Melbourne bolter Felise Kaufusi has been confirmed as one of seven Storm players named in Australia’s 24-man squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.
Kaufusi is one of six rookies included by coach Mal Meninga, with Melbourne teammates Cameron Munster and Jordan McLean also selected.
Uncapped trio Dane Gagai, Wade Graham and Tom Trbojevic are in the squad as well.
Billy Slater returns three years after his most recent appearance in the green and gold, while NSW State of Origin skipper Boyd Cordner has been appointed Cameron Smith’s deputy.
The most glaring omissions were Blues pair Josh Jackson and James Tedesco, the latter of whom scored a hat trick in the traditional Prime Minster’s XIII match two weeks ago.
Incumbent winger Blake Ferguson was also dropped due to form.
The Kaufusi selection is the biggest surprise, however Meninga insists the Storm second-rower deserved recognition for an outstanding season with the NRL premiers.
“Breakout year, on the verge of making Origin this year, 18th man for Queensland, outstanding back end of the year,” Meninga said of Kaufusi on Tuesday.
“Combinations, cohesions with Cooper (Cronk) and Will Chambers on that right edge for the Storm. He’s a big body, can play in the middle, he helps balance the footy team out.”
Meninga also said it was difficult to pick Tedesco, who is now likely to turn out for Italy, ahead of Slater, Darius Boyd and the more versatile Trbojevic and Gagai.
“We’ve got a great array of fullbacks playing our competition at the moment and we’ve got the Clive Churchill fullback in Billy Slater. He had a terrific Origin series,” Meninga said.
“We’ve got the incumbent in Darius Boyd; never lost a Test match in the green and gold jersey.
“There was just such a difficult decision but I think it come down to the versatility and around the ability to play a number of positions.”
The only omitted player Meninga called was Ferguson.
“Obviously he was clearly upset. He’s been a great player for the green and gold but I had to be honest with him around his form and he accepted that. We move on,” he said.
Boyd’s selection is subject to a medical clearance, with Josh Mansour on standby.
The Kangaroos’ gather in Sydney on Thursday before departing for an exhibition match against Papua New Guinea and Fiji on October 14.
Their first World Cup game is against England on October 27.
Darius Boyd
Will Chambers
Boyd Cordner (vice capt)
Cooper Cronk
Josh Dugan
Andrew Fifita
Tyson Frizell
Dane Gagai
Matt Gillett
Wade Graham
Valentine Holmes
Ben Hunt
Felise Kaufusi
David Klemmer
Josh McGuire
James Maloney
Jordan McLean
Michael Morgan
Cameron Munster
Billy Slater
Cameron Smith (capt)
Jake Trbojevic
Tome Trbojevic
Aaron Woods
republican
Guest
.....very Australian attitude, 'easy enough'.........
Albo
Guest
It will be the Storm team with a few extras ! Not sure individuals will have much chance to ruin the party with the game management in its usual capable hands.
hopeless knight
Guest
G train doesn't fit in the culture of the Kangaroos under Mal.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Gallen retired from all representative duties last year
big daddy
Guest
Australia and new Zealand wouldn't do that would they. all selections for rugby league