There were a few surprises when Australian coach Chris Walker-Bush announced his team to take on England later in the week, the biggest of which was Canberra's Sean Towers beating out the likes of Matt Orford and Craig Gower for the covetted #7 jersey.
"It's a thrill. Completley out of the blue" said a clearly wrapped Towers after being informed of his selection, "Playing in a winning State of Origin series was a dream come true. To represent my country at my age wasn't even in my wildest dreams". Other 'surrpise' selections included Sydney's Amos Roberts, and Capetown's veteran forward, Martin Lang.
1: Mat Rogers (Northern Cannons)
2: Wendell Sailor (Tamworth City Titans)
3: Matthew Gidley (Gold Coast Crusade)
4: Ryan Girdler (Shanghai Traders)
5: Amos Roberts (Sydney Oilers)
6: Trent Barrett (Brisbane Bulls)
7: Sean Towers (Canberra Chargers)
8: Shane Webcke (Brisbane Bulls)
9: Craig Wing (Sydney Oilers)
10: Marting Lang (Capetown Ravens)
11: Luke Williamson (Brisbane Bulls)
12: Craig Fitzgibbon (Parramatta Vikings)
13: Steve Menzies (Central Phoenix)
14: Michael Crocker (Brisbane Bulls)
15: Mark O'Meley (Northern Cannons)
16: Andrew Ryan (Sydney Oilers)
17: Anthony Minichiello (Wellington Cougars)
isn't barrett out for six weeks!
damn how does aussies get good rookies and kiwis don't (i.e. scott magro etc) if anything it should be the other way round to even up the challenge.
Scott Magro's actually Maltese. MrC just petitioned for him to be available to play for Australia, so I eventually conceded.
If Trent Barrett fails to prove fit, Central Coast's Braith Anasta will take over the five eighth duties.
