- NRL NewsHere's What The Australian Test Side Looked Like Last Time There Was No Smith, Thurston, Slater Or Inglis
Here's What The Australian Test Side Looked Like Last Time There Was No Smith, Thurston, Slater Or Inglis
TRIPLE M NRL
The Australian Test side will run out onto Mt. Smart Stadium without the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk or Greg Inglis on the team-sheet.
And it has been 13-years since none of those names appeared in the Test side.
Wind the clock back to November 2005, Elland Road in Leeds, Australia led by then five-time winning NRL Premiership coach Wayne Bennett took on New Zealand in the Tri-Nations Final.
The Kiwis had previously defeated the Aussies during the Pool stage of the tournament but the Kangaroos were hot favourites to win the match.
The side only featured 3 Queenslanders with a heavy-NSW based contingent.
Australia's 17-man side vs. New Zealand - Tri-Nations Test Final:
- Anthony Minichiello
- Matt King
- Mark Gasiner
- Matt Cooper
- Brent Tate
- Trent Barrett
- Craig Gower
- Petero Civoniceva
- Danny Buderus
- Jason Ryles
- Luke O'Donnell
- Craig Fitzgibbon
- Ben Kennedy
- Craig Wing
- Willie Mason
- Mark O'Meley
- Steve Price
Interestingly though, the Aussies would lose to New Zealand in a Test final for the first time since 1952.
The Kiwis would dominate from start to finish, keeping the Kangaroos scoreless - winning 24-0.
Following the defeat Wayne Bennett would resign as head coach.