Rugby League / Matt Adamson / 20 April 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Matt Adamson remembers with pride the Anzac Day game he played, but poses the question: Are we ruining a great tradition?

Every year since 1997, the Anzac Test has been played in remembrance of the fallen war heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for home and country.

I remember the pride I felt when I played in that game at the Sydney Football Stadium back in 1997. In fact, it's pride that prompts me to speak out about the farce I'm seeing each year surrounding this fixture.

James Tamou will make his debut for Australia on Friday night...trouble is, he's a Kiwi.

This isn't the first and won't be the last time such a disgraceful selection occurs.

It's a little known fact that nowadays over half the Rugby League players registered are of New Zealand or Pacific Island descent. That means Australian selectors have even smaller numbers of players to choose from than during any other period.

We punters like to back a winner, and so here is my question to selectors and coaches.

Is it in their interests to sometimes 'bend the rules?'

The NRL commission must resolve this issue as a matter of priority.

On the field, it's Australia to win.

Now my rant has been put to bed, I think Australia will be to strong for New Zealand. By virtue of their settled combinations, the Aussies always have a good record in these one-off test matches

However, the Kiwis have selected a powerful and youthful side, and one must not dismiss any team that possesses such brilliant attacking weapons as Benji Marshall, Shawn Johnson and Issac Luke.

Add to that the power running of Frank Pritchard and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, plus home-ground advantage, and I suspect this might be a much closer affair than we have seen in previous years.

Betfair punters, if you are keen to play here, I'd be all over the tri-bet option of either side to win by 6.5 points or less.

While I think the Kangaroos possess too much class, the hosts will put up one heck of a fight and could well win the match if they're close enough at the end.

To much at stake for the Country boys in Mudgee

I am a country boy through and through, so it's no surprise to anyone that I am tipping Country to defeat those Range Rover-driving, latte-drinking city slickers in Mudgee on Saturday.

I am confident largely due to one man: Todd Carney.

Having played with Todd, I know his passion to wear the sky blue jumper for New South Wales, and he will be going all out to finally win the Blues number six.

The size and toughness of the Country pack will be the difference in this game. They are simply a better pack of forwards than City has been able to assemble. Their go forward will allow hooker Ryan Hinchcliffe, halfback Jarrod Mullen and Carney himself to take control and play attacking footy.

Bottom line, we hate the city slickers. We hate them with a passion, so please never lose this annual fixture as the loss of City-Country may mean the end of Country Rugby League.

I am so confident that my best bet this weekend is Country giving away the start.

It's rep season and the fun is about to start.