Australian Test Side 2012 - Townsville

Just remembered there's no Four Nations this year. Just an end of year Test to be played in Townsville on October 16th (IIRC).

My side would be...

1.Billy Slater
2.Darius Boyd
3.Greg Inglis
4.Brent Tate
5.Akuila Uate
6.Johnathan Thurston
7.Cooper Cronk
8.Matt Scott
9.Cameron Smith (c)
10.David Shillington
11.Ashley Harrison
12.Corey Parker
13.Paul Gallen

14.Matt Ballin
15.Ben Hannant
16.Nate Myles
17.Greg Bird

Parker starts over Bird because Bird's defence is dodgy. Not Watmough dodgy but still pretty ordinary. Bit of a risk trying Parker on the right fringe rather than the left, where he killed it for QLD but I think he'd handle it fine. He does play down the right sometimes.

I think Tamou is a great prop forward and doesn't really deserve to be dropped but there just isn't room for him. We really don't need 4 props + Gallen and Myles.

Ballin is there as a precaution to cover Smith. I probably wouldn't use him. I picked him because firstly, he's proven himself in Origin and GF's. And secondly, because unlike Farah he doesn't overplay his hand. He just provides quality service, and makes good metres darting out of acting half when he can. He's also one of the best defenders in the game. I'd probably still pick Cherry-Evans for QLD because if we lost Thurston early on we'd be fucked. Australia, however, would probably handle it with Bird in the side. I guess you could move Smith to the halves and bring Ballin. Either way, I'm not really fussed. Just as long as it's not Farah. Last time he came on for Smith in a Test he totally fucked the rhythm and structure of the side.

And Hodges can eat a dick.

 

Yep.

 

I think you must be trying to say something with this side but I can't figure out what...:tongue_002:

 

Ah, actually I can because Brett Morris's Origin career has been pus apart from one game. Not to mention that Morris is a left side winger.

 

I don't disagree. Merely that a replacement hooker would only be used if there was an injury. If Smith goes down I want a bloke like Ballin who will let Thurston and Cronk run the show. Not some hero cunt who thinks he's Benny Elias MkII.

 

This obsession NSWmen have with their backrowers is just bizarre.

 

Buderus hasn't played rep football or a finals match in god knows how long. Apart from that, I think Ballin is the better player nowadays, and if an injury occurs I'd prefer someone who has played with the QLD spine before.

 

lol, I do find it a little ironic that when everyone wanted Uate in the Test team, I was calling him overrated and unproven, and now when I pick him, seems like everyone else is off the bandwagon.

Uate was shit in Origin no doubt, but so was Morris. One game shouldn't change that. Uate's played well enough for Australia in his 5 Tests despite Origin failures. I seem to recall certain people giving that justification for Gallen not long ago.