To all the Sharks fans out there, dont take this the wrong way, its just my opinion - and also no offence to Brett Kimmorley, but I have to say....
What the f@*k??????
I could see it coming. Most of us could. But now that the members of the Kangaroo Tour have been made absolutely official after the Grand Final, I am quite disgusted that - during a year of such intensity and high standard - that Cronulla half-back Brett Kimmorley is on the tour in the 23 man squad.
Kimmorley is a wonderful player, I wont dispute that. Infact in previous seasons he would be my choice as the No. 2 or 3 half-back behind Andrew Johns. But although he hasnt been helped much by his team's performances this season, he still hasn't played to a top standard consistantly for most of, or the entire season.
What dissapoints me most however, is not the fact that Kimmorley was selected, but who he beat to get there. In the half-back/five-eigth positions to be filled on the tour, the following were unavailable through injury or rep footy retirement:
Brad Fittler (Sydney)
Shaun Timmins (St. George/Illawarra)
Andrew Johns (Newcastle)
To my knowledge this leaves the following in contention:
Mark McLinden (Canberra)
Brett Sherwin (Canterbury)
Braith Anasta (Canterbury)
Matt Orford (Melbourne)
Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane)
Preston Campbell (Penrith)
Brett Finch (Sydney)
Matt Geyer (Melbourne)
(Apologies if I have not included any other contenders).
And of course those who have been selcted to tour in Craig Gower and Craig Wing.
Now I can tell you that anyone who knows the form of those players this year, would have 4 possibly 5 infront of Kimmorley - I know I would (Sherwin, Orford, Geyer, McLinden). Its discraceful that no matter how good these players perform, they will never wear a Kangaroo jersey while Sharks and Australian Coach Chris Anderson is at the helm.
And Anderson has also announced that Kimmorley will be the half-back in the New Zealand Test. Apparently this is so Gower can get a break - bull****. If Gower cant play then put Matt Orford in there, or Brett Sherwin, or McLinden. Or even move Wing to half-back and Campbell to 5/8. Its absolutely sickening.
Im also very ****ed off about Luke Priddis being left out of the squad. Dead set, he shat on Danny Buderus this season - absloutely crapped on him. And that was before the finals even started.
I'll admit by bias towards Darren Lockyer - altough id rate him as being well within the top 3-4 fullbacks this year with Wesser, Shifkofske, Minichello and possibly Patten or Bowen. I'd love to see Wesser there as a utility however.
Other selections I cannot agree with in my opinion are:
Willie Mason (Canterbury)
Phil Baily (Sharks) - although he'd probably be the most deserving out of this lot.
Steve Simpson (Newcastle) - Steve is a great backrower, but again, Id leave him out not cause of him, but because of who he beat to get there.
Brett Kimmorley's selection by far and away takes the cake, no matter how expected it was.
Cheers,
Hicham.
What the f@*k??????
I could see it coming. Most of us could. But now that the members of the Kangaroo Tour have been made absolutely official after the Grand Final, I am quite disgusted that - during a year of such intensity and high standard - that Cronulla half-back Brett Kimmorley is on the tour in the 23 man squad.
Kimmorley is a wonderful player, I wont dispute that. Infact in previous seasons he would be my choice as the No. 2 or 3 half-back behind Andrew Johns. But although he hasnt been helped much by his team's performances this season, he still hasn't played to a top standard consistantly for most of, or the entire season.
What dissapoints me most however, is not the fact that Kimmorley was selected, but who he beat to get there. In the half-back/five-eigth positions to be filled on the tour, the following were unavailable through injury or rep footy retirement:
Brad Fittler (Sydney)
Shaun Timmins (St. George/Illawarra)
Andrew Johns (Newcastle)
To my knowledge this leaves the following in contention:
Mark McLinden (Canberra)
Brett Sherwin (Canterbury)
Braith Anasta (Canterbury)
Matt Orford (Melbourne)
Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane)
Preston Campbell (Penrith)
Brett Finch (Sydney)
Matt Geyer (Melbourne)
(Apologies if I have not included any other contenders).
And of course those who have been selcted to tour in Craig Gower and Craig Wing.
Now I can tell you that anyone who knows the form of those players this year, would have 4 possibly 5 infront of Kimmorley - I know I would (Sherwin, Orford, Geyer, McLinden). Its discraceful that no matter how good these players perform, they will never wear a Kangaroo jersey while Sharks and Australian Coach Chris Anderson is at the helm.
And Anderson has also announced that Kimmorley will be the half-back in the New Zealand Test. Apparently this is so Gower can get a break - bull****. If Gower cant play then put Matt Orford in there, or Brett Sherwin, or McLinden. Or even move Wing to half-back and Campbell to 5/8. Its absolutely sickening.
Im also very ****ed off about Luke Priddis being left out of the squad. Dead set, he shat on Danny Buderus this season - absloutely crapped on him. And that was before the finals even started.
I'll admit by bias towards Darren Lockyer - altough id rate him as being well within the top 3-4 fullbacks this year with Wesser, Shifkofske, Minichello and possibly Patten or Bowen. I'd love to see Wesser there as a utility however.
Other selections I cannot agree with in my opinion are:
Willie Mason (Canterbury)
Phil Baily (Sharks) - although he'd probably be the most deserving out of this lot.
Steve Simpson (Newcastle) - Steve is a great backrower, but again, Id leave him out not cause of him, but because of who he beat to get there.
Brett Kimmorley's selection by far and away takes the cake, no matter how expected it was.
Cheers,
Hicham.
