Allan Bunting on the PLAYERS TO WATCH in 2024 

From that world cup squad of 32, the 7s players have gone to focus on preparation for the Olympics. That's Hirini, Fitzpatrick, Woodman, and Fluhler. Cocksedge & Wickliffe retired. Leti-I’iga, Ngan-Woo, Taumata, Tubic, Delamere and Tangen-Wainohu have all been out with long term injuries. Plus new coaching staff... it's just a transitional phase.

@DarkMoonWayfarer Nah, we were rubbish. Especially the pack which was soft against Canada, France, & England. All of Mike Cron's great work, down the drain. This coaching team now needs to get some steel back in the tight 5. Stat!!

​@@Sunflower-dt6evI've watched these games a couple of times, the pack was fine against Canada and France. Against France the game was lost in the backs, too many dropped balls, too much panic, and an intercepted pass. I agree that against England they were blown off the park. England were relentless. The biggest difference between WC year and last year was Kendra Cocksedge. She had such a influence on every game with her heads up kicking game and picking runners. She basically organised both the forwards and backs. They looked rudderless without her but there's some good young halfbacks coming through. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu was the starting halfback for every game last year apart from the USA match. She was slow and sometimes would be MIA at the rucks, which is probably why she's been dropped.

@DarkMoonWayfarer 100% agree about Kendra. Nah, our pack was soft. The Wallaroos & Canadians out muscled the French when beating them. We came 4th in the WXV1 comp. Too many forwards popping passes & trying to be backs instead of doing the hard clinical yards. Our carry & clean, & pick & go were terrible. And our pack got bashed by the Canadians for most of that test even though we won. They need to get a lot better this season.