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As the dust from the NRL grand final settles we shift our focus to the international period with the Rugby League World Cup just around the corner.
Tomorrow Mal Meninga will name his 24-man squad for the World Cup as Australia launch their title defence.
Meninga is spoilt for choice with a host of players at his disposal. Who will pull on the green and gold in 2017?
Fullback – Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm, 25 Tests)
The rest: Darius Boyd, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic
Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater has redeemed himself, returning from injury to explode back onto the scene in career-best form. Slater is no stranger to the Kangaroos jumper having played 25 Tests between 2008 and 2015.
Slater’s return to the top has been unprecedented playing 21 games this season including the grand final and also making his long-awaited return to State of Origin. Slater has a proven combination with Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, and should edge out Darius Boyd, James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic for the No.1 jumper.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Wing – Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos, 23 Tests) and James Tedesco (Wests Tigers, yet to debut)
The rest: Josh Addo-Carr, Dane Gagai, Valentine Holmes, Corey Oates
A 23-Test veteran, Darius Boyd will be hoping to return to the Kangaroos for the World Cup after overcoming injury during the finals series with the Brisbane Broncos. Boyd has taken control of the Broncos, forming the crux of their attack and leading from the frontline in their top-four finish. He will likely miss out on playing fullback to Billy Slater but has played on the wing before and will transfer his skills to suit his role.
James Tedesco is another fullback who may find himself playing out of position. He has been a gem for the Wests Tigers in an otherwise disappointing season which saw them finish 15th.
Tedesco is yet to make his Kangaroos debut but after showing what he can do in State of Origin and for the PM’s XIII, the RLPA Player of the Year is in line to pull on the green and gold for the first time.
A number of other players have staked their claim for a spot in Mal Meninga’s side with Josh Addo-Carr bringing up 21 tries with the Melbourne Storm while Dane Gagai was named player of the series in State of Origin and Corey Oates has continued his brilliance for the Broncos. Valentine Holmes will also be in the hunt as the incumbent on the wing.
Centre – William Chambers (Melbourne Storm, two Tests) and Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles, yet to debut)
The rest: Jack Bird, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, James Roberts, Curtis Scott
Incumbent Kangaroos Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson are likely to miss out on selection after struggling both on and off the field throughout the 2017 season.
William Chambers is expected to retain his spot in the backline after continuing his dominance as one of the premier centres in rugby league in the Melbourne Storm’s minor premiership season.
Chambers could be partnered in the centres by Manly Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic who is yet to debut but after an outstanding effort for the PM’s XIII, has launched himself into the selection frame. The 20-year-old has been at the top of his game throughout the 2017 season and is able to settle into any spot in the backline.
Alongside Dugan and Ferguson, Jack Bird and James Roberts will be pressing for selection while Curtis Scott could be a surprise addition after exploding onto the scene with the Storm this season showing great composure throughout.
Five-eighth – Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys, seven Tests)
The rest: Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster
Michael Morgan has become the form player of the NRL, coming out from behind the shadow of Johnathan Thurston to steer his Cowboys on a fairytale run toward the grand final.
Morgan is no stranger to the Test arena with seven appearances for the green and gold under his belt and his proven himself in starting at No.6 for the Maroons during their series win this year.
He will be in a race with James Maloney most likely for the starting spot while Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster are also in contention for a spot in the side. Moses has been a revelation since joining the Parramatta Eels from the Wests Tigers showing his composure while Munster has had a strong season making his Origin debut and coming into his own at five-eighth.
Halfback – Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm, 33 Tests)
The rest: James Maloney, Corey Norman
Cronk’s career at the Melbourne Storm may have ended but he will be looking for a big sendoff with the Kangaroos. The halfback will likely once again pull on the No.7 jersey for the Kangaroos with 33 Tests already under his belt in their World Cup title defence.
There will be competition for the backup spot between James Maloney and Corey Norman. Maloney has been around the Kangaroos camp before after playing at last year’s Four Nations while Norman is yet to debut however, after a strong season at the Eels he has found himself in the selection frame.
Front row – Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers, nine Tests) and Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks, seven Tests)
The rest: Reagan Campbell-Gillard, David Klemmer, Jordan McLean, Dylan Napa, Matthew Scott, Paul Vaughan
New South Wales front row pair Aaron Woods and Andrew Fifita are in the driver’s seat to make up the Kangaroos’ pack. Both Woods and Fifita were lethal for the Blues during the State of Origin series and have Test experience behind them.
David Klemmer will also be vying for a spot in the pack while Matthew Scott is racing against the clock to recover from injury and retain his place in the Kangaroos side although with little NRL games in 2017 he is unlikely.
Jordan McLean, Dylan Napa and Paul Vaughan have shown their tenaciousness throughout the season with all three hunting a Test debut. Meanwhile, Reagan Campbell-Gillard has had a brilliant year off the interchange for the Panthers with the possibility of representing Australia a real possibility.
Hooker – Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm, 50 Tests)
The rest: Jake Friend, Jake Granville, Apisai Koroisau
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Cameron Smith will be the first name down on the teamsheet for Meninga, his name already etched in. The skipper has had a stellar season, performing at the top of his game in helping the Storm to win another grand final and winning his second Dally M Medal in the process.
Smith already has 50 Tests under his belt and will go close to surpassing Darren Lockyer’s record 59 appearances for the Kangaroos.
It appears to be a three-horse race for the backup No.9 with incumbent reserve Jake Friend battling with Manly’s in-form dummy half Apisai Koroisau and Jake Granville who is a bolter following the Cowboys’ late season charge toward the grand final.
Second Row – Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos, seven Tests) and Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters, 11 Tests)
The rest: Gavin Cooper, Tyson Frizell, Josh Jackson, Josh Papalii, Sam Thaiday
New South Wales skipper Boyd Cordner and Broncos workhorse Matt Gillett are the incumbent backrowers for the Kangaroos and have done everything to ensure their jobs are safe.
Both Cordner and Gillett have continued to play at the top of their game for their respective teams although the likes of Tyson Frizell, Josh Jackson, Gavin Cooper and Josh Papalii have all been outstanding in 2017.
Sam Thaiday could be forced out of the side with the 32-test veteran overshadowed by the next generation of second-rowers as Mal Meninga looks to move the Kangaroos forward into a new era.
Lock forward – Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles, two Tests)
The rest: Nathan Brown, Wade Graham, Josh McGuire, Trent Merrin
After making his Kangaroos debut against Scotland last year, Jake Trbojevic now appears to be a staple in the Australian side. The Sea Eagles enforcer is almost a certainty to suit up for his country at the World Cup after another damaging year with the Silvertails.
Trbojevic will have stiff competition from incumbent Trent Merrin while Broncos big man Josh McGuire and Sharks back rower Wade Graham are also in contention alongside Nathan Brown who has been a revelation for the Eels since joining the club from Redfern.
Predicted Kangaroos World Cup Squad: Cameron Smith (c), Darius Boyd, William Chambers, Boyd Cordner, Cooper Cronk, Andrew Fifita, Jake Friend, Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai*, Matt Gillett, Valentine Holmes, David Klemmer, Josh Jackson, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan, Cameron Munster*, Corey Oates*, Josh Papalii, Billy Slater, James Tedesco*, Sam Thaiday, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic*, Aaron Woods (*yet to debut)
Roarers, who do you think will play for the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup? Can Australia defend their ‘world champion’ status?
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