Manly heavy hitters Anthony Watmough and Josh Perry were shocked at their respective selections in Australia’s rugby league team to meet New Zealand on Friday.
The two Sea Eagles enforcers were named on the bench for the May 7 clash at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Perry earned his first Test selection nod since 2008, while incumbent Kangaroo Watmough retained his position, much to his own surprise.
Watmough, who has played six Tests, said his form at the start of the year wasn’t great, but had picked up in the past couple of weeks.
“There’s some gun back rowers going around and I don’t know how I got it, but I’m stoked I got in,” Watmough told reporters after Manly’s 30-22 NRL win over souths on Sunday.
“Hopefully I’ll continue to get better and better and never let the green and gold down.
“There’s a good dozen (back rowers) going around that are playing out of their skin at the moment.”
Watmough attributed his recent form lift to hard work.
“Dessie (Manly coach Des Hasler) has been ripping me,” Watmough said.
“It’s always tough when you start the year after going so long at the back end of the previous year and you don’t get training until a lot later and it takes you a few more weeks to find your feet.”
Clubmate Perry, who has been capped three times, was preparing to go to the City-Country game and knocked off his feet by Test selection.
“I’m a bit dumbfounded at the moment, I can’t stop shaking,” Perry told reporters.
“It was in the back of my mind, but I didn’t really expect it, I thought I’d be going to Port Macquarie but not Melbourne.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Australians are among the sportiest people on Earth. Much as we like to play code wars with each other, the fact that we can…
Over the years 47 players have represented Australia in rugby league and union - so who is the best of the dual code internationals?
Proposed rule changes to Origin eligibility might be that rarest of things: a solution that works for everyone.
The shortlist for the International Rugby League (IRL) Golden Boot Award has been announced, with a host of hard-runners listed for the top prizes.…
After Australia's 30-nil thumping in the Pacific Championship final, there could be a vastly different Kangaroos team in the next international competition.
A famous day for New Zealand as the Kiwis thrash Australia to take the Pacific Championships title.
