Not much speculation from this site yet.
We haven't had a Kangaroo Tour since the early 2000's. My experience is that traditionally these tours had a tremendous influence on player development.
Obviously to be selected means they are already well established but the improvement tends to be the "polishing of good players into elite ones".
Whether this trend continues in this new modern era OF THE ONGOING RE ESTABLISHMENT of the International game is subjective. Kangaroo sides used to number in the 26 players from memory.
In those days they had a mix but generally the second side call the EMUs played the club games (there were lots of them) and the big boys played the tests, after injuries and reserves, everyone got their chance to make it big!
I note that only 22 players are being selected, they are playing 3 Tests against Great Britain and I understand 3 club games.
Now it is early days yet and tradionally the teams that play in the Grand Final have a big advantage in selection processes. So everyone keep that in Mind!
This time will be different as a number of positions that tend to get influenced by origin incumbents will be different with the ongoing advent of Polynesian players playing for their country of origin/allegience rather than Australia.
One final thing to point out is players available for positions can create an inbalance in the team i.e half backs .....Cleary, Moses, Deardon, Katoa and even others...... wingers will be hard, as will fullbacks and a second hooker.
i will start the drum rolling by saying Parra has Moses, Lomax and JAC in consideration ???? none of them certainties, but most will think Moses is.
Let the speculation begin and you could change your positions as the final series unravels.
PS Don't be afraid to list out who you think were the greatest Kangeroo sides.....personally I was and still am that the 1963 side was the greatest of all but the 83 and 86 sides will come into discussion.
The 63 side had the Thornett Brothers, Brian Hambly and Barry Rushworth from Parramatta
The 83 and 86 sides had a mixture of Price, Sterling, Kenny, Ella, Cronin and Grothe Snr...... (From Parra)I have done all this from my shaky memory, so I stand to be corrected in any of these details.
Parra Tragic (in the absence of the great Sluggo) can be the judge and jury in that respect, he remembers much more detail than me .
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