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PNG youngster ready to roll at IC14

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Wednesday, August 06 2014 @ 05:07 pm ACST

Gotta love Luke's enthusiasm. It's kids like this who have grown up with the game in PNG that make me think they could take it to a new level and win. But then I read the Ireland preview and remember the physical stature and football experience of players like Mick Finn and see no equivalent for PNG (no one of that size regardless of ability).

So yes an absolute gun team of smalls could beat an average team with a mix of sizes, but Ireland will be better than just average... I think my tip stays with Ireland to make it 3 out of 5 International Cups, pulling away from PNG and NZ on 1 each. Surprisingly despite the game growing in PNG this squad has even less talls than previously.

But PNG and NZ still have bright futures and could start to squeeze out the Irish starting from 3 years from now. South Africa show promise too but I'll wait until they get some runs on the board before jumping on their bandwagon.---
Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

PNG youngster ready to roll at IC14

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Wednesday, August 06 2014 @ 10:56 pm ACST

Hasn't helped Stanis Susuve going to Glasgow with the Rugby 7s.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

PNG youngster ready to roll at IC14

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Thursday, August 07 2014 @ 12:17 pm ACST

South Africa do have couple of talls, Jurie Wessels is at least 6' 2" talking to him on Sunday at Jamestown and was having to look up a bit to eyeball him. I know I've shrunk a bit with age but that puts him up there about 188cm. The African fellas are very quick but most of them are light weight but fearless.
Mick Redden spoke to the players after the match and he described the midfield as dangerous so if they can deliver the ball to the forwards they will be very successful in the IC. His biggest criticsm was that the guys tended to sit back and watch the game once the ball had cleared from their immediate area, rather than moving into a more advantageous position if the play switched back towards them.
I haven't had the privelege to see any of the other teams to compare the Lions to, but they should be up there in the top 4 or 5 at least, but not quite able to match it with the bigger bodied sides like Ireland, New Zealand and USA.
I'm drafting up a story about the trial match in Jamestowna hopefully will have it out in few days.
By the way the umpire (Cleopatra Figlan) travelling with the team impressed me, she was quick in blowing the whistle, decisive and assertive. She is expecting to umpire at least a couple of games (at the community round) in Melbourne.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

PNG youngster ready to roll at IC14

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Thursday, August 07 2014 @ 02:28 pm ACST

Hi Cam,

Try to get that report in prior to Sunday because once the real games start anything else will get swamped.

Yes South Africa have some significant talls. Wessels is listed at 196cm (6'5"). Check out the preview here http://www.worldfootynews.com/article...2222125865 for a discussion.

The big question - did any of those big guys look like they were good footy players too and could give the Lions first tap or take some contested marks?

I think in 2008 we thought they might rise quickly and they did, maybe even faster than expected. 2011 we were disappointed as they slipped. Maybe they're now the dark horse to stun everyone and have a crack at the grand final for the first time. But like I said elsewhere, I might have to see them get runs on the board before jumping on that horse.--- Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

PNG youngster ready to roll at IC14

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Thursday, August 07 2014 @ 08:14 pm ACST

answer to you question, Brett, yes all look like they can play footy. Jurie has a basketball background, played as a junior for SA. Some of the other bigger bodied blokes have a rugby background and all seem to be pretty athletic. There were a few good contested marks taken but there were a couple of sitters dropped as well :-)
Fitness could be a bit of a problem tho, there were few guys cramping up, but that could be because they were playing on different playing surface than normal.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN