Test forward Sam Thaiday has urged Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens to retain their winning formula for Saturday night’s Four Nations final against New Zealand in Wellington.
Which is bad news for recovering backrower Beau Scott.
The door appeared ajar for Scott to return from a hamstring complaint for this weekend’s tournament decider despite the Newcastle forward not being named in Sheens’ 20-strong squad on Tuesday.
It is believed Sheens had been keen to give Scott until the last minute to prove his fitness after being sidelined for the last two matches.
Scott’s last gasp return would force a pack reshuffle, pushing Thaiday from his preferred backrow spot back to prop.
But Thaiday hoped Sheens would remain true to the side that booked the final berth with a 44-18 thumping of Samoa.
Thaiday was a shining light in the backrow against Samoa after playing the first two games of the tournament at prop.
The injection of Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii up front against Samoa allowed Thaiday and Greg Bird to shift to their preferred edge positions last weekend.
“I hope Tim sticks with the successful team,” Thaiday told reporters.
“That was probably our best game. I really do like playing on an edge.
“If I do have to go in the middle and fill a role, I’m more than happy to do that.
“It’s been a work in progress (but) Tim has found the remedy.”
Sheens named the same starting 13 as last week with Robbie Farah, Aidan Guerra and Ryan Hoffman on an extended seven-man bench.
However, the incumbent interchange of Ben Hunt, Boyd Cordner and boom Canterbury forwards David Klemmer and Josh Jackson will be hard to budge ahead of the final.
Hoffman, Guerra and Farah have not played since the opening Four Nations match – a 30-12 hammering at the hands of the Kiwis in Brisbane.
Klemmer and Cordner alone packed plenty of punch off the bench.
One of only two genuine frontrowers in the Kangaroos squad, Klemmer racked up 141m, 26 tackles and a try off the bench against Samoa in only his second Test.
And Cordner posted 119m and 19 tackles from the interchange last weekend.
The depleted Kangaroos have blooded nine debutants at the Four Nations but if Sheens sticks with the players named on Tuesday, young backs Matt Moylan and Alex Johnston will be the only squad members to miss out on a Test debut.
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