Five and a kick: Benji's Tigers lost to Penrith, but did they actually win in the long run?
1. Tigers earning their stripes The Tigers played Souths last year when the Bunnies were at their very highest point. Tim Sheens coached them…
Shannon Boyd, Joseph Leilua, Jarrod Croker and Junior Paulo have been rewarded for their key roles in Canberra’s impressive NRL season with a call-up to the Kangaroos train-on squad.
The quartet could be in line to make their Australia debuts later this year under coach Mal Meninga in the end of season Test against New Zealand or the Four Nations campaign.
Meninga named Boyd, Leilua, Croker and Paulo in his train-on squad on Monday following the preliminary final loss to Melbourne, alongside teammate Josh Papalii, who has played eight Tests for Australia.
North Queensland stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill and James Tamou were also added to the Kangaroos squad in the wake of their preliminary final loss to Cronulla.
Meninga’s preparation for the Four Nations continued on Saturday, when his PM’s XIII trounced Papua New Guinea 58-0 in Port Moresby.
“The squad is taking shape very well,” Meninga said.
“I was really pleased with the performance of a number of players in Port Moresby and it enhanced my thoughts on a number of players.
“To add these experienced players, as well as a handful of younger guys, to the train-on squad puts us in a very strong position.”
The Kangaroos squad for the Four Nations will be named after the NRL grand final.
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1. Tigers earning their stripes The Tigers played Souths last year when the Bunnies were at their very highest point. Tim Sheens coached them…
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