Adrian Trevilyan has returned to NQ with the Pride. Maybe he’s a 9 the Cowboys are considering after Robson departs? He was a very talented school boys the Raiders grabbed. A lot of injuries have curtailed his career. He’s only 23.

Thumper? Is that the one from Bambi? I’ve got little reason to doubt his knees are shot. I have little doubt he’s checked out.

Sorry mate. What part of the truth hurts most? Personally I was disappointed hearing how unprofessional he’s been off the field in recent times. He’s not interested.

Obviously you’re not a Payten fan. Taumalolo couldn’t organise a bush bonfire. 6 again and a poor work ethic is why Taumalolo is struggling. He was blessed with a perfect rugby league physique from a kid and never had to push or improve himself to be anything other than a battering ram. He doesn’t work off the ball and is last on kick chase? He’s feeling his age and injuries are now catching him out due to his lack of effort to be fit. Payten grabbed Dearden and identified he needed a seasoned game manager kicker and the Cowboys lacked leadership both on and off field. Townsend was the complete opposite of Taumalolo in that regard. The only reason Townsend played 260 NRL games and won a Premiership is through hard work, consistency and dedication. He’s got next to zip in physical ability or brilliance. While Taumalolo likes visiting night clubs, eating KFC and dreaming of being a boxer or NFL convert. Taumalolo has been parked on easy street since signing a retirement package. His value started dropping from the beginning of 2017. I as a Cowboys supporter question why people are blaming Payten ? Not even Bennett could motivate Dave Taylor.

Perdue is my pick to play fullback eventually. Tom Duffy will be the one shadowing Clifford. I’m excited to see Kai O’Donnell. Kai’s a local boy from the Whitsundays and came through the Cowboys junior system. He’s done it the hard way and is obviously very determined to play NRL. Payten and the Cowboys have been watching O’Donnell’s development closely. He’s strong, quick and from what he was doing in SL he knows how to hit gaps. He’s not shy in defence either. Bateman won’t be a walk up starter IMO. Lars is another promising prospect. He’s growing very quickly coming in at 104kg at 18. He’s pretty fearless and loves charging into contact from what I’ve seen ( Matt Scott like). I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t pop up and start applying pressure to the older legs up front.

I don’t think we see Hammer, Nanai, Dearden, Robson, Cotter, Taulagi, and Gilbert make their Origin debuts if under Payten can’t coach. Holmes won a couple of point scoring records and I think Feldt had played some of his best football under Payten. The only fella struggling under Payten is Taumalolo and I think he’s totally lost and not fit enough under 6 again. He’s certainly no JFH, Yeo or Murray in effort or smarts. Clifford and Tommy Dearden will be the barometer this year. They fire and they can have a big say in what happens this season.

Can’t help but feel there were a couple of personalities that felt threatened. Warner was full of advice about Renshaw’s game. The minute Renshaw had a drop in form he was dropped never to get an opportunity again in home conditions? Warner was running the joint and that exactly why sandpaper gate happened.

MM averages like Carey is lower than Simon O’Donnell and Phillips. Boon’s is the same as Heads. Khawaja is a soft cricketer that wouldn’t compete against the Holdings, Roberts, Marshal, Garners that Wessel’s faced. This lot struggled to face 1 decent pace bowler.

The cricketers of the 80’s were extremely talented. They didn’t have the equipment and supercharged bats boosting their average like today cricketers do. In many cases cricket was played by far more competitively. They didn’t have iPhone and Xbox’s. I see hundreds of kids with absolutely know idea about hitting or catching a ball now days. Everyone was playing sport in those days and it was much more competitive. Hard to find an organised school comp today. So when you compare averages add 10-20 for shorter boundaries and bigger bats that reward not quite out the middle and top edges for 6. You didn’t middle it with a bat in the 80’s it wasn’t getting past the infield.

Perhaps Australia should be picking a team based on conditions without Lyon? I don’t understand his consistent selection other than a MM factor in the dressing room. Maxwell, Okeefe, Murphy have all out bowled him. The enigma of Lyon can be summed up in best ever figures of 8/50 in the first innings in India. Australia lost with Lyon returning 0/83 in the second inning? Both Ashwin and Jadaja took match figures better than Lyon? Santner backed up his 7/53 with 6/104 in India recently and that’s why New Zealand have achieved something the Australian Lyon’s haven’t.

He was consistently one of the best in defence and always looking to be available in attack. 13 McIntyre’s on the field would beat 13 Taumalolo’s 80% of the time IMO.

Gee there is a lot of Todd bashing and the season hasn’t even started. Payten has inherited a major salary cap problem with Taumalolo. Taumalolo’s desire to work hard has always been questioned. Since getting the 10 year deal he’s slow fallen off the pace. Last on kick chase, last back behind the ball after a kick, walks out of marker? 6 again has absolutely destroyed his value. Payten has bought through plenty of local youngsters Luki, Nanai, Cotter, Dearden, Laybutt, bought back Clifford and now Kai O’Donnell. He’s managed to hold onto young Duffy after Gould and others were chasing him. Holmes only gone because he’s holding onto the local boys and Taumalolo won’t budge. Robson has been developed but he’s a NSW boy being offered massive dollars. Granville and Feldt had to let go so Derby, Perdue and Chester. I didn’t see McIntyre as a good signing but he’s been great? The most wins ever in a season was under Payten. Last year they probably missed Hess big time especially in the Semi against Sharks. Payten probably can’t wait to have the extra million to work with when Taumalolo is done. It was annoying to lose Hammer but he was unfortunately to expensive to keep.

