Here is the official City squad which will face Country in an epic thriller;

1.Anthony Minichello
2.John Hopoate
3.Joe Black
4.Mark Gasiner
5.Hazem El Masri
6.Braith Anasta
7.Brent Sherwin
8.Luke Devico
9.Dominik Bush
10.Jason Cayless
11.David Lyons
12.Phil Waugh
13.George Smith
14.Robbie Kearns
15.Tom Bowman
16.Bryan Fletcher
17.Matt Geyer

Gasnier and Black's Gift Position

With the announcement of Anthony Magro's City side to clash with Country later this week, punters and fans across the country have been left absolutely stunned by the inclusion of Carnarvon's Mark Gasnier, and Adelaide's high priced rookie, Joe Black.

Carnarvon are currently in fifteenth position, with only woeful South Melbourne below them, whilst Adelaide are in fourteenth. It's hard to believe these two have been pulling their weight at their respective clubs, given that neither side can achieve a win.

But, you may argue, they could be playing well in a poor team. Also not true. Joe Black has yet to live up to one quarter of the expectations the fans and coaching staff at Adelaide had for him. The big centre should be up their with John Sitizien, but instead he continually shows poor discipline and turnstyle defence. And Gasnier, one of the games highest paid backs, has been similarly woeful. Selfish play and an inability to read the game has seen Gasnier squander more tries than South Queensland have even scored!

This leaves this journalist wondering how it is that Michael DeVere, playing at North Sydney, was overlooked for a centre position. Whilst he may not be a household name like Gasnier or Black, he has definately earned a look in from NSW coach Chris Walker-Bush.

'To be truthful, neither Gasnier or Black has crossed my mind for a rep jersey', Walker-Bush was overheard saying at a press conference when he announced Gold Coast's Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus as NSW certainties, as well as Central's Craig Wing, and Sydney's Jason Ryles.

Questions must be raised over coach Magro's commitment to research when it comes to his side. Plenty of centres in far less 'fancied' clubs have been trying week in and week out this season- only to be overlooked in favour of players Magro clearly has a good working relationship with.

This journalist, as well as countless other league pundits, is disgusted with the inclusion of two players who, whilst all class, have failed to earn the honour of putting on the blue and gold of City.

Dean Richards,
ASRL Weekly Magazine