philip jenningsAre Selectors watching the same game?
May 16th 2008 13:49
Recent rugby league representative team selections have led many a rugby league supporter to wonder how selectors choose representative teams.
In the recent Centenary test between Australia and New Zealand, in-form second rower Anthony Laffranchi was the team’s 18th man, however was overlooked for Michael Crocker when injury led to his inclusion. Crocker and coach Ricky Stuart’s relationship go back to their days together at the Roosters, whilst Laffranchi, the form second-rower in the NRL, was initially overlooked for Paul Gallen, who had just returned from suspension. Stuart is Gallen’s club coach at the Sharks.
An even more explicable decision was made when Titan’s in-form half back Scott Prince was overlooked for the Queensland team, in favour of playing a known full-back, Karmichael Hunt, at five-eighth. Tonight. Prince almost single-handedly destroyed the Bulldogs in the Titan’s 24-20 win, reminding selectors that he is still the form player of the NRL. In this case, no connection can be made between coach and player, however someone, whether it be one of the selectors or coach Mal Meninga has made a controversial decision to leave the best half-back currently in the NRL out.
It’s about time that current form is used to select representative teams and not on who individual coaches or selectors think should be in the team. Decisions like those made recently affect the credibility of the representative selection process and also rob the teams of having the best players available to play.
More importantly, NRL fans do not get the opportunity to see the competition’s in-form players on display. A Queensland halves combination of Prince and Johnathan Thurston up against NSW, would have made for a fantastic spectacle.
In the recent Centenary test between Australia and New Zealand, in-form second rower Anthony Laffranchi was the team’s 18th man, however was overlooked for Michael Crocker when injury led to his inclusion. Crocker and coach Ricky Stuart’s relationship go back to their days together at the Roosters, whilst Laffranchi, the form second-rower in the NRL, was initially overlooked for Paul Gallen, who had just returned from suspension. Stuart is Gallen’s club coach at the Sharks.
An even more explicable decision was made when Titan’s in-form half back Scott Prince was overlooked for the Queensland team, in favour of playing a known full-back, Karmichael Hunt, at five-eighth. Tonight. Prince almost single-handedly destroyed the Bulldogs in the Titan’s 24-20 win, reminding selectors that he is still the form player of the NRL. In this case, no connection can be made between coach and player, however someone, whether it be one of the selectors or coach Mal Meninga has made a controversial decision to leave the best half-back currently in the NRL out.
It’s about time that current form is used to select representative teams and not on who individual coaches or selectors think should be in the team. Decisions like those made recently affect the credibility of the representative selection process and also rob the teams of having the best players available to play.
More importantly, NRL fans do not get the opportunity to see the competition’s in-form players on display. A Queensland halves combination of Prince and Johnathan Thurston up against NSW, would have made for a fantastic spectacle.
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