Former Test winger Lote Tuqiri was one of 10 players added to Australia’s Four Nations train-on squad on Monday.
The Wests Tigers dual international last played for the Kangaroos in 2002 before crossing over to rugby union.
He was one of five Tigers players along with Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Chris Lawrence, Todd Payten to be added to coach Tim Sheens’s squad to defend the series next month.
Five players from the Gold Coast were also added including Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello and captain Scott Prince.
The squad will get together for medicals and training in Sydney on Wednesday, with Turiqi (ribs) and Payten (ankle) both struggling to prove their fitness.
Kangaroos Train on squad: Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant (Canterbury), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Greg Bird, Ashley Harrison, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga (North Queensland), Jarryd Hayne, Timana Tahu (Parramatta), David Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jason King, Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough (Manly), Brent Tate (New Zealand), Jarrod Croker, Josh Dugan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joel Monaghan, David Shillington (Canberra), Petero Civoniceva, Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis (Penrith), Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Chris Lawrence, Todd Payten, Lote Tuqiri (Wests Tigers).
Dave
Guest
Good on Tuqiri to put that myth to bed for once that coming back from rugby will take him and any cross code players three years or more to get use to the pace and speed of the NRL.
Hugh Jarse
Guest
Well, I'm a Tigers supporter but I don't think Tuqiri should have been considered. His positional play in defence is the poorest of any winger in the competition. Nightingale's try on the weekend, for example, was caused by Tuqiri getting himself in the wrong spot and then being consumed by indicision thereafter. This was a constant with his play throughout the season. Pick someone with a future.