Always one to look forward too but both sides are missing big players this year. Who does everybody think will win?

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I think the Aussies will win, they always seem to with the mid season test but I really hope the Kiwis can pull off a shock. Will set up the 4 Nations nicely

Why is there never any neutral referees whenever the Aussies play. Every time there's a 50/50 call, the Aussies always come away with the decision.

Every international game should have a neutral ref, should go without saying really.

Poor game.

Australia, old and wiser and a bit geriatric. NZ not fielding about 200 better players than on the field, and not looking dangerous because of it.

Bit of a let down from what we normally get from these two sides.

The likes of Smith, Cronk, Inglis, Thurston etc.. are all fine players but have past their peak of the early part of the decade and the Aussie pack doesn't scare me (we have said that before i know but this England past has some real beef now). A great opportunity this winter to win a major international tournament imo.

Semi had a decent debut, only the 1 sin binning and 3 incorrect plays of the ball plus some dodgy offloading, not much to complain about...

Wasn't a spectacle was it. I think the two teams use this fixture mostly for trialing the odd fringe player or three, which is probably a wise move. New Zealand evidently does. they're are beginning to look like they have some serious strength in depth if you could envisage the line-up of absentees.

I think the England pack would absolutely steamroll the current Australia side.

Bit like that old chestnut of "this is the worst Aussie team for years, if England don't win the series this year......"

haha we have heard that one a bit down the years i admit



you have to agree though, it does have the feel that we have the measure of them in a lot of departments right now, especially with so many of our key players going well in the NRL.we really should should win over here imo.

For rep sides in Australia "incumbent" get used far too much. It's debatable if some like Gallen, Gillett, Papalii, Ferguson deserve their spot but when Inglis and Thaiday get picked you know the squads built on past reputation.

New Zealand don't really have great cover, especially in key positions, without Foran, RTS and the bizarre dropping of Luke the spine missed 3 genuine world class players. Kearneys need to pick his best 17 and force them into positions rather than pick his best players for each position again shows his weakness.

Say what now? So Inglis is past it, is he?

In that case, perhaps he'll be coming to SL soon?



Have you actually watched any NRL this season? Luke (who I am a big fan of) has been very poor for the NZW. Obviously RTS out is a big blow.

Are you just watching Inglis' try against a poor roosters on repeat and thinking he's been doing that all season?

In the past 3 or 4 games Luke's form has improved from the start of the season. Who played at 9 instead?

I don't know why anybody is surprised, the mid season tests are usually pretty 5hite.

was luke injured? i know he didn't feature for the warriors in round 9

He did, came off the bench and played an hour.

Kearney thought it would be better to run with Daniel Levi from the Knights and Kodi Nikorama from the Broncos.

Harris was gonna play 6, he's a quality back rower, till SKD got injured. So Harris moved to the centres Nikorama to 6 and Lewis Brown to 9 as Levi got injured in training.

The kiwis had

Manu Vatuvei
Ben Matulino
Bodene Thompson
Keiran Foran
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Simon Mannering
Peta Hiku
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Dean Whare
Jared Warea-Hargreaves

All missing due to injuries or suspension.

Not at all surprised at the result, with the side the Kiwis were able to put out, but a drab old watch. From what I read, the Giants/Rhinos game would have been much more entertaining.

You missed out on the dazzling sidestepping speedster Tuimoala Lolohea, who would have been great at five eighth, and Thomas Leuluai, who would have done a good job as hooker.

it pretty much resembled the three match series over here last winter.

You mean the series which gave England fans a false sense of their team's superiority?

didn't me pal, i didn't hear much from people chirping about us being world beaters.yes before you say, we are aware the kiwis were missing their half backs kieran foran and shaun Johnson and a few others.England were also missing the George and Sam Burgess Jack Reed and Alex Walmsley. Regardless, the series was a turgid affair although it was nice to get a series win, it will have no bearing on the 4 nations this year.