all that anything can happen in this competition. This was emphasised further as the Panthers overcame the odds, a golden point field goal off the boot of fullback Lachlan Coote sealing a 13-12 victory.

It was a familiar story for the Red V as their anaemic attack once again failed to deliver. The Dragons, who currently have the third lowest points for in the competition, would have to wait until the 66^th minute until they finally got their account underway. Admittedly they were without the services of pivot Jamie Soward, but this inability to score points has been a problem plaguing them all season. Their backline features some classy players with the likes of Cooper, Nightingale, Morris, but the team seems incapable of breaking the line. Very rarely do you see a Dragons player slice his way through the line or take a gap and break into open field. The Dragons deep, structured attack often amounts to little more than drifting left side to right side with few results. They’re being exposed as a one trick pony on attack, if teams shut that structured game plan down, they have nothing else up their sleeve.  Defensively they are solid and capable of grinding out victories, but if they don’t figure out how to start scoring some points, they aren’t going to amount to much this season. In 7 out of their 10 games this year they’ve failed to crack 20 points, in 3 of those they couldn’t even crack double digits. Trent Merrin turned in the type of effort that has seen him snare a NSW jersey this year with over 190 metres and 30 tackle, a tremendously busy night he was also the source of what little spark the Dragons attack had in offering 4 offloads which weren’t fully capitalized on. The thought of seeing the likes of Morris or Cooper linking up with a couple of those offloads sounds like the recipe for the points that the Dragons are starving for.

I do not wish to take away from the efforts of the Panthers tonight, but the Dragons really do make a good defensive effort look like a great one. That said, the Panthers had the edge throughout most of the game, and after early strikes in the 19^th and 22^nd minutes, held onto the lead until Kyle Stanley converted a Mitch Rein try in the 75^th to tie things up. Despite letting the game almost get away from them, the Panthers appeared to have the right mentality when the going got tough, their big forwards demanding the ball late in the game, taking responsibility and trying to get things back on track. Although they didn’t get much reward, the Panthers backs looked a more youthful and enthusiastic bunch than their Dragons counterparts and will let coach Ivan Cleary sleep easy about his decision to drop NSW centre Michael Jennings. Josh Mansour racked up the metres, almost breaking the 200 mark in a fine follow up to his impressive start last week while fullback Lachlan Coote looked to be taking on some real leadership and responsibility for the team. Even just in the simple things like stepping up ready to take the penalty kicks, he seemed to have a cool demeanour and was in charge of the situation. The Panthers have sorely missed the presence of big bopper Tim Grant this season, he proved his worth as he barraged his way to over 140 metres to compliment his 30 tackles.

After the round began with one of the best games we’ve seen in a long time in a fantastic duel between Brisbane and Manly, the Titans putting away the Doggies, and the Sharks, without Gallen, handing the Storm their first loss of the season, it was a fitting end to the week with a golden point finish and yet another upset. Let this great week of entertainment serve as another reminder of why the NRL is the best sports competition going round.

NSW Game 1 Selections

It’s nearly that time again, State against State, mate against mate, one of if not the most exciting times in the rugby league calendar, State of Origin. Every man and his dog have an opinion on who should be in the teams and I’m no exception. Picking the Queensland team is about as easy as choosing between a cold beer and a smack in the face but once again the NSW team is a different story presenting many difficult choices. Tossing my selectors hat on, here is my NSW team for game one.

1. Brett Stewart

The Brett Stewart fan club has taken a pretty big blow in membership numbers over the past couple of years due to his dramas off the field and he’s also had a tough time of it with injuries. Many as a result seem to have forgotten that it wasn’t all that long ago that Snake was arguably the best fullback on the planet not all that long ago. Slater won’t be relinquishing that title to anyone else anytime soon, but Stewart has made great strides in returning to his best. He has a nose for the line almost unparalleled, a tremendous strike rate and as fast as they come.

2. Brett Morris

Has found new legs playing in the number 1 jersey for the Dragons, Morris should have no problems sliding back over to the wing. A fantastic mix of speed and power, he has looked very strong and very threatening for the Dragons this year. NSW has few wingers putting their hands up, so seeing Morris moving back to the wing is the logical choice here.

3. Michael Jennings

 A selection that will raise a lot of questions after the enigmatic Jennings was dropped by the Panthers to their NSW cup side, but his talent Is simply too much to ignore. Some will argue that you can’t reward his attitude problems with a rep side selection, but with the hole NSW has dug themselves in past years, a win is an absolute must this season and Jennings simply gives you a better chance for that than any other centre available. Frustrating that Jamie Lyon doesn’t make himself available as he would have walked in here otherwise.

