Anzac Test chance for Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga to find generation next
IS it time to build Australia’s future on the back of young guns like Anthony Milford, James Tedesco and Bryce Cartwright? VOTE FOR YOUR TEST TEAM.
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THE Anzac Test against the Kiwis is only a month away and the debate has started: How many Tests do we have to lose against New Zealand before there is a generation change?
We have lost the past three games against the Kiwis — and if it drops to four this year it will be the first time that’s happened since 1952-53.
When Mal Meninga was handed the Australian job, Todd Greenberg said the ultimate goal was to win the 2017 World Cup.
Check out our list of contenders for each position, and name your Test team in our poll at the bottom of the story.
Taking that into account, Meninga has some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks, with nine of last year’s 17-man squad already over 30. That’s not including Paul Gallen, who was out injured.
Gallen has already said this will be his last Origin series, so does he get a farewell Test as well?
Also the likes of Greg Bird, Nate Myles, Luke Lewis and Sam Thaiday were all in the squad that lost the Anzac Test to New Zealand last year.
Is it time to start building Australia’s future on the back of young guns like Anthony Milford, Michael Morgan, James Tedesco, Wade Graham, Bryce Cartwright and Ethan Lowe for starters?
Here’s our list of contenders for each position, and their respective ages: name your Test team in our poll at the bottom of the story.
Of the 700-plus votes counted so far the fans indicate:
* James Tedesco is No 1, with 60 per cent of fullback votes ahead of Greg Inglis
(18%) and Darius Boyd (13%),
* Boyd (25%) and Semi Radradra (24%) lead the wingers charge,
* Inglis (35%) and James Roberts (15%) are the pick of the centres,
* Johnathan Thurston is a standout for five-eighth and halfbacks with with 51%
and 47% respectively for each position,
* Anthony Milford has claimed 36% for five-eighth vote, and Cooper Cronk 46% for halfback, which suggests Cronk is just in front.
* Corey Parker has collected 75% for lock.
* Matt Gillett leads the second-row votes with 19 per cent, ahead of Bryce Cartwright (17%), Josh Papalii (12%) and Sam Thaiday (12%);
* Matt Scott (40%), Aaron Woods (32%) and James Tamou (11%) are the pick of the props;
* Cameron Smith has amassed 89% for hooker.
FULLBACK
Greg Inglis (age 29), James Tedesco (23), Lachlan Coote (26), Josh Dugan (25), Darius Boyd (28).
If the Test team was picked on form, and with an eye on the future, Inglis wouldn’t be fullback. You’d still have him, at centre. Tedesco, Coote and Boyd are all in terrific form, while Dugan was last year’s NSW Origin player of the series. My vote is Tedesco.
WINGERS
Darius Boyd (28), Josh Dugan (25), Alex Johnston (21), Josh Mansour (25), Semi Radradra (23), Tom Trbojevic (19), Kyle Feldt (24), Corey Oates (21).
Last year Johnston and Dugan were the wingers with Boyd out injured.
Mansour and Radradra are in the best form of the left wing options right now. But if Boyd doesn’t play fullback he will on the left wing, and deservedly so. Dugan would still be the logical choice for right wing.
CENTRES
Greg Inglis (29), Michael Jennings (27), Josh Morris (29), Blake Ferguson (26), James Roberts (23), Will Chambers (27), Josh Dugan (25).
If Inglis isn’t No. 1, he has to be left centre. There are plenty of options for right centre. Chambers played in last year’s Test loss.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Johnathan Thurston (32), Anthony Milford (21), Michael Morgan (24), Corey Norman (25).
This is where Meninga faces his toughest decision, given Thurston turns 33 at the end of this month and Cronk 33 in December.
Thurston is still the No. 1 player in the game but Cronk’s form has been ordinary. Milford is 21, Morgan 24. Given Queensland have already banned Milford from playing Origin this year, that will likely cut him from the Kangaroos equation.
HALFBACK
Cooper Cronk (32), Johnathan Thurston (32), Ben Hunt (26).
You’d expect if Cronk stays fit he will get the nod. But Thurston could just as easily switch to No. 7 where he plays with the Cowboys alongside Morgan. They seem to go all right. I’d have Morgan on the bench and Milford in 6.
LOCK
Corey Parker (33), Paul Gallen (34), Trent Merrin (26), Jake Trbojevic (22).
Parker turns 34 the day before this year’s Test but can’t be left out on form or the fact he was Queensland’s player of the series last year. Whether that means Gallen still earns a front-row spot is debatable, or should be.
SECOND ROW
Greg Bird (31), Sam Thaiday (30), Luke Lewis (32), Matt Gillett (27), Josh Jackson (25), Ethan Lowe (25), Beau Scott (31), Ryan Hoffman (32), Josh Papalii (23), Aidan Guerra (28), Bryce Cartwright (21), Wade Graham (25).
Bird and Thaiday were the backrowers last year while Lewis was on the bench. Beau Scott is 31 but as tough and fearless as ever, while Gillett is in his prime and so is Papalii, who played in the middle at the last World Cup.
Right now, on form and the future, Lowe and Graham starting with Papalii and Cartwright on the bench for mine.
FRONT ROW
Matt Scott (30), Aaron Woods (25), James Tamou (27), Andrew Fifita (26), Shannon Boyd (23), Paul Vaughan (24), Josh Maguire (26), David Klemmer (22), Jacob Lillyman (32), Nate Myles (30), Junior Paulo (22).
Matt Scott and Aaron Woods won’t be going anywhere, along with Tamou. While Lewis and Myles were on the Kangaroos bench last year. There has to be change here.
HOOKER
Cameron Smith (32), Jake Friend (26), Jake Granville (27), Andrew McCullough (26).
No question here. Smith is the captain and still the best.
2015 AUSTRALIAN TEAM: 1 Greg Inglis 2 Josh Dugan 3 Will Chambers 4 Michael Jennings 5 Alex Johnston 6 Johnathan Thurston 7 Cooper Cronk 8 Matt Scott 9 Cameron Smith 10 Aaron Woods 11 Greg Bird 12 Sam Thaiday 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: Luke Lewis, Trent Merrin, Nate Myles, James Tamou
PAUL CRAWLEY’S TEST TEAM: 1 James Tedesco 2 Darius Boyd 3 Greg Inglis 4 James Roberts 5 Josh Dugan 6 Anthony Milford 7 Johnathan Thurston 8 Matt Scott 9 Cameron Smith 10 Aaron Woods 11 Wade Graham 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, James Tamou, Josh Papalii, Bryce Cartwright
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