Australian Kangaroos squad: Mal Meninga unveils 21-man roster for Pacific Championships

Liam O'Loughlin

Australian Kangaroos squad: Mal Meninga unveils 21-man roster for Pacific Championships image

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 HeraldAddo-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. 

ARLC boss Peter V'landys confirmed that Holmes has accepted a one-game suspension, ruling him out of the first Test for the Aussies. 

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

Liam O'Loughlin

Liam O'Loughlin Photo

Liam has been with The Sporting News since 2019, helping lead both NRL and cricket content, as well as delving into the world of combat sports and NFL. A true rugby league tragic, he has spent the past 20 years playing, coaching and volunteering for his beloved junior club, Penshurst RSL. 

Away from work, Liam has a lifelong passion for all things pro wrestling and has travelled abroad to attend showcase events for WWE, AEW and NJPW.