4. Josh Morris

Has turned in some blistering performances for the Bulldogs this year, looking very unstoppable at times. The same fantastic mix of speed and power that his brother possesses, having one of these big boys on each side of the field should prove troublesome for the Queensland defenders. Another position where few NSW players have really stood up, but Morris is definitely the exception and has been a large part of the early season success of the Doggies.

5. Akuila Uate

No comments really necessary with this one. Walks into the NSW team just like he would walk into any team he was eligible for. The best winger in the game.

6. Todd Carney

A month or so ago I was discussing the potential NSW team with a friend and I was not ready to commit to naming Carney, at this point however you simply cannot ignore his efforts in leading the Sharks to one of the best records in the NRL. NSW have struggled to solidify a halves pairing, one of the issues commonly cited among the reasons for their lack of success in recent years. In Carney they have a Dally M level talent, on his day as good as any other and his day seems to be coming around every week at the moment. A bloke who hasn’t done himself any favours over the years but appears to have, finally, turned the page and commit to making the most of the world class talent he has.

7. Mitchell Pearce

Effectively the default halfback for NSW at this point, if you aren’t going to pick Pearce then who else is there? While not the ideal situation for deciding on someone in such a pivotal position, Pearce has delivered some fantastic performances in recent weeks for the up and down Roosters, making a statement that he is an Origin talent rather than just the best of a weak pool of options. His kicking game has been very accurate and having some history with Carney should provide at least some chemistry, although nothing in comparison to what the Queensland line up has.

8. Paul Gallen

Once again, nothing much to say here, an automatic selection for NSW, Australia and planet earth if the need arises. Traditionally a lock, Gal moved into the front row for NSW last year and the rest is history, turning out one of the greatest performances seen by any player, a resounding 10 out of 10 rating from Rugby League Week and the acclaim of every fan and player. No question that he takes up a propping spot again this year and sets the example for the rest of the pack to follow.

9. Michael Ennis

The injury to Danny Buderus has made the hooking picture somewhat less cloudy, still debate rages between the incumbent Ennis and Tigers stalwart Robbie Farah. NSW needs to remain consistent in their selections rather than selecting a new group every year and Ennis is one of the keys to this. He’s been around the track plenty of times now, he’s a mongrel, he’s niggly, he’s tenacious and he knows what Origin is all about. He may not have the attacking prowess of Farah, but as Phil Gould would put it, “he’s an Origin player” and he’s shown great leadership for the Dogs this year.

10. Tim Mannah

His Eels have been terrible this year, and Mannah may not be setting the world on fire, but once again it’s time to create some consistency here. Mannah has been in the NSW team for a couple of years now and started two of the games last season. He’s a massive bloke, has proven he’s up for it at Origin level, and delivers just what you need to start the game, an aggressive hard running style to set the platform in that first 10 -15 minute period.

11. Glenn Stewart

There’s a lot of positions where NSW is lacking in options, second row certainly isn’t one of them and produces the most difficult selection choices. Glenn Stewart, still seems to go under the radar for many, brings a great mix of size and ball playing ability that cannot be ignored. Has dealt with injury this year but has been back in the swing of things for a couple of weeks now and looks every bit the part. His ball skills are almost unmatched amongst forwards and at the same time he’s not opposed to getting a bit rough and putting a big hit on somebody.

12. Greg Bird

The type of guy Phil Gould dreams about, when you hear “Origin player” you think about guys like Bird. Proven at the Origin level, with a man of the match performance on his record, he’s another tenacious player who you know will leave absolutely everything on the pitch for the blue jersey. He’s extremely versatile, able to provide cover in the halves at a pinch, but his ability in the second row alone should be enough to ensure his selection.

13. Luke Lewis

Another extremely versatile player, Lewis can and has played literally everywhere and has played at rep level as a centre, wing, lock and second rower and always does an admirable job. Another who delivers that leave it all on the field mentality, Lewis has been churning in gutsy efforts every week despite his Panthers struggling. A tremendous leader, he’s basically everything you could ask for in an Origin player. On paper, there’s few advantages for NSW, but Lewis at lock is one of them.

14. Robbie Farah

Filling the utility spot is the gusty Tigers playmaker. The NSW second rowers allow for a great degree of versatility, but Farah brings a special degree of attack that they do not possess. Ennis can handle 80 minutes no problem but Farah allows for a change of pace or change of game plan if required and can also cover in the halves if need be. A difficult decision to leave him out of the starting team, he’s clearly been doing all he can to prove himself to the selectors this year and it has shown through in his play even if the Tigers have struggled.

