• Podcast
  • ARL
    • Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars
    • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • NRL
    • 2025 NRL Draw
    • 2024 NRL Draw
    • 2023 NRL Draw
    • 2022 NRL Draw
    • 2021 NRL Draw
    • 2022 NRL Podcast
    • 2020 NRL Draw
    • 2015 NRL Draw
    • 2014 NRL Draw
  • ESL
    • International Origin
    • Challenge Cup
  • World
    • World Club Challenge
    • World Cup
    • Rugby League 9’s
    • NRL Auckland Nines Draw
  • Sports
    • AFL
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
  • Guest Writers
  • League Freak
    • NRL Tipping Experts
    • Web Site News
    • Sponsorship
    • Uncategorized

The Glorious League Freak – Covering Rugby League World Wide – LeagueFreak.com

  • Home
  • Podcast
  • NRL Rumours
  • RL World 9’s
  • Features
    • Player Profiles And News
  • History
    • History Books
    • The Super League War
      • The Super League War – The Clubs
      • The Super League War – The Freak
      • The Super League War – The Extras
  • Quotes
  • Look-Alikes
  • Teams
  • Rankings
  • Media
  • About
    • Bio
    • League Freaks Commentary Career
    • Contact
    • League Freak On Twitter
    • I Am Not A Journalist
    • Contribute To LeagueFreak.com
    • League Freak Mentions In The Media
    • Advertise On This Website
    • Rugby League RSS Feed
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • RSS Feed
    • Linked
    • Youtube

My Australian Team As Of Right Now Would Be….

Apr 29, 2009 League Freak International Rugby League News 0


Well the mid season Test match is not far off now and its time to start thinking about who you would select in your Australian Test team.

Its sad to think that politics will come into play when picking the actual side. The Queenslanders will not be happy untill all 17 players are from Queensland (Actually that should read Queensland, Fiji, New Zealand and parts of New South Wales!) and form will only slightly come into calculations of selectors.

Tim Sheens gets his first game as Australian coach and he will no doubt do an amazing job. I think there is a very strong case for Sheens being the best Rugby League coach of all time.

In picking the Australian side there are a couple of things to consider.

First and foremost is that, Australia lost the World Cup Final. The last team selected, the incumbents, were not up to the task, and when you start losing World Cup Finals all bets are off as far as having a guaranteed place in the Test side.

Secondly, you have to look somewhat towards the future and at the end of season Four Nations competition that’s happening over in Europe at the end of the year. If you want to test players out, now is the time to do it.

So remembering all that, this would be my Test team:

League Freaks Australian Test Side
1. Billy Slater
2. Michael Jennings
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Israel Folau
6. Darren Lockyer
7. Jonathan Thurston
8. Steve Price
9. Robbie Farah
10. Petero Civoniceva
11. Paul Gallen
12. Anthony Lafranchi
13. Terry Campese

14. Kurt Gidley
15. Ben Hannant
16. Luke Bailey
17. Anthony Tupou

The starting lineup is pretty much as expected but for a few new additions.

I think Michael Jennings has shown this year that he has made the step up to rep level. He was born in Blacktown in Sydney’s west so his eligibility isn’t in question. He’ll be picked for New South Wales at Origin level (If they know whats good for them!) and he is one of the form backs in the competition, so I’d give him his shot.

I’ve put Hodges and Folau on the same side of the field simply because right now that combination is unbelievable for Brisbane and I see no need to change it.

Lockyer was the first chosen in my side, and as captain, while Thurston just got the nod over Scott Prince based on his amazing performances in the past for Australia.

I’ve dropped Cameron Smith and brought in Robbie Farah. Smith just is not offering enough is attack right now, I haven’t been impressed with his attack for about a year now. Farah meanwhile is carving it up, his form has been amazing, so he deserves his spot.

Its hard to argue against the back row I’ve chosen.

I’ve gone with Campese at lock, I think he would have been a difference maker in the later stages of the World Cup in that position. He is big enough to play lock, his ball playing and hole running will be a fantastic addition and he fully deserves his place.

On the best I’ve gone with Mr Utility, Kurt Gidley. I selected him JUST ahead of Craig Wing who is back to his best form off the bench for South Sydney.

I went with Ben Hannant as his form has been great and he really rips in, Luke Baily who’s mobility will be much needed when Price and Civoniceva come off the field, and a bit of an unpopular choice in Anthony Tupou as I wanted another back rower with good mobility and Tupou has been in decent form for a poor Sharks side.

Its a difficult time to pick a Test team, but I think I’ve done alright. Experience, youth, a few debutantes, some players to fill out the squad, this is a team I think should give the new World Champions a real run for their money.

