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.
Two players from the premiership-winning Penrith Panthers side have been named to play for Australia, with star halfback and Clive Churchill Medal winner Nathan Cleary ruled out through injury after initially being selected with Nicho Hynes called in to replace him.
Brisbane will be well-represented after their stellar run into the grand final, with star forwards Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas among five players selected - but whiz kid fullback Reece Walsh has missed out.
Meninga has also included five potential debutants, with Hynes joined by star outside backs Kotoni Staggs, Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who are in contention for their first green and gold jumper, as well as Brisbane prop Tom Flegler.
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Mal Meninga names 21-man squad for Australian Kangaroos
The head coach addressed the media on Tuesday morning and explained why both Valentine Holmes and Josh Addo-Carr had been selected, despite recent issues following the NRL season.
“That’s in the hands of the integrity unit, so they’re going through that independent process," Meninga said.
“The quality we saw in the regular season, the State of Origin series and the finals series means we have been able to put together an outstanding squad.
“The squad has a healthy blend of representatives from last year’s World Cup, as well as others who have performed extremely well over the course of the season.”
However, according to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, Addo-Carr is facing a two-game suspension for an incident at the Koori Knockout, with premiership-winning fullback Dylan Edwards in line for a call-up.
Australia will kick off their tournament against Toa Samoa on October 14th, before a showdown with New Zealand a fortnight later prior to a potential playoff clash.
Australian Kangaroos squad for Pacific Championships
James Tedesco (c) - Sydney Roosters
Josh Addo-Carr - Canterbury Bulldogs
Patrick Carrigan - Brisbane Broncos
Daly Cherry-Evans - Manly Sea Eagles
Selwyn Cobbo* - Brisbane Broncos
Lindsay Collins - Sydney Roosters
Reuben Cotter - North Queensland Cowboys
Dylan Edwards - Penrith Panthers
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - Gold Coast Titans
Tom Flegler* - Brisbane Broncos
Harry Grant - Melbourne Storm
Payne Haas* - Brisbane Broncos
Valentine Holmes** - North Queensland Cowboys
Ben Hunt - St George Illawarra Dragons
Nicho Hynes* - Cronulla Sharks
Liam Martin - Penrith Panthers
Cameron Munster - Melbourne Storm
Cameron Murray - South Sydney Rabbitohs
Kotoni Staggs* - Brisbane Broncos
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow* - Dolphins
Jake Trbojevic - Manly Sea Eagles
Isaah Yeo - Penrith Panthers
*Debutants
**Unavailable for first Test on October 14th
Australian Jillaroos squad for Pacific Championships
Australia's womens team will also compete in an end-of-year tournament, with three debutants named in the Jillaroos squad, including NRLW Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton and two other Knights premiership winners.
Ali Brigginshaw (c) - Brisbane Broncos
Kezie Apps (c) - Wests Tigers
Tarryn Aiken - Sydney Roosters
Shaylee Bent - Gold Coast Titans
Lauren Brown - Gold Coast Titans
Jaime Chapman - Gold Coast Titans
Kennedy Cherrington - Parramatta Eels
Yasmin Clydsdale - Newcastle Knights
Keeley Davis - Sydney Roosters
Jess Elliston* - Gold Coast Titans
Caitlan Johnston - Newcastle Knights
Isabelle Kelly - Sydney Roosters
Olivia Kernick - Sydney Roosters
Emma Manzelmann* - North Queensland Cowboys
Shannon Mato - Gold Coast Titans
Evania Pelite - Gold Coast Titans
Julia Robinson - Brisbane Broncos
Jessica Sergis - Sydney Roosters
Simaima Taufa - Canberra Raiders
Emma Tonegato - Cronulla Sharks
Tamika Upton* - Newcastle Knights
*Debutants
