The Australian Kangaroos have announced their team for the opening game of the Four Nations against the New Zealand Kiwis.
Coach Tim Sheens has been given an understrength squad to work with the for the campaign, and has been forced to make a number of adjustments to his starting team from their last Test match against New Zealand.
Greg Inglis has been installed at fullback in the absence of Billy Slater and Jarryd Hayne, while Josh Mansour will make his debut on the wing alongside Daniel Tupou.
Dylan Walker will also make his debut in the centres, prop Aaron Woods and interchange forward Aidan Guerra have all been named to make their first appearance against the Kiwis in an Australian side hit by injury-enforced withdrawals.
In the absence of Johnathan Thurston, Daly Cherry-Evans has been chosen to partner Cooper Cronk in the Kangaroos halves.
Beau Scott has been named in the back-row alongside Ryan Hoffman and Greg Bird, for his first Test cap since 2011.
Sam Thaiday will partner Woods in the frontrow, with captain Cameron Smith slotting into hooker.
Greg Inglis will take the fullback role vacated by a shoulder injury to Billy Slater and Walker fills the right centre position that was opened up by Jarryd Hayne’s departure to America.
Michael Jennings will play left centre next to Tupou.
Guerra, Robbie Farah, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer and Sione Mata’utia have all been named on an extended bench.
Player | NRL Club | |
1 | Greg Inglis | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
2 | Josh Mansour | Penrith Panthers |
3 | Michael Jennings | Sydney Roosters |
4 | Dylan Walker | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
5 | Daniel Tupou | Sydney Roosters |
6 | Daly Cherry-Evans | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
7 | Cooper Cronk | Melbourne Storm |
8 | Aaron Woods | Wests Tigers |
9 | Cameron Smith (c) | Melbourne Storm |
10 | Sam Thaiday | Brisbane Broncos |
11 | Beau Scott | Newcastle Knights |
12 | Ryan Hoffman | Melbourne Storm |
13 | Greg Bird | Gold Coast Titans |
14. | Robbie Farah | Wests Tigers |
15. | Aidan Guerra | Sydney Roosters |
16 | Josh Papalii | Canberra Raiders |
17 | Corey Parker | Brisbane Broncos |
18 | Boyd Cordner | Sydney Roosters |
19 | David Klemmer | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
20 | Sione MataÂ’utia | Newcastle Knights |
With AAP