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Australia coach Tim Sheens admits his team will be overwhelming favourites to beat an inexperienced New Zealand side in Friday’s Anzac Test but expects the Kiwi players to have a point to prove.
Sheens’ 17-man squad contained few surprises with 14 of the side that won the Rugby League World Cup in Manchester last November selected.
It’s in complete contrast to Stephen Kearney’s squad which has just five survivors from the 34-2 hammering in the final at Old Trafford and six newcomers including rookie Warriors hooker Siliva Havili who has only a handful of NRL appearances to his name.
Star prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is among those axed by Kearney, who is without the injured key players Kieran Foran, Issac Luke, Frank Pritchard, Elijah Taylor and Thomas Leuluai.
Sonny Bill Williams, who returns to rugby at the end of this year, has also been overlooked with Tohu Harris, who the dual international replaced in the World Cup squad, recalled.
“He’s blooding younger blokes and they’ll be enthusiastic and as the Warriors showed against Melbourne at the weekend you cannot underestimate what comes out of New Zealand,” Sheens said.
“With six debutants getting an opportunity they’ll be busting to play well. I think it’s going to be an intense game.”
Havili is a shock selection and Sheens admits he’s never seen the 21-year-old play.
“It worries me when you don’t know much about someone and the national coach picks him to play for New Zealand,” he said.
“They know the kid can play. You’re not going to get picked if you don’t have ability.
“I understand we’ll be favourites for this game, but it’s sometimes hard to play from in front and they have nothing to lose and throw everything at us.”
In-form Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne would have been picked at centre but misses out due to a shoulder injury picked up in the Eels’ loss to North Queensland on Saturday.
Canterbury centre Josh Morris is preferred to long-time incumbent Justin Hodges, but Sheens said the door isn’t closed to the veteran Brisbane and Queensland star.
“We went for Morris who has a little bit more football under his belt and he plays right centre for NSW,” Sheens said.
“In a short preparation he knows everything we’ve done for the last two seasons as he’s been in and around the squad.
“If Justin had been fit last year, he would have gone on the Kangaroos tour.
“He’s had three-and-a-half games this year and I am sure he’ll be picked by Queensland for State of Origin.
“I think coming down to the end of the year if he’s going well, he’ll be picked for the Four Nations.”
Sheens has changed the make-up of his interchange bench with Cronulla’s Andrew Fifita omitted following his difficult start to the season and replaced by Gold Coast’s Nate Myles.
Sydney Roosters back-rower Boyd Cordner is preferred to Canberra’s Josh Papalii and joins Corey Parker and Daly Cherry-Evans who keep their utility spots.
Sheens said starting Cherry-Evans over Cronk was discussed by selectors, but the Melbourne halfback deserved the chance keep his spot.
“It just comes down to with a short turnaround and that incumbents deserved an opportunity,” he said.
“It’s healthy to have those guys playing as well as they are.
“There’s no one there that shouldn’t be there. They are not in threat of being dropped by their teams let alone our team.”
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