NRL Representative Round Wrap Up!

There were no NRL club matches this weekend, instead we had the Trans-Tasman Australia vs New Zealand Test Match and the annual City vs Country Origin game which is something of a trial for the upcoming NSW vs QLD State of Origin series.

Thurston & Morris

Firstly the Australia vs New Zealand Test Match, won in the end 30-18 by the Australians. The Invincible Australians were roundly touted to run rampant over the  understrength, inexperienced New Zealanders...but that was never going to be the way it worked out. With headlines such as,"Valiant Kiwis do Coach Kearney proud" and "Kangaroos overrun brave Kiwis" you could guess how the match played out even if you didn't watch it. The Kiwis flew out of the blocks and caught the Australians napping with an early try to in-form front-rower Jesse Bromwich. In a tit for tat first half the Kiwis went into the break leading 18-12 in front of 25000 shocked fans.

The second half saw the game to and fro with Jonathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk attempting to take control and the New Zealanders refusing to lie down. The class of the Australians telling in the end, delivering the knock out blow in the final minutes to win 30-18 with two tries to star winger Brett Morris.

Jamal Idris

With NSW State of Origin berths on the line City and Country lined up in Dubbo and quite a few big names put their best foot forward. The result of the game was a 26-all draw with City snatching the draw in the final moments with a try to Will Hopoate. With the result fairly irrelevant it was the performance of the players that was the priority.With the game being touted as a genuine Origin trial by NSW coach Laurie Daley – who watched on in the grandstand – the likes of Beau Scott, Jamal Idris, Hopoate, Josh Jackson, Andrew Fifita, Aaron Woods, Daniel Tupou and James McManus did their chances no harm. Whether they are picked come NSW SOO selection we will have to wait and see.
-David