Storm over Smith's non-selection

[Stubbsie]

Storm over Smith's non-selection

19 September 2005

Melbourne football manager Peter O'Sullivan has expressed his dismay at Storm hooker Cameron Smith missing out on selection in the Kangaroos train-on squad.

Only Melbourne winger Matt King got the nod from the Storm for the Tri Nations squad, with national selectors ignoring the claims of his teammates Matt Orford, Steve Bell, Smith and Billy Slater.

Of the other team eliminated from the NRL finals race on the weekend - Brisbane - Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate and Justin Hodges were also added.

Incumbent Test stars Tonie Carroll, who suffered a hamstring tear in Sunday's 34-6 NRL semi-final loss to Wests Tigers, and Shaun Berrigan - who was this season's joint leading try-scorer - were glaring omissions.

Test captain Lockyer and prop Civoniceva remain on track to retain their Australian jerseys after playing in the win over New Zealand in April.

King was expected to be added to the squad after notching 12 tries for the Storm in 2005 and capping a magnificent Origin debut with a hat-trick for NSW in the series decider.

But O'Sullivan was shocked not to hear Smith's name.

"Cameron Smith not being there is a major, major surprise," he said.

O'Sullivan confirmed Slater had missed out on the squad due to lack of form and not an ankle ligament injury that kept him out of Melbourne's 24-16 NRL semi-final loss to North Queensland last Saturday night.

The Tri Nations squad snub continued a frustrating year for flying Melbourne fullback Slater who lost his Queensland Origin spot to North Queensland's Matt Bowen this year.

"I think they have gone on Origin performance and Billy got dropped for the last game for Queensland," O'Sullivan said.

"Injury wouldn't have ruled him out of Tri Nations consideration, he would have been fit by then.

"His ankle will be right with rehabilitation in a couple of weeks

"He won't need surgery, just rest and physio."

O'Sullivan said Melbourne centre Bell was another huge omission while halfback Orford could "consider himself unlucky".

Players will continue to be added to the squad as teams are bundled out of the NRL finals with the final 23-strong line-up finalised after the October 2 grand final.

The Tri Nations series also features New Zealand and Great Britain.

It starts on October 15 when the Kangaroos take on New Zealand at Sydney.

The final will be played at Elland Road, Leeds on November 26.

Other members of the squad are: Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Minichiello, Craig Wing (Sydney Roosters), Willie Mason, Mark O'Meley, Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs), Steve Price (New Zealand Warriors), Joel Clinton, Craig Gower, Luke Lewis, Luke Rooney, Trent Waterhouse (Penrith), Danny Buderus, Andrew Johns, Steve Simpson (Newcastle) and Ben Kennedy (Manly).

AAP

[Mike_The_Undertaker]

Storm over Smith's non-selection
"I think they have gone on Origin performance and Billy got dropped for the last game for Queensland," O'Sullivan said.

Obviously they are not going going with Origin performances as Smith was QLD SOO player of the series.

Sometimes Mr O'Sullivan..........

[Super Cronk]

Storm over Smith's non-selection
"I think they have gone on Origin performance and Billy got dropped for the last game for Queensland," O'Sullivan said.

Obviously they are not going going with Origin performances as Smith was QLD SOO player of the series.

Sometimes Mr O'Sullivan..........

i think he was referring to slaters performance during SOO. he wasnt saying that they picked the entire team from SOO performances...

[Mike_The_Undertaker]

Still dosn't make sense as an overall consistant picture.

[steaming stormer]

they may have deemed Buderus as the better hooker of the series. Don't say I agree, but he was always going to be the hooker anyway

[Christabella]

Look at it this way: they picked a couple of hopelessly over rated Panthers forwards but didn't pick Priddis who got the nod over Smith in the Anzac test.

Anyway he has plenty of years in front of him to make the Australian team.

[Surandy]

Ah well, the way Kiddy finished the season he should just about be a dead set certainty for NZ selection.

[Thunderstruck]

I'm hoping Chan will still get a look in. He finished the season strongly. Also, I wonder if Webster will be selected for New Zealand, have they got a fit winger better than him?

[James]

He looks to be a chance!

Meli rules himself out

15/09/2005 15:31:04

Winger Francis Meli has ruled himself out of the rugby league tri-series starting next month.

Meli is making himself unavailable for the whole series because he says he has had three tough years without rest and he is preparing to move to the UK to join St Helens.

It means young Warriors' winger Manu Vatuvei and the Melbourne Storm's Jake Webster come into serious contention for the test team.

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