Quote: Wigg'n "He's played 44 first team games. What's the minimum required for an international cap? We aren't playing prime Australia, this Samoa team is average.
Would you have been happy, if Isa had been fit this year, that he started most games ahead of Nsemba because he is a "tough battle hardened player who won’t let you down"?'"
If he earned his shirt over Isa I would be happy for him to take his place this year in our team.
What people don’t seem to understand sometimes with players is as Rogues pointed out teams need balance.
KPP was very good on Sunday.
Bateman is the proven grafter who knows who to win international matches. He earned that right and he was very good on the day. To suggest either second row should be dropped from that starting team is a big call.
The bench worked very very well so who do you drop there?
Nsemba is far from the finished article, which is a frightening prospect for others, but he does have weaknesses in his game. He needs to be nurtured in the right environments. It’s his first time in camp his first experience and he will be learning all the time. I’m happy if he doesn’t play because he will have got a lot out of this.
It doesn’t matter who you play the international shirt should be respected and I know Wane has the same opinion. You don’t give away international shirts or use it to blood players especially not against a pretty strong Samoan team.
It’s a bit like the clamour for Marshall to get a shirt, I’d love to see it and I wouldn’t swap him for Ashton in the SL comp, but Ashton is a better fit for International games as it’s a different arena.
Nsemba warmed up with the team on Sunday, he has been around all the prep both on and off the field, Bateman and KPP were excellent and McMeeken went very well too. Those lads have earned the right to retain their shirts.
Radley was visibly out on his feet prior to being subbed due to how hard he worked on either side of the ball and the intensity he played at. It’s ok saying he can play 80 but these are very big bodies and they really lifted the intensity in the second half.
If there is one change to be made it’s probably Lees for Thompson as I think without the ban that’s the way we would have lined up and I think whilst Lees was solid he maybe didn’t do enough to make the shirt his own.
Nsemba will get his time, if he plays next week fantastic, I will be there cheering him on and hoping he dominates but if he doesn’t I can understand why not and I think the experience he will have gained by being in camp will be valuable if he plays or not for his development.