What was MMarsh’s FC average. Marnus stepped up to the challenge where others didn’t. Marnus did have some leg spin potential when picked for Pakistan. He Took 7 wickets at 22 with a 33 SR out bowling Lyon’s 33 at 73 SR.

Drop catches is an interesting point. Catches win matches and something Marnus does very very well is take a catch or effect runouts. If you compare Marnus to Khawaja in the field you can see who the team is carrying. Honestly Carey and Smith were trying to hide Khawaja. Marnus on the other hand is a constant threat. Khawaja batting average is well below that of Marnus also.

The new ball swings and the field is up in Test cricket early very similar to ODO restrictions? Travis is obviously not in the Richards category of greatness however you may find these stats interesting. Viv was bowled 21.2%, LBW 12.4%, caught 41.8%, caught behind 20.6. Head bowled 21.4%, LBW 10.7%, caught 44%, caught behind 21.4. They look like similar types to me?

They really did try as many others as they could over Maxwell through out his career? Australia never saw Maxwell play a Test on home turf. I feel they never really wanted to give him his best opportunity to succeed.

I’m looking for a solution to both Marnus and Australia’s number 3 questions. Some are suggesting Head open? I think that is in relation to his success averaging 52 in the opening position against the moving ball and pace bowling in ODI cricket. I think Travis prefers pace over spin. Head averages 55 opening in Test cricket opening also. Interestingly Head has topped scored 17 times in 90 innings. How I get a Viv Richards vibe is. Viv averaged 69 opening and top scored 43 times in 189 Test innings. Head has top scored 17times in 90 innings. If Head bats higher up the order he will have more opportunities to top score. I recall Viv once saying he never felt out of form and his approach to scoring was dominating the opposition bowlers by hitting himself into form. Head has a similar mindset unlike Marnus who’s channeling the Steve Waugh occupation approach at the moment.

Yeah Marnus was thrust into Australian team after sandpaper gate. I think Marnus’s intensity suited Langer’s style. He probably thrives in that environment. As for Marnus becoming a problem and not good enough to be in the team I’m not sure there is a major problem. Head averages 32 off shore and is very hit and miss. Marnus was facing some pretty good bowling in Bumrah. I’m not sure he was any worse than the others were. Marnus averages 62 at 5? Interestingly players like Smith and Clarke get a little paranoid about what position in the order works for them. Marnus openly says he doesn’t like opening but sadly he’s been getting plenty of early exposure to the new ball over the last couple of series. Personally I think Head is worth trialling at 3. He likes to move the score along and is willing to play shots. Viv Richards always walked to the crease with intent to do the same.

Big fan of Glen Maxwell. Pointless selecting Maxi now for representative teams. They’ve never really been keen to see him succeed IMO. Watching Warner’s action and talk when he played the Thunder I’m convinced the Sydney boys have a genuine animosity towards him.

Weak characters cheat. Weak characters get others to take the fall for their own mistakes. Marnus has always put a price on his wicket and stood up under adversity. Weak little Warner never scored a century in India, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka or the West Indies. Warner’s inab. ability to see off the new ball over his last couple of years has contributed greatly to Marnus lack of runs.

Marnus would probably be better off being dropped. 3 was always a stroke making position. Marnus appears to stuck in survival mode batting. I blame Warner’s consistent failures placing Marnus in positions of consolidation consistently. Maybe 5-6 is a good place for Marnus to go back and rediscover his shot selection. Is Head the man for 3. I think Connelly is a good shot maker and the exposure to the higher level might just see him jump out of the ground. McSweeney also has good 3 prospect. I believe the Sri Lanka tour was a great chance to leave plenty of the old guard at home. Love to see something like.
Konstas,
Renshaw,
Head,
Smith,
McSweeney,
Connelly,
Webster,
Carey,
Starc,
O’Neil,
Murphy,

Santner is 32yd and now has 30 Test. Since the start of 2023 he’s taken 33 wickets in 6Tests at an average of under 20 and at less than a 40 ball SR. He averages 26 with the bat with a century and 4 50’s. His currently that far ahead of Lyon it’s not funny.

Greg Mathew’s is a better bat than Lyon. Border, Boon, Wessel Hooks. Wayne Phillips has probably got Carey covered. And Heads Test average is about as good as Greg Richie was.

Mate, Santner is every bit as good if not better than Lyon. I always thought Warne had it pretty good with the pressure applied by McGrath and co. Lyon’s is very much the enigma of Australian cricket.

Boarder was the equivalent of Smith, Boon Marnus, Head Hooks, Usman Wessels, Philips Carey even Greg Mathew’s Lyon were probably as good with the bat as any of the batsmen Bumrah was bowling to in this Australian team. Hadlee absolutely destroyed Australia even when posting posting 333 ( Hadlee taking 6/91 )New Zealand 7/533 indicates the wicket was no where near the 150 pitches Bumrah had in his favour. Hadlee’s was absolutely the greatest performance by a bowler in Australia.