15. James Tamou

Making his debut for Australia in the ANZAC test, Tamou has been a real workhorse for the Cowboys this season, especially with his Queensland counterpart Scott being out with injury. Subject of much debate around his eligibility, what isn’t up for debate is that the Kiwi born prop has looked every bit the part this season. An enticing mix of ball skills to go along with his big strong frame, he’s a young bloke who will likely be appearing on these lists for years to come.

16. Tariq Sims

Another big youngster from the Cows, the selection of Gallen as a front rower looking at 80 minutes allows for the freedom to start blooding Sims. Still relatively fresh to the NRL, physically he’s a mountain of a guy who will be more than capable of handling the Origin environment, already with a reputation for devastating hits on any NRL opponent who crosses his path. This selection is as much about now as it is five years from now when Tariq should be a real leader for the Blues. If he’s physically up for it, then throw him in there and reap the benefits in a few years when he is terrorizing opponents with his Origin pedigree.

17. Anthony Watmough

With an injury scare now dismissed, Choc is available for selection and takes the last bench spot. You want guys who can make an impact to bring on and Watmough certainly knows how to make an impact. Another niggly character who knows the ins and outs of Origin, he’s a real fireball with the ability to spark a team with his aggressive defence or by  taking a gap with his deceptive speed. He’s got the mentality to put a forward pack on his back in stretches when needed. 

Warriors vs Roosters Round 10 recap

After a strong 70 minute performance against Melbourne, backed up by a very strong win against a Brisbane team in fine form last week, this match up against the Roosters was a huge statement game for the Warriors. After getting a good old fashioned hiding in Round 5, this was a prime chance for the Warriors to show that the limp form from earlier in the season was a thing of the past, and despite a valiant effort from the Chooks the Warriors managed to put up their second win on the trot.

This game had a lot of fans mouths watering over the potential forward pack match up. I have no idea what they're feeding the boys at the Roosters but they've put together a monstrous forward pack with Kiwi prop Waerea-Hargreaves leading the charge, and the Warriors forwards are never found wanting for size lead by another big Kiwi unit, arguably the form prop of the competition, Ben Matulino. But while the forward contest proved an entertaining battle, it was the freakish abilities of Warriors youngsters Shaun Johnson and Konrad Hurrell that decided the game.

Bustling young centre Hurrell justified the hype from those who watched him run all over Toyota Cup defences last season, rampaging his way to over 200 metres from his 12 touches, with 9 tackle breaks, resulting in two tries. Noted for his immense power and ability to shed defenders almost at will, Hurrell showed he had plenty of pace also, Anthony Minichiello offered him and inch and he took a mile, leaving the incumbent NSW fullback in his dust scoring a fantastic try.

Not to be outdone, prodigal half Shaun Johnson added to his long list of highlights by grabbing a brace for himself. Once again Johnson showed the type of footwork that would see any normal man tripping over himself, you almost have to laugh when you see the way he just embarrasses opposing defenders, but you really can't blame them, you blink and he may have stepped past three opponenets. Week by week we are seeing him show that same ability Benji has, to effectively freeze the opposition, as if he can pause time to let him come up with what he would like to do. The huge smile he wears when he crosses the paint and clear enthusiasm for the game is truly infectious, he's just a fantastic asset not only for the Warriors but for Rugby League in general. They were supported by a handy night from Maloney with the boot kicking 5 goals, and The Beast Manu Vatuvei finally breaking his try scoring drought.

It wasn’t all good news for the Warriors however, fresh from signing a one year contract extension the injury plagued Jerome Ropati picked up another injury to his knee and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks, the injury forcing Maloney to shift to fullback and Feleti Mateo into the halves.

For the Roosters 2^nd rower Aidan Guerra proved very impressive, grabbing a try to go along with 26 tackles and crossing the century metre mark. He seemed to pop up at all the right moments doing all the right things, he was very active and really put his mark on the game. Tackling machine Jake Friend notched up 44 on the night, nothing new for him but impressive nonetheless, and the big man, or one of the several big men, off the bench Lama Tasi was a handful with the ball in hand. Perhaps the biggest positive for the Chooks however was the debut of young phenom Tautau Moga. Crossing the ditch to Mt Smart is far from the ideal place to start your NRL career and he appeared a little timid at first. After being denied a try in the corner however, showing off some great athleticism, he seemed to decide that he belonged, getting himself more involved, looking very confident, dangerous with the ball in hand, and like he’d been around the NRL for years. I suspect it won’t be long at all until he starts giving NRL defences nightmares like he has opposition in the younger grades, the thought of seeing him and Hurrell going up against each other in future very tantalizing indeed.