2 Fans Talk Kiwis & The 2017 RLWC

2 Fans Talk about the Kiwis & The 2017 RLWC

Following the announcement of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup draw this week, 2 excited Kiwis fans went back & forth over emails about it…

Casey Rarere: for optimism’s sake (& my heart), I’m including Kieran Foran in my squad of 26. I’ve also taken the captaincy off of Mannering because I can’t guarantee that I’d play him in every game. Isaac Luke is my captain. My team:

Backs (12): Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dalin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Peta Hiku, Jason Nightingale, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Kodi Nikorima, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jordan Kahu, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Thomas Leuluai.

Forwards (14): Jesse Bromwich, Isaac Luke ©, Ben Matulino, Martin Taupau, Jason Taumalolo, Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering, Kevin Proctor, Alex Glenn, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, Sam Moa, Manu Ma’u, Charlie Gubb.

Unluggy: Manu Vatuvei, Elijah Taylor, Lewis Brown, Jordan Rapana, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Stephen Gallagher: After all that’s happened over the last month, I find it very hard to believe Kieran Foran will be playing rugby league next year. Mental illness is a serious issue, and should not be rushed – but if he is fit – he is there.

I’d also give the C to Jesse Bromwich. The best prop in the game and the future of this national side.

Backs (12): Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dalin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Peta Hiku, Jordan Kahu, Shaun Johnson, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jordan Rapana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jason Nightingale, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin.

Forwards (14): Jesse Bromwich ©, Isaac Luke, Ben Matulino, Kevin Proctor, Simon Mannering, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Adam Blair, James Fisher-Harris, Tohu Harris, Greg Eastwood, Manu Ma’u, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Charlie Gubb.

Unluggy: Manu Vatuvei, Alex Glenn, Elijah Taylor, Lewis Brown

Casey: I would be very happy if I was going into the tournament with your squad – I don’t see any weaknesses. One thing that stands out immediately to me, is that we both picked Charlie Gubb. I know it’s a somewhat controversial pick, but I feel like he’s the kind of guy that would really stand up in a test match. In saying that, I don’t know that he’d see much game time, I just like the idea of him in the squad.

Also; & I know you’re gonna hate this, but I slipped Tommy Leuluai in there pretty much for what he offers in experience. I like the idea of him mentoring Nikorima, & he’s there in case Foran isn’t/as back up in the halves, & at hooker. If Foran’s out, then I put Rapana in there. I’ve also picked Bully as my captain because I want/need him in every game. But, I do love that you’ve stuck with Mooks’ choice of Bromwich. No argument there. I wanna talk about why you also left off Manu…

Stephen: Glad we agree on Charlie Gubb, it’d be a longshot if Upper Hutt Tigers legend Stephen Kearney picked the Gubb. His form this season (don’t talk about the shoulder charge) gives the Warriors bench a lot of certainty about it – and I think if he got half a chance that he would put an 80 minute effort in to any limited time he gets.

With Leuluai - I just don’t think the Kiwis need him. Nikorima and the likes are capable and there are plenty of strong defenders and playmakers in your side already.

Why did I leave out Manu? Well… It’s easy. Manu Vatuvei isn’t up to it. I feel 2016 will be his last year of rugby league.

I love Manu, don’t get me wrong – I just don’t want him to be one of those players who plays a season too long and that’s how everyone remembers him.

What would your back five look like in the final?

Casey: Couldn’t agree more on Manu. Not only does he seem to have lost a lot of his athleticism, but he looks like he’s lost heaps of confidence – something he needs to get going. At this stage of his career, I just don’t think the Kiwis need him, there’s so much other talent available to us, which is younger, faster, & more athletic.

I like that you’re already preparing for the final haha. I’m going in to the decider with RTS at the back, Whare & SKD in the centres, & Nightingale & Kahu on the wings. I’m really tempted to swap around Kahu & RTS, after what we saw in the Anzac test.

I feel like we have more quality forwards than ever, & that’s saying something. Who do we use with Bully in the final? We need to cut it down to just 8 guys assuming we have a utility back (Lolohea/Nikorima?) on the bench…

Stephen: That’s a toughie. It pleases me greatly that our forwards are world class for the first time since I can remember.

Bench would look something like this: Lolohea/Nikorima, Taupau, Blair, Harris.

Bully would play 70-80 minutes. I like that Kearney uses Leuluai as a loose forward when we are on a roll to give us more options on attack, so expect Lolohea/Nikorima to roam the field and look for opportunities (Dear Andrew McFadden, please read).

With Alex Glenn picked in your squad, do you use him as a forward or back?

Casey: Definitely as a forward, unless I absolutely had to use him in the centres – though I can’t see that happening, with Whare/SKD/Hiku holding the fort there. Either way, I’d only expect him to play 2 pool games.

Since you’ve got Taupau, Blair & Harris off the bench, does that mean you’re starting Bromwich, Matulino, Mannering, Proctor, & Taumalolo?? Some good forwards are going to be gutted to watch from the sideline…

Also; is Samoa the only real threat in our pool? They always seem to rise to the occasion against the Kiwis. & we don’t know yet, how many, *Scribe voice* if any, players defect from the Kiwis to Samoa/Tonga.

Stephen: Absolutely correct. That’s my forward pack. Enforcers, offloaders, tacklers and workhorses. The scary thing? It only gets stronger when the bench players get on.

I think a RLWC brings out the best in all teams, especially the Island nations getting bigger and better each year. I do think they get ripped off, and need their own end of year tournament every year.

Samoa are a good side. I imagine a few of the bro’s in the Super League will make the trip over to play too. Maybe even Ali Lauitiiti?

I expect the pool outcome to look like NZ, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga.

World Cup year is always good to see how many Kiwi’s turn in to Toko’s and Uso’s haha.

If any – where do you think we are exposed as a team?

Casey: I 100% agree with you about the Islands. This is a whole other conversation, but there should be an annual tournament with Samoa/Tonga/Fiji/PNG.

You think Scotland will finish better than Tonga? These things are hard to predict until we see who the Kiwis & Kangaroos leave out of their squads. (I hope we see Hayne playing for Fiji again).

Kiwis weaknesses? From what happened in the Anzac test – Kearney can’t muck around with makeshift players in the spine. Hooker was a disaster. If Bully gets injured/suspended *touch wood* it’s a huge deal. It’s the same for SJ – especially if we’re missing Foran. The last 4 years have been about building depth, & blooding players, & we’re in pretty good shape, but if Kenny Bromwich runs on at hooker ever again, I’m gonna cry.

That’s about it for me man – I think we’ll have a really strong squad, but I do expect Kearney to pick a couple of eyebrow raisers haha. We should pretty much steamroll our pool (not necessarily a good thing), & cruise into the big games. Hopefully they stay off the energy drinks & sleeping pills this time.

Any final thoughts?

Stephen: Had to laugh out loud about the K Bromwich comment, because I can actually see it happening again haha.

I just wish it was 2017 already, but I am looking forward to seeing just how many of these players make the 2016 EOYT to England.

This period has been the greatest amount of success the Kiwis have ever had, and that overwrites the 2008 Rugby League World Cup win.

There are high expectations on this Kearney led side, but they are no longer the underdog team that they used to be.

Let’s get to work.