  • Tweet
  • Share 0
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn 0
  • Email

Related


  • Anthony Tupou, ANZAC Test, Australia, Ben Hannant, Blacktown, Cameron Smith, Craig Wing, Darren Lockyer, Israel Folau, Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges, Kurt Gidley, Michael Jennings, Petero Civoniceva, Robbie Farah, State Of Origin, Steve Price, Terry Campese, Tim Sheens
  • tweet
A Club That Is Rotten To The Very Core You'd Go To War With Darren Lockyer, No Matter How Old He Is

League Freak

A well known Rugby League writer, League Freak has established a reputation among supporters of the game for his fearless commentary and unmatched insight. With a reach that spans both sides of the globe, League Freak has produced an independent network that allows him to distribute content to his many thousands of followers. He is the owner and main author of LeagueFreak.com

Related articles
  • The Most Successful Nations in the History of the Rugby League World Cup
    The Most Successful Nations in the...

    Jan 21, 2023 0

  • NRL Podcast: Fergo and The Freak – Ep420 – An Adorable Rivalry!
    NRL Podcast: Fergo and The Freak...

    Jul 20, 2022 0

  • NRL Podcast: Fergo and The Freak – Ep418 – Queensland Wins An Epic State Of Origin Series!!!
    NRL Podcast: Fergo and The Freak...

    Jul 13, 2022 0


You must log in to post a comment.

League Freaks Social Network

Follow League Freak on:

Become a Patron!

Ziad Warwar
Nadine
Coojee
Adam
Andy
jamescunni
Lisa
Rugby League Project
Karsten Brumme
Samuel
Sandy
Katey
Jack
Terry
Gibbo

RSS Fergo and The Freak Podcast

  • Breaking In The New Studio As We Talk About Rugby League!
  • Getting Your Kids Into Rugby League With Julie
  • Taken Completely Out Of Context
  • 2022 Fergo and The Freak Christmas Special
  • Fixing S**t Lists Put Out By Fox Sports
  • Rating Everything About The 2022 Rugby League World Cup Out Of Ten
  • Where Have These Two Been?
  • The 2022 Rugby League World Cup Isn't Supposed To Be A Training Run...
  • The Truth About The 2022 Rugby League World Cup!
  • Poor Crowds Are Hurting The 2022 Rugby League World Cup
  • The Aftermath Of Englands Crushing Win Over Samoa With Karsten Brumme
  • The Rugby League World Cup Approaches!
  • The Penrith Panthers Are Back-To-Back NRL And World Champions!!!
  • Now We Have A Rivalry! - With Special Guest Elliott Richardson
  • 2022 NRL Grand Final Preview - With Special Guest Kurt Gidley

Polls

In The On Field Quality Of Super League Games Getting Better Or Worse?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

Latest Rugby League Articles

  • Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell Arrested In Canberra Night Club Incident
    Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell Arrested In Canberra Night...

    Feb 05, 2023 0

  • Podcast: Breaking In The New Studio As We Talk About Rugby League!
    Podcast: Breaking In The New Studio As We Talk About Rugby...

    Feb 04, 2023 0

  • Podcast: Getting Your Kids Into Rugby League With Julie
    Podcast: Getting Your Kids Into Rugby League With Julie

    Jan 30, 2023 0

  • Betting on the Rugby League: 5 Tips To Increase Your Chances of Winning
    Betting on the Rugby League: 5 Tips To Increase Your Chances...

    Jan 27, 2023 0

  • The Most Successful Nations in the History of the Rugby League World Cup
    The Most Successful Nations in the History of the Rugby...

    Jan 21, 2023 0

Follow League Freak on Twitter

My Tweets

Tags

Andrew Ferguson (370) ARL (62) Australia (159) Benji Marshall (90) Billy Slater (78) Broadcasting Deal (68) Cameron Smith (60) Channel 9 (74) Daniel Nichols (122) Disgrace (76) Eligibility Rules (64) England (143) Expansion (85) Fergo And The Freak (459) Greg Inglis (100) Guest Writer (337) Israel Folau (71) Jarryd Hayne (78) Johnathan Thurston (82) League Freak (531) Leeds Rhinos (59) Marketing (67) Matthew Elliott (71) Mitchell Pearce (64) New South Wales (106) New Zealand (143) NRL Finals (63) NRL Salary Cap (96) Paul Gallen (64) Phil Gould (59) Player Movement (132) Podcast (485) Queensland (84) Referees (78) RFL (144) Rugby League History (78) Rugby Union (205) Sam Burgess (62) Sonny Bill Williams (91) State Of Origin (181) St Helens (66) Todd Carney (62) Wayne Bennett (83) Wigan (59) World Cup (182)
As featured on NewsNow: NRL newsNRL News 24/7

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Blogroll

  • The Glorious League Freak.
  • League Freak on Twitter
  • League Freak on Facebook
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours
  • RLWorld9s.com

Facebook Pages

  • NRL Gossip
  • NRL Infinite

Features

  • King Of Rugby League
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • Biggest Winning Margins In Rugby League History
  • Biggest Crowds In Rugby League History
  • Rugby League Quotes
  • Rugby League Dictionary
  • The Super League War
  • The New Zealand Haka
  • Funny Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League Rankins Lists
  • NRL Rumours
  • IHateRugbyUnion.com
  • NRL History
  • NRL History Books
  • Record Books
  • Player Profiles

NBA Links

  • NBA Rookie Of The Year
  • NBA MVP Winner List
  • NBA Finals MVPs

Other Links

  • Submit Your Australian Blog
  • Best Junk Hauling Virginia
  • Gutter Cleaning Service Virginia
  • Best Lawn Mowing Service Virginia
  • 2020 NRL Draw
  • Hot Toys Australia

Other Sports

  • Clutch Fans
  • Sportette

Players

  • Cameron Smith
  • Kalyn Ponga
  • Sonny Bill Williams
  • Jarryd Hayne
  • Andrew Johns
  • Semi Radradra
  • Sam Burgess
  • Benji Marshall
  • James Tedesco
  • Cooper Cronk
  • Johnathan Thurston
  • Anthony Mundine
  • Sam Tomkins
  • Greg Inglis
  • Jamie Peacock
  • Ntahan Cleary

Rugby League

  • Rugby League Project
  • Era Of The Biff
  • Darryl's Rugby League
  • Jamie Lyon Web
  • Rugby League Review
  • Rugby League Ratings
  • NRL CEO Fantasy League
  • QLD Panthers
  • Andrew Ferguson's Website!
  • Black Swans RLFC
  • InternationalRL
  • 2021 Rugby League World Cup
  • Rugby League Mums
  • Player Profiles
  • 2024 NRL Draw
  • Watch NRL Games Online
  • NRL Tipping Experts

Rugby League Podcast

  • Best Rugby League Podcast
  • Best NRL Podcast
  • Best Super League Podcast
  • Best Australian Podcast
  • Best Sports Podcast
  • Funniest Podcast
  • Best Comedy Podcast
  • NRL Radio
  • 2021 NRL Podcast
  • Spotify NRL Podcasts
Google+
  • National Rugby League
  • Rugby League State Of Origin
  • Brisbane Broncos
  • Canberra Raiders
  • Canterbury Bulldogs
  • Cronulla Sharks
  • Gold Coast Titans
  • Manly Sea Eagles
  • Melbourne Storm
  • The 2029 Rugby League World Cup
  • New Zealand Warriors
  • Newcastle Knights
  • North Queensland Cowboys
  • Parramatta Eels
  • Penrith Panthers
  • Redcliffe Dolphins
  • South Sydney Rabbitohs
  • St George/Illawarra Dragons
  • Sydney Roosters
  • Wests Tigers
  • The King Of Rugby League Awards
  • Rugby League Player Profiles And News
  • Fantasy Rugby League Teams
  • Rugby League World Rankings
  • Rugby League Look-Alikes
  • International Rugby League News
  • National Rugby League
  • European Super League News
  • Featured Guest Writers
  • Other Sports
  • The 2021 NRL Draw
  • The 2022 NRL Draw – Every NRL Game Listed For You!!!
  • The 2023 NRL Draw – Every NRL Game Is Here!!!
  • 2024 NRL Draw
  • NRL Player Profiles
  • NRL Instagram
  • The 2025 NRL Draw – Every Game, Every Venue, Every Club!
  • NRL Tipping Experts
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19
  • 2022 NRL Grand Final Tickets
  • Click Here To Buy State Of Origin Tickets
  • Buy NRL Tickets – Where To Buy Tickets To Rugby League Games
  • Watch NRL Games Online In 2022 – Where To Watch NRL Games Online And Streaming
Copyright LeagueFreak.com 2022 / All rights reserved
  • Advertise On LeagueFreak.com
  • About LeagueFreak.com
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feed
  • NothingButLeague.com
  • Rugby League Podcasting Network
  • NRL Breaking News
  • NRL Rumours – Latest NRL Rumours
  • NRL Podcast
  • Super League Podcast
  • Rugby League Podcast
  • Here Is The Cure For COVID 19
  • 2022 NRL Grand Final Tickets
  • Click Here To Buy State Of Origin Tickets
  • Buy NRL Tickets – Where To Buy Tickets To Rugby League Games
  • Watch NRL Games Online In 2022 – Where To Watch NRL Games Online And Streaming