The Australian Kangaroos have announced their team for the opening game of the Four Nations against the New Zealand Kiwis.
Coach Tim Sheens has been given an understrength squad to work with the for the campaign, and has been forced to make a number of adjustments to his starting team from their last Test match against New Zealand.
Greg Inglis has been installed at fullback in the absence of Billy Slater and Jarryd Hayne, while Josh Mansour will make his debut on the wing alongside Daniel Tupou.
Dylan Walker will also make his debut in the centres, prop Aaron Woods and interchange forward Aidan Guerra have all been named to make their first appearance against the Kiwis in an Australian side hit by injury-enforced withdrawals.
In the absence of Johnathan Thurston, Daly Cherry-Evans has been chosen to partner Cooper Cronk in the Kangaroos halves.
Beau Scott has been named in the back-row alongside Ryan Hoffman and Greg Bird, for his first Test cap since 2011.
Sam Thaiday will partner Woods in the frontrow, with captain Cameron Smith slotting into hooker.
Greg Inglis will take the fullback role vacated by a shoulder injury to Billy Slater and Walker fills the right centre position that was opened up by Jarryd Hayne’s departure to America.
Michael Jennings will play left centre next to Tupou.
Guerra, Robbie Farah, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer and Sione Mata’utia have all been named on an extended bench.
| Player | NRL Club | |
| 1 | Greg Inglis | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| 2 | Josh Mansour | Penrith Panthers |
| 3 | Michael Jennings | Sydney Roosters |
| 4 | Dylan Walker | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| 5 | Daniel Tupou | Sydney Roosters |
| 6 | Daly Cherry-Evans | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| 7 | Cooper Cronk | Melbourne Storm |
| 8 | Aaron Woods | Wests Tigers |
| 9 | Cameron Smith (c) | Melbourne Storm |
| 10 | Sam Thaiday | Brisbane Broncos |
| 11 | Beau Scott | Newcastle Knights |
| 12 | Ryan Hoffman | Melbourne Storm |
| 13 | Greg Bird | Gold Coast Titans |
| 14. | Robbie Farah | Wests Tigers |
| 15. | Aidan Guerra | Sydney Roosters |
| 16 | Josh Papalii | Canberra Raiders |
| 17 | Corey Parker | Brisbane Broncos |
| 18 | Boyd Cordner | Sydney Roosters |
| 19 | David Klemmer | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| 20 | Sione MataÂ’utia | Newcastle Knights |
With AAP
Jay C
Roar Guru
Thanks Alex. I guess that shouldn't really surprise me. Windows should have a shortcut built into it for that exact sentence. Like CTRL shift 9 or something. Imagine the countless hours of journalists time that could be saved from not having to continuously write that one sentence.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Hodges is injured.
soapit
Guest
tend to agree. tupou doesnt seem to fire up nearly enough
Jay C
Roar Guru
I was assuming he got confused between Thursto and Cronk with Injuries. Otherwise it is a good team. Also can anyone tell me if Hodges is injured/ruled out? Fit and healthy, there is surely a spot for him somewhere in the 17. Even as the bench utility he could cover most positions and was electrifying in the back end of the season...
maximillian
Guest
Thurstons injured but even so, no Cronk in your best 17?
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Some ridiculous selections and a very NSW origin style overload of back rowers. Farah gets his role because of sheens. Bird is a bench guy at best with Parker the best lock the last 2 years. I haven't seen anything in Daniel Toupu to warrant selection for NSW let alone the national side. McGuire was unlucky to be pipped by Papalli and Ben Hunt should have been the utility. Beau Scott? Are you kidding me? 1 Inglis 2 Mansour 3 Jennings 4 Walker 5 Johnson 6 Thurston 7 Cherry Evans 8 Woods 9 Smith 10 Thaiday 11 Hoffman 12 Guerra 13 Parker 14 Hunt 15 Bird 16 McGuire 17 Cordner
Jay C
Roar Guru
I find Tupou ordinary. He is tall. I think that is his thing. Not ordinary I spose, but not Australian material. Why not chuck Moylan on the wing for exposure, or Johnson like you say. Moylan would have to be the best young'en in the comp the way he was playing in the backend of the year. Craig, Papali has been so ordinary I'm surprised the Broncos haven't tried to sign him. Oh. Wait.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I am saying Johnson over Sione Muzz. Parker isn't really an impact player, he's a workhorse
Muzz
Guest
The numbering under international rules for wingers is opposite.It can be confusing.
The eye
Guest
DWZ was playing on the right late in the year..true..but he was sadly lacking confidence under the high ball during the semis and will certainly be targetted..and Tupous a gazelle which seems to me the key point in winning him the job over AJ for this game.. don't you worry about that backrow,Craig..it's the Blue Wall..Hoffman rep player of the year....Scott, Knights player of the year,and the Bird Beater..
MJB
Guest
Agreed, Papalii spends all season going missing for the Raiders and then miraculously gets into the Kangaroos squad, while Jarrod Croker gets eternally snubbed.
mrpom360
Guest
Am I the only one that thinks that Daniel Toupou hasn't done much to have a spot on the wing. Is he he just there because of his combo with Jennings? I thought they would pick Alex Johnston for wing spot.
Muzz
Guest
Sheens would have to go with Tupou Jennings left combo opposite Nightingale and SKD
The eye
Guest
DWZ is no good in the air..Cronk and Tupou will be working him over.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I've been saying it since the squad was named but actually seeing the line-up has again highlighted how many players we are missing..... get on the Kiwis or Poms I reckon.... both have come in massively from there opening odds of $6 & $15 but still provide good value. The spine is literally acting as a spine in holding this side up...... if one player within those key positions goes down, I reckon we'd struggle to make the final..... need G.I, DCE, Cronk and Smith to stay fit.
Renegade
Guest
Hunt would have been a far better option than Farah from a utility aspect and on form.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
So does Mansour -- at least in club games.
Muzz
Guest
AJ plays on the left.
Dallas
Guest
Mansour was the best winger in the comp this year. And nearly topped the nrl with running meters. He would of been first winger picked.
Craig Watson
Guest
Papali lucky to make the team. Was pretty ordinary in his last outing for the Kangaroos.