In mid 1997 Australia fielded a national side against a team called 'rest of the world'. Of course both sides were ripped apart due to super league but looking back at the sides one thing is certain, the gap between Australia and the rest of the world has certainly become smaller.
Of interest John Simon and Dean Pay made the Australian bench and Jarrod McCracken made the rest of the world's bench. No other parramatta players were on show. I assume Jason Smith was injured.
My current rest of the world side would be
1. Joseph Manu
2. Brian To'o
3. Justin Olam
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Joseph Suaalii ...
6. Jarome Luai
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Api Koroisau
10. Junior Paulo
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Isaiah Papali'i
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Victor Radley
15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
16. Brandon Smith
17. Joseph Tapine
No shortage of middle forwards. Obviously slim with world class fullbacks and backrowers. Other than that could have named all sorts of other line up combinations.
Replies
6. Dylan Brown
The rest are fine. Many Samoan players were found out yesterday. Especially half the Penrith team (6 of them).
Dylan' stats better overall than Lui's.
Luai: 20 games, 7 tries, 13 try assists, 9 line break assists, Forced drop outs 6, 19 offloads, Tackle efficiency 87%., 72 ave. run metres.
Brown: 28 games, 11 tries, 17 try assists, 16 line break assists, 11 forced dropouts, 16 offloads, 93% tacle efficiency, 125 ave. run metres.
Even the 6 can't remember his name, from England is better then Luai. Completely outplayed him the other night and looked very good, although he was in a dominant team. Will be interesting to see how he performs against Australia and New Zealand defences.
Yeah, Jack Welsby, he looks the real deal. If I'm Wayne Bennett I'm on the phone to Kristian Woolf @St.Helens and putting a fat contract under his nose. England need to send their best young players to the NRL if we are going to revive the English game, the same with the Celtic nations & France.
But Jack Welsby is the real deal.
Alex Johnstone on the left wing, Herbie Farnworth instead of Stephen Crichton, Mitch Moses instead of Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown instead of Jarome Luai,
I agree with Alex Johnston. Jarome Luai would get first crack in a three game series. Moses/Hughes would be closer but I reckon a team of selectors (without our blue and gold goggles) would pick Hughes. Crichton is better than Farnworth at this stage.
Can't agree re Crichton. IMO, the best 3 centres in the world are Manu, Olam & Farnworth. He is a special talent.