NRL 2019
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I expect the 17 to be:
1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (c) 2. Jahrome Hughes 3. Joseph Manu 4. Esan Marsters 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Benji Marshall 7. Kieran Foran 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. James Fisher-Harris 12. Briton Nikora 13. Isaac Liu
Bench: 14. Shaun Johnson 15. Kenneath Bromwich 16. Zane Tetevano 17. Leeson Ah MauDon't think Tuivasa-Sheck (knee) plays this game since DWZ is named captain and the Warriors want him rested just like Tohu Harris (knee).
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@Sneakdefreak said in NRL 2019:
NSW team
- James Tedesco
- Blake Ferguson
- Tom Trbojevic
- Jack Wighton
- Josh Addo-Carr
- James Maloney
- Nathan Cleary
- Daniel Saifiti
- Damien Cook
- Paul Vaughan
- Boyd Cordner (c)
- Tyson Frizell
- Jake Trbojevic
- Dale Finucane
- Tariq Sims
- Cameron Murray
- Wade Graham
Not a bad side but yes, Freddy is fiddling too much.
the more i look at this, the weirder it is. They got smoked through the middle in teh last game, so now they have even less props in the side? There is a grand total of 1 prop. A thousand back rowers though.
Morris answers the call for game 1, is just about the best player for the Blues, and gets the rissole, for Blake Ferguson?
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@Sneakdefreak I would have thought they wouldn’t have named RTS if he want going to play?
Apparently it’s going to be Benji and Johnson in the halves and Hughes on the bench which would make Foran the unlucky one.
I’m still pinching myself we’ve named a Kiwis team with more than two halves to chose from. Lucky since our back up half Harris is only fit for games in Warriors jerseys and not in a Kiwi jersey.
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Does Jesse have an "I'll only play if you pick my brother clause" in his contract? Otherwise, how is he starting?
Not a bad lineup really. Stoked for Benji, he really deserved more caps over the past few years, hopefully his old man body is up to it.
Crazy that we can select a team with a fit Foran (in decent form) available and he can't make the 17.NAS isn't going anywhere:
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No idea why Kenny is starting, James Fisher-Harris is the better secondrower to take on the Tongans when it comes to the smash and bash stuff.
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@Sneakdefreak Maybe they want Fisher-Harris to come on fresh and rattle some cages with his hard defence?
Fifita is suspended so will miss the match.
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Kiwis up 16-4 at halftime. Smith scored an awesome try and Johnson scored the exact same try twice. Kata managed to catch the ball and score for Tonga.
Kiwis halves are clearly a step above Tonga's. Maumalo has been carting the ball up well and the Kiwi props Bromwich and JWH have been matching the Tongan's - who are all having a decent match. Kiwis seem to be running at Taumalolo trying to get him making tackles.
Great halftime show by Fox, the longest ads ever, then they talked about Origin and then Fiji.
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Looks like the NRL ref has got a brief to keep it competitive. All 50/50s have gone Tonga's way and it's a 6-0 penalty count against the Kiwis.
Kiwis looking like they're ready to blow up.
Johnson mouthed off to the ref at least twice; the last one was a penalty
Yeah, he should keep his mouth shut - I should have said they're already blown up.
Yay, we finally got a penalty.
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Pretty strong kiwi team this one , hope it’s as strong as this when we play the Aussies later in the year
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@kiwiinmelb said in NRL 2019:
Pretty strong kiwi team this one , hope it’s as strong as this when we play the Aussies later in the year
Contained the much vaunted Tongan pack pretty easily and too much attacking firepower.
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@kiwiinmelb said in NRL 2019:
Pretty strong kiwi team this one , hope it’s as strong as this when we play the Aussies later in the year
Contained the much vaunted Tongan pack pretty easily and too much attacking firepower.
Tonga Have a similar problem to us usually , no shortage of muscle , lack some creativity,
All of a sudden we aren’t lacking there
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Score line was what I thought it would be as the Kiwis playmakers are several steps above what Tonga has. Brandon Smith looks to continue on the Smith legacy in Melbourne for years to come, he's the real deal.
Tonga would be better off bringing Will Hopoate into the halves because the Lolohea/Asiata combo couldn't do much.
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I don't know why Benji should be embarrassed. He was proud to be back in black. What a legend
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I don't know why Benji should be embarrassed. He was proud to be back in black. What a legend
Agree, a massive legend, great to see so much pride in ones country.
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I don't know why Benji should be embarrassed. He was proud to be back in black. What a legend
Agree, a massive legend, great to see so much pride in ones country.
.....not only that just seems such a likeable fellow too and what a player in his day. I often wonder what would have happened had he and DC switched lives, I’ve got no doubt they would have been sensational in either code at their peak.
It’s a pretty sad indictment on league as a sport that this game gets mentioned in an NRL thread rather than have its own when every single Super match has a thread.
Are people on here a bit high brow to support it I wonder or is it a reflection on it in NZ in general ?
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@MN5 I don't think there's that many league fans on here, and even on the league forums it gets little mention (and that's mostly from non Kiwis who love the Tongan rise) - NRL and Origin dominate the sport to a startlingly stupid degree.
Anyway, good to see a coach finally have the sense to pick Benji and not come up with stupid reasons not to pick him. And he didn't overplay his hand, directed the team around mostly while allowing SJ to show a bit of flair when needed.
