Five Wests Tigers players make Australian squad

[alex]

Gibbs is the no.1 front rower in the game today. Bar none. The Australian selectors are as bad as the NSW ones obviously.

Congratulations to all of our players who have been asked to attend the medical and continue training.

Comiserations to Heigho. Its a disgrace he was not asked to continue training. A DISGRACE.

Bit far on your first call.

Your last one is bang on the money though

 

[Guest]

Some good news for the Tigers, particularly for Payten who has always been overlooked when it comes to rep sides, pity he has torn ankle ligaments and a crook knee to deal with. I reckon Galloway is a smokie to be included. I'm not convinced Weyman will take part in the test matches given his groin injury.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Todd Payten :wahoo:

 

[Centaur]

Congrats to the boys.

Mind boggling that Gibbs and Heighno miss out - especially considering the surprising selection of Payten. I also think Gibbs has done far more this year than Galloway - I would go as far as saying that Gibbs is the best defensive prop in the NRL today.

 

[Muffstar]

Gibbs is the no.1 front rower in the game today. Bar none. The Australian selectors are as bad as the NSW ones obviously.

Congratulations to all of our players who have been asked to attend the medical and continue training.

Comiserations to Heigho. Its a disgrace he was not asked to continue training. A DISGRACE.

Well Australia's loss, may well be Englands gain ! Do what is best for you Heighno !!!!

 

[Blake93]

How can monaghan be picked? He's pathetic

 

[Marshall_magic]

Honestly as a fan of the Australian team I'm kind of glad they left out Hino after his "pick me or I'll play for England rant," comes across as if he wants to play for Aus so he can play international football, not because he wants to represent his country. Same thing when Lyon said he didn't want to play rep footy, he should have never got another rep jersey.

As for the others, all well deserved.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

No Fitzhenry?

Isn't Sheens the coach?

 

[innsaneink]

This must be a retaliation for Heighington mentioning he might play for the Poms.

Nice work ARL. Just pick the bloke!

Sheens suggested he go try for the poms…..he also added Ellis would walk into the roos squad.
Says it all

Gibbs is very unlucky

 

[MGB]

Heighno should have been a Roo but I fear mentioning the Poms will have cost him. To be honest it's a deadset joke he hasn't played rep footy by now, I for one and very glad he's a Tiger.

 

[Geo]

Great stuff Payten Robbie Lortay Lawry and Keithy…well done.....

Wish Ellis was Australian...

 

[Rorko]

honestly some of you need to calm down 5 players are in the team be happy not worry about who isn't in the team .

and gibbs best prop in the game… seriously lay off the funny stuff

 

[Marshall_magic]

honestly some of you need to calm down 5 players are in the team be happy not worry about who isn't in the team .

and gibbs best prop in the game… seriously lay off the funny stuff

5 are in the train on squad, the actual squad isn't named until after the grand final.

 

[Lukic]

I really wouldn't have picked Toddy Payten, and would've had Heighno instead. Grats to all of those that made it though, best of luck to ya's in getting named in the team.

 

[Discussion_Bot]

WESTS Tigers' former Test winger Lote Tuqiri was one of 10 players added to Australia's Four Nations train-on squad Monday. The dual international last played for the Kangaroos in 2002 before crossing to rugby.

He was one of five Tigers - along with Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Chris Lawrence and Todd Payten - to be added to coach Tim Sheens's squad to defend the series next month.

[Source](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/tuqiri-in-roos-train-on-squad/story-e6frfgbo-1225930233944)

 

[alien]

I would go as far as saying that Gibbs is the best defensive prop in the NRL today.

And one of the fittest too.

 

[alien]

<big>Tuqiri one of 10 players to join Roos</big>
AAP September 27, 2010, 5:35 pm


Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri has a shot at history after being one of 10 players added to Australia's Four Nations rugby league train-on squad on Monday.

Tuqiri, who turned 31 two days before the Tigers' heartbreaking 13-12 semi-final loss to St George Illawarra, can become the first player to go from rugby league international, to rugby union international and back again if selected for the Kangaroos next month.

The Fijian-born Tuqiri scored a try in his last Test for the Kangaroos in Australia's record-breaking 64-10 thrashing of Great Britain in Sydney in 2002 before switching codes.

He played 67 games for the Wallabies between 2003-2009 before resurrecting his rugby league career with the Tigers under current Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens.

Since rugby union went professional in 1995, no rugby league international has crossed over and returned to play for Australia - despite the likes of Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Andrew Walker and Timana Tahu all making such moves.

Tuqiri's chances of breaking back into the Kangaroos side will depend largely on grand final form and injuries but his 18-try comeback season for the Tigers gives him an outside chance.

Tuqiri's teammates Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Chris Lawrence and Todd Payten will join him as will five Titans - Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello and Scott Prince in Sydney on Wednesday for medicals and training.

With Test No.7 Johnathan Thurston (ankle) no certainty to be fully recovered in time for Australia's opening Four Nations clash with PNG in Sydney on October 24, Prince could find himself reunited with his 2005 NRL premiership winning coach Sheens next month.

Prince has played four times for Australia, but has not featured since the 2008 World Cup.

Brisbane forward Corey Parker, who captained Australia's Prime Ministers XIII to a hard fought win over PNG at the weekend, believes the hard-hitting Kumuls will be a dangerous side to meet first up in Australia's Four Nations defence.

Train on squad: Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant (Canterbury), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga (North Queensland), Jarryd Hayne, Timana Tahu (Parramatta), David Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jason King, Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough (Manly), Brent Tate (New Zealand), Jarrod Croker, Josh Dugan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joel Monaghan, David Shillington (Canberra), Petero Civoniceva, Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis (Penrith), Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Chris Lawrence, Todd Payten, Lote Tuqiri (Wests Tigers).

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl/news/article/-/8023279/tuqiri-10-players-join-roos" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[hadds75]

I think picking Payten was more of a "reward", but he wont make the side. I think in Heighnos case i think Sheens didnt want to flirt with him so much and knew even if he picked him in the train on, that he wouldnt make the final 23\. I think this way Heighno knows to probably play for england.

Anyone who considers Blake Ayshford unlucky not to make the train on squad is kidding themselves. Blake Ayshford was wanted dropped for a large portion of this year, and played some decent, not spectacular, but decent games in the last month. Id still have Daniella, and potentially Moltzen next year there ahead of him.

 

[hadds75]

Having analysed it. I think this will be the 34 man squad, which obviously has to be cut down to 23\. I think you have to take into consideration (i know we didnt) but if Dragons or Roosters win it will get a few of those players over the line. The ones ive put in BOLD i believe are 100% certainties which make up 16/23\. So theres probably 7 spots left for the unbolded.

Fullback: **Billy Slater**, Darius Boyd, Josh Dugan
Wing: **Hayne, Morris**, Tuquiri , Minichello
Centre: **Lyon,** Jennings, Gasnier, Cooper, Lawrence
5/8: **Lockyer**
Halfback: **Thurston**
Prop: **Shillington, Civioniceva,** TLL, Hannant, Ryles, Weyman
Hooker: **Cameron Smith,** Farah
2nd Row/Lock: **Thaiday, Watmough, Lewis, Gallen, Nate Myles**, Creagh, Costigan, Bird
Utility: **Cooper Cronk, Kurt Gidley**, Todd Carney, Anasta

**CUT FROM SQUAD:** Ennis, Ashley Harrison, Laffranchi, Minichello, Prince, Tonga, Tahu, Croker, Galloway, Payten, Taylor, Jason King, Mitchell Pearce, Tate

The ones

 

[pacey]

Cooper is so overrated!