Trent Barrett (St.George-Illawarra Dragons)
Danny Buderus (Newcastle Knights)
Petero Civoniceva (Brisbane Broncos)
Matt Cooper (St.George-Illawarra Dragons)
Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters)
Mark Gasnier (St.George-Illawarra Dragons)
Craig Gower (Penrith Panthers)
Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels)
Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
Ben Kennedy (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
Matt King (Melbourne Storm)
Darren Lockyer, captain (Brisbane Broncos)
Willie Mason (The Bulldogs)
Anthony Minichiello (Sydney Roosters)
Luke O'Donnell (North Queensland Cowboys)
Mark O'Meley (The Bulldogs)
Steve Price (New Zealand Warriors)
Scott Prince (Wests Tigers)
Andrew Ryan (The Bulldogs)
Jason Ryles (St.George-Illawarra Dragons)
Timana Tahu (Parramatta Eels)
Brent Tate (Brisbane Broncos)
Trent Waterhouse (Penrith Panthers)


the only one i could question is andrew ryan. maybe ryles (if he was in the squad to start with before bailey withdrawn.

kiwi squad to be named at 8 to 8.30pm (nz time) tonight, which is 5 to 5.30pm aussie time (daylight savings)

I could question a few:

- Ryan, O'Meley, and Mason
Have done fuck all for their clubs and in Ryan's case, state, this year. No way in hell they deserve starts ahead of Skandalis and Simpson

- Prince
Yes, he's good - but you've got Johns and Gower there. We don't need three halfbacks when we can't find room for a second fullback (Hodgson)

- Tate
How is he a better choice than guys like Ty Williams or Shaun Berrigan?

Tate's a tried and tested centre/wing who was in great form for the latter half of the season, aposed to berrigan who was ordinary in our last losses. If the selectors were prepared to pick players like grothe and richards the team would probly be a bit stronger. Only 1 player from the premiership winning team. I read somewhere mason was prepared to pull out for skandalis or something along those lines. Great to see o'donnell there!

Where is Wing... injured?? If not he doesnt deserve to be there.

It was between Gower and Wing for the 'utility' spot

But they have cover for most positions is case of injury crisis...
Hooker: Buds/Gower
Half:AJ/Prince
5/8:Locky/Push-up.
Fullback: Dracula/Locky

I think they are pretty well covered. Mason and Ryan should not be there, I would have put Laffranchi and Skandalis ahead of them any day of the week, even Steve Simpson and Steve Southern, but most players are versatile in the team.

Trent Barrett: 5/8 could play halfback, lock or centre as well.
Danny Buderus: hooker suppose he could fill halfback.
Petero Civoniceva: front row can play 2nd row as well.
Matt Cooper: centre can play wing as well.
Craig Fitzgibbon: backrow
Mark Gasnier: centre and telemarketer
Craig Gower: halfback, hooker or 5/8.
Nathan Hindmarsh: backrow
Andrew Johns: halfback
Ben Kennedy: Backrow
Matt King: centre/wing
Darren Lockyer: 5/8 and could probably play fullback again.
Willie Mason: prop/2nd row, should be just pre season training!
Anthony Minichiello Fullback could play wing.
Luke O'Donnell: backrow
Mark O'Meley: front row
Steve Price: front row could play 2nd row
Scott Prince: halfback could play 5/8
Andrew Ryan: 2nd row, should not be there!
Jason Ryles: front row
Timana Tahu: centre/wing
Brent Tate: centre/wing
Trent Waterhouse: backrow

On Chris' note I can understand where he is coming from totally there, although Tate had played great in the last games of the season and Berrigan was shithouse in everyway! I would have definately not taken someone like Tahu and pushed Mini to the wing with Hodgson at the back.

My starting team would be:

1. Mini, 2. King, 3. Gasnier, 4. Tate, 5. Cooper, 6. Lockyer, 7. Prince but it won't happen so Johns haha, 8. Price, 9. Buderus, 10. Civonoceiva, 11. Kennedy, 12. Hindmarsh, 13. Barrett, 14. Ryles, 15. Gower, 16. Fitzgibbon, 17. O'Donnell

Trent Barrett : Great selection, would love him to play 5/8th. Has finally learnt to hog the ball instead of ball-playing, and is a better player for it.
Danny Buderus : Great selection.
Petero Civoniceva : Good selection.
Matt Cooper : Ok selection.
Craig Fitzgibbon : Disgusting selection. Guys like Ben Galea, Steve Southern, Clint Newton and Michael Crocker have kicked his ass.
Mark Gasnier : Great selection. Best centre in the world.
Craig Gower : Ok selection. Have my doubt about his form in England, based on past campaigns. Wing or Berrigan would have made better utilities, despite poor form from the two.
Nathan Hindmarsh : Great selection.
Andrew Johns : Great selection. Best player in the world.
Ben Kennedy : Most inspirational forward in the world. Lifts for big games.
Matt King : Great selection. Must be in starting lineup.
Darren Lockyer : Doesn't deserve selection, but I'd pick him on reputation. Mini is the better option at fullback, while Barrett is a better 5/8th.
Willie Mason : Even Willie would be shocked at his selection. Disgusting selection. He needs an off-season to get back to his best.
Anthony Minichiello : Great selection.
Luke O'Donnell : Great selection.
Mark O'Meley : Iffy, but probably worth a shot.
Steve Price : Mr Reliable.
Scott Prince : Recognition for hard work. Be lucky to get a run though.
Andrew Ryan : Disgusting selection.
Jason Ryles : Ok selection. Needs to lift.
Timana Tahu : Great selection. Only real attacking threat for Parra in that semi. With Gasnier, one of few men who can genuinely beat a man one-on-one.
Brent Tate : I've been a big critic of his, but has found new heart and desire. Good on him.
Trent Waterhouse : Good selection. For some reason, this man doesn't bring out his running game, which is damn devastating on his day. Like Hindmarsh, he is turning into a tackling machine. Let's hope he runs the ball more often.

My starting team.

1. Anthony Minichello
2. Brent Tate
3. Mark Gasnier
4. Matt King
5. Timana Tahu
6. Trent Barrett
7. Andrew Johns ©
8. Petoro Civinocieva
9. Danny Buderus
10. Steve Price
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Ben Kennedy

14. Craig Gower
15. Luke O'Donnell
16. Jason Ryles
17. Craig Fitzgibbon

NOTE: Steve Simpson withdraw from the tour prior to the team being announced for personal reasons. So that explains his absence.

Team I Want to See
1: Darren Lockyer ©
2: Matt King
3: Mark Gasnier
4: Brent Tate
5: Timana Tahu
6: Trent Barrett
7: Andrew Johns
8: Steven Price
9: Danny Buderus
10: Petero Civoniceva
11: Nathan Hindmarsh
12: Trent Waterhouse
13: Ben Kennedy

14: Craig Fitzgibbon
15: Luke O'Donnell
16: Jason Ryles
17: Craig Gower

Nathan Hindmarsh out - Ben Creagh in

Big loss but will give a chance to others

TBH, if England can't topple us, there's problems. This is deadset the worst Aussie side I've ever seen. Our pack is weak as piss.

Eric Grothe replaces Andrew Johns for GB part of tournament.

Nice choice. They looked a bit stupid without any backup wingers and three back-up halves.

how is petrol 50centsalitre still in the starting team?