Now that my side has been knocked out of the NRL I thought I would start a thread to deflect all my emotional denial into.
Samoa backline looking class with the Penrith boys + Suaalii 1. Stephen Crichton 2. Taylan May 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Izack Tago 5. Brian To'o
Have those guys all confirmed they don't want to play for Australia instead if selected? Some of them would be good chances....
Crichton, Suaalii and To'o all have committed publicly. Not sure about May and Tago but I don't see either being in contention for Aus.
Confirmed Samoa squad 1 Joseph Suaalii 2 Brian To’o 3 Stephen Crichton 4 Izack Tago 5 Taylan May 6 Jarome Luai 7 Anthony Milford 8 Josh Aloiai 9 Danny Levi 10 Josh Papali’i 11 Kelma Tuilagi 12 Jaydn Su’A 13 Tyrone May 14 Fa’amanu Brown 15 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 16 Junior Paulo 17 Marty Taupau 18 Chanel Harris-Tevita 19 Spencer Leniu 20 Oregon Kaufusi 21 Luciano Leilua 22 Mat Feagai 23 Braden Hamlin-Uele 24 Royce Hunt Not my starting 17 btw, copy & pasted from https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/09/...ii-at-fullback-and-the-biggest-pack-possible/ Most well rounded Samoan squad I've ever seen.
Most of the media discussion I've seen has been panels/post-game stuff, so yeah maybe not the most hype. And tbf I have nfi who is on the selection panels so not sure if those having those discussions have any swing whatsoever.
We have a real dearth of standout second rowers at the moment, and its a very dependant position at the best of times, so starting there in a grand final team is almost an automatic ticket to a WC squad no matter which team you play for. It's the sort of charity they absolutely always give to 'meh players in good teams'. To be entitely fair though Lane has been legitimately (and totally randomly ) awesome this year.
Yeah, which is why I can definitely see him making the squad, but the team itself will depend on form/coach preference. I'm still waiting for the shoe to drop and for him to go back to being a plodder. It's such a random improvement that I still don't 100% trust isn't a hoax.
I think we will most likely see Mal pick Murray and Nanai on the edges, maybe even Fifita for his cheer-ness.
Lane has had spatterings of really high quality games for years tbh. However, it has to be said that he has definitely managed to raise his floor this season.
That side is scary. Only real weakness I can see is the hooking stocks and the fact that the chance of the halves performing is a coinflip.
Pretty sure the Panel is Mal, Freddy, Slater and V'landys. I can only really see Mal and to a lesser extent; V'landys, pushing for Fifita out of those 4.
Yeh Slater and Freddy both pulled out and were to be replaced by one representative from QLD & one from NSW but doesn’t look like they ever announced who they were. Lockyear and Daley are still selectors but we might find out who the other two are tonight because pretty sure the Australian selectors still vote on the CCM. Mal doesn’t get a vote & V’landys is only there because it’s written into his job description, was written into the role when they formed the independent commission.