In October and November this year the Australian rugby league team will tour England for the 2016 Four Nations.
The selectors need to pick a 24-man squad. Heres the squad I believe should be selected.
James Tedesco (Fullback)
My number one fullback for the squad. Made his Origin debut in game three this year. Been in outstanding form this season for the Wests Tigers. He is a contender for Dally M Fullback of the year. Has never played for Australia before, the best fullback of 2016.
Caps: 0
Last Test: N/A
Darius Boyd (Fullback/Wing)
My back-up fullback for the squad. Outstanding fullback for the Broncos. Played fullback for Australia in the May Anzac Test in Newcastle. Darius has played 26 Origins for Queensland scoring 17 tries.
He has played 18 Tests for the Kangaroos (14 Wing, four Fullback). He has scored 14 tries at Test level and has never ever lost a Test. If not at fullback, he must be selected for the wing.
Caps: 18
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Josh Mansour (Wing)
Débuted for Australia at the 2014 Four Nations. Josh has been one of the most in-form wingers in the NRL for the back end of the season. He made his Origin début for NSW in 2016 and played all three match of the 2016 series.
Caps: 4
Last Test: 2014 Four Nations Final v New Zealand, Wellington
Brett Morris (Wing)
Brett has been in great form for the Bulldogs in 2016 since returning for from injury. He was a star for Australia at the 2013 World Cup scoring nine tries in the tournament, becoming the equal leading try scorer of the tournament alongside Jarryd Hayne. He has scored 23 tries at Test level in only 18 appearances for the green and gold.
TEST CAPS: 18
Last Test: 2014 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Sydney
Semi Radradra (Wing)
He is the best winger in the NRL. The Fijian-born star has been playing for Parramatta in the NRL since 2013. He is a two-time Dally M Winger of the year. Despite being born in Fiji, he is eligible for the Kangaroos under the residency eligibility laws.
He has represented Fiji on a number of occasions, including at the 2013 World Cup.
Caps: 1
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Greg Inglis (Centre/Fullback)
He is one of the greatest players of all time. Greg can play a number of positions in the backline. He made his Test début for Australia in 2006 on the wing while still played five-eighth for his club at the time.
If he is in my squad he would be my first choice right centre for every game. He has scored 28 tries in the green and gold in 35 matches. He would be my third-choice fullback for the squad. He is the captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Caps: 35
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Jarrod Croker (Centre)
In my opinion he is the best centre and best goal kicker in the NRL. He has never played for Australia or NSW before. He is a contender for Dally M Centre of the year. He is on the verge of breaking Hazem El Masri’s highest point scoring record.
He would be my second choice centre in the squad. He is the club captain of the Canberra Raiders. In my squad he is my first choice goal kicker.
TEST CAPS: 0
Last Test: N/A
JACK BIRD (Centre/Bench Utility)
The 2015 Rookie of the year is one of the great young talents of the game. Jack played his entire rookie season at five-eighth before shifting to centre for 2016 at the Sharks. He made is Origin début for NSW in game two this year coming of the bench and playing five-eighth later in the game.
Caps: 0
Last Test: N/A
Michael Morgan (Five-Eighth/Bench Utility)
The young Cowboys stars is another great young talent is the game. He made his Test début in May 2016 off the bench in Newcastle. Michael has played five origins for Queensland (all off the bench). He is my first choice bench utility.
TEST CAPS: 1
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Johnathan Thurston (Five-Eighth/Halfback)
Possibly the greatest player of all time and a future immortal Johnathan has played 33 Tests. He is the best player in the NRL.
He is the highest point scorer for Australia with 334 points. He would my first choice five-eighth for the team and second choice goal kicker. He is a premiership winning co-captain, Clive Churchill Medalist, four-time Dally M Medalist and Golden Boot Winner.
TEST CAPS: 33
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Cooper Cronk (Halfback)
He is a 28-Test veteran and has played 300 games for the Storm. Cooper will be Australia’s halfback for the series. He has a great kicking game and he is also a great runner of the ball. A smart and skilled player makers, I rate him one of the great players in the world.
TEST CAPS: 28
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Cam Smith (c) (Hooker)
The Storm, Queensland and Australia captain will lead the kangaroos for the tournament. He is one of the best hookers in the world. He has played 39 origins for Queensland and over 300 games for Melbourne. He is my first choice hooker and third choice goal kicker in the squad.
TEST CAPS: 44
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Jake Friend (Hooker)
Jake has never played Test match or Origin football in his career. In my squad he is the back-up hooker for Cameron Smith. He is a great player and leader for the Roosters and should be in the Kangaroos 24 man squad for England.
Caps: 0
Last Test: N/A
Matt Scott (Prop)
He is a premiership winning co-captain and a veteran of the game. He has played a number of Origins and Test matches. One of the best props in the game currently. He plays for the Cowboys and in my squad he is the first choice starting prop forward.
Caps: 18
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Aaron Woods (Prop)
The young Wests Tigers skipper is a future NSW and Australia captain. The best Prop for NSW made his Test début for Australia at the 2014 Four Nations. In my Test squad he is guaranteed a spot and the bench every week, if not in the starting side.
Caps: 5
Last Test: 2015 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Brisbane
Josh McGuire (Prop)
Josh is quite a good young player for the Broncos, never drops a ball. He made his Test début in 2016 in Newcastle against the Kiwis. He has played five origins for Queensland. In my squad he has a spot on the bench every week.
Caps: 1
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Ryan James (Prop)
A front-rower try scoring machine scored 13 tries in 2016 for the Titans. He has never played for Australia or NSW. In my books best front-rower of 2016.
TEST CAPS: 0
Last Test: N/A
Boyd Cordner (Second Row)
One of the best second-row forwards in the game, a premiership winner with the roosters Boyd is a great player for the 24 man squad. He has previously played for NSW and Australia. In my team he is a starting player.
TEST CAPS: 6
Last Test: 2014 Four Nations Final v New Zealand, Wellington
Josh Jackson (Second Row/Lock)
A NSW representative, Josh made his début for the Kangaroos off the bench in Wollongong against Samoa at the 2014 Four Nations. He has played in two grand finals for the Bulldogs and has played six Origins for NSW.
Caps: 2
Last Test: 2014 Four Nations Final v New Zealand, Wellington
Tyson Frizell (Second Row/Lock)
Tyson made his début for NSW in game two in 2016 scoring at Try in the second half. He then played in game three and scored another try. He is almost a certainty to be in the squad. In my team he is a starting second-rower.
Caps: 0
Last Test: N/A
Gavin Cooper (Second Row)
Gavin is a try-scoring second-rower for the Cowboys. His combination with Thurston is just superb. He has played one match for Queensland. He is one of the best second-rowers in the NRL.
Caps: 0
Last Test: N/A
Josh Papalii (Second Row)
Josh plays for Canberra in the NRL. He has played for Queensland and Australia previously. He looks set to be in the squad.
Caps: 8
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Paul Gallen (vc) (Lock/Prop)
Paul is a veteran of the game playing over 250 games for the Sharks. He is the incumbent NSW captain. He has played 32 matches for the Kangaroos. Paul will retire from representative football at the end of 2016. In my squad he is the vice-captain and starting front-rower alongside Matt Scott.
Caps: 32
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Corey Parker (Lock)
Corey is a by far the best Australian Lock in the NRL. He has already retired from the NRL but wants one series with the Kangaroos. He has played 19 Origins for Queensland. In my squad he is the starting Lock-Forward.
Caps: 13
Last Test: 2016 Anzac Test v New Zealand, Newcastle
Kangaroos Four Nations fixtures
* Australia v Scotland – October 28 GMT @ Hull
* Australia v New Zealand – November 5 GMT @ Coventry
* Australia v England – November 13 GMT @ London
The Kangaroos Squad will be announced on Monday 3 October. Share your squads in the comments.
Greg Moule
Guest
You can't pick all the usual forwards as they will not be enough to get on top of the Kiwi and English packs . Woods, Tamou, Klamer and the like are the tall lanky types who don't punch through the line enough . You also need a Junior Paulo who will have more impact and put some fear into the opposition . On the back of his runs the others will build from the momentum . He will get you over through the line . Greg
Frank Davey
Guest
High average, and consistently never poor.
Cheryl
Guest
I am going to be so dirty if Mal doesn't take Corey Parker .. He deserves to see out his career with his final berth in the Kangaroos , There is no one more deserving .
Chook
Guest
Not just old, his performance this season doesn't merit him being selected
Kiwijack
Guest
Has McLean declared who he will play for as he is of maori heritage.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Can run, which makes him one better than Leilua, who makes Ben Hannant look fast.
matth
Guest
Incumbency and good form at the back end of the season. Mid-season there was no way he could be considered. We have to be a little careful here. Basically there are 8 maybe 9 from QLD in that side, and yet QLD won the SOO yet again and had all three sides in the top 8. It seems there are a few reputations here being escalated due to club football without reference to the step up.
matth
Guest
I just keep seeing how the (pretty average) Broncos, tore the Raiders defence down that side during the season. I don't if we can risk that.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Hayne eh? Cant kick, cant pass, cant catch, cant Jesus Can run, can Snapchat!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Prop Boyd rated far too high imo -- he's a 35 minute player at club level, you could find a spot for Trbojevic over one of the back rowers too. I'd want Hayne in the squad somewhere; he's surely in calculation for the world cup in 2017, so leaving him out while carrying 3 specialist wingers and 2 fullbacks who also play wing (plus GI) seems a bit like wasted depth to me.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Inglis?! The guy who was asleep for 75% of the season and came alive in the final 6 rounds? BJ Leilua has been tearing up the NRL all season. He and Rapana are the deadliest pairing in the NRL - noone comes close. Name a pair. The Cronulla guys come close, but BJ is a beast. BJ must be a Blue in 2017 or I will eat my hat.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Croker has a great goalkicking record because BJ and Rapana score tries. The Raiders would be nothing without BJ and Rapana, they would lose 30% of their potency. Maybe 40%
Donde es Fuss
Guest
continuing the tradition of over rating someone because their team is in the GF. Maclean is average
Donde es Fuss
Guest
mccullough - please stop making jokes
Tim Brown
Guest
Why Thaiday???
The Barry
Roar Guru
My squad: Boyd Tedesco Radradra Mansour Morris Inglis Leilua Bird Thurston Morgan Cronk Smith McCullough James Klemmer Scott / Boyd Fifita Papalii Gillett / Graham Thaiday Jackson Cordner Gallen Finucane Gillett and Scott bracketed in case they're withdrawals. I'd love to find spots for Cartwright, McLean, Trbojevic and Merrin but can't squeeze them in. I don't think the final squad will look like this.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. That's great news - particularly from a NSW perspective. A rotation out of Paulo, Klemmer, McLean, Boyd, Fifita would be pretty devastating. We'll have Woods and Tamou probably.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Would they have had the Australians shaking in their boots? I'd certainly hope not, no players should cause that to them. What we know for a fact is that with their full back line or even with half of it missing and players in their correct positions, the Kiwis haven't scored less than 18 against Australia since 2013.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Alex. Hiku: Takairangi; Leuluai;, Vatuvei, and Whare are all fine players but I don't think they would have the Australians shaking in their boots. I hope they are all playing in the 4 Nations. I would still back Australia to win with these guys playing.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Interesting to see if any of them progress to the actual 24 man squad or if they're just there for training purposes; Napa being selected for the Prime Ministers XIII does raise questions in that respect. I could be incorrect. Regardless, I think Napa would be the only one close to selection without injury.