Mal Meninga has announced his 21-man Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships, with a number of big names included for the end-of-year tournament.
Three players from the premiership-winning Penrith Panthers side have been named to play for Australia, including star halfback and Clive Churchill Medal winner Nathan Cleary, while fullback Dylan Edwards was overlooked.
The Panthers trio were all part of the Kangaroos’ successful World Cup victory last November, with Meninga retaining 16 players in his Pacific Championships squad.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who played centre for Queensland in their Origin series win earlier this year, is the other debutant in the squad.
James Tedesco will once again captain the side alongside Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins, with Dragons captain Ben Hunt likely to split the hooking role with Storm rake Harry Grant as they did in last year’s World Cup campaign.
Also overlooked were, Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga ,and Dylan Edwards. With Tedesco as captain these three players miss out.
Brisbane will also be well-represented after their stellar run into the grand final, with star forwards Patrick Carrigan and the uncapped Payne Haas among five players selected – but whiz kid fullback Reece Walsh has missed out.
Meninga has also included four other potential debutants, with star outside backs Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow both in contention for their first green and gold jumper, as well as Tom Flegler.
Australia will play its first game of the Pacific Championships against Samoa in Townsville on October 14, before taking on New Zealand in Melbourne on October 28. The final of the tournament will be played the following week in Hamilton, NZ.
Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr was named despite being involved in an all-in brawl at the Koori Knockout last weekend.
So too is North Queensland Cowboys star Valentine Holmes, who was involved in a scandal where he was pictured holding a bag with a white powder.
His selection comes as ARLC chair Peter V’landys revealed that Holmes will only miss the first game, plus a $25,000.00 fine. OUCH! This means he won’t be available for the first Test only, but will train with the squad.
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell was also a notable omission. Meninga revealed the Rabbitohs had informed him that the champion fullback would be ineligible for selection due to injury.
However he then suited up to play in the Koori Knockout over the weekend. Strange!
Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) Patrick Carrigan (Broncos) Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) Nathan Cleary (Panthers) Selwyn Cobbo* (Broncos) Lindsay Collins (Roosters) Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans) Thomas Flegler* (Broncos) Harry Grant (Storm) Payne Haas (Broncos) Valentine Holmes (Cowboys) Ben Hunt (Dragons) Liam Martin (Panthers) Cameron Munster (Storm) Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs) Kotoni Staggs* (Broncos) Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow* (Dolphins) James Tedesco, capt. (Roosters) Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles) Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
LATE NEWS. Cleary is out injured and Niko Hynes has been called into the squad as a replacement,
Also Addo-Carr has been stood down for two test matches following the brawl in the Koori Knockout last weekend, opening the door for Dylan Edwards I suspect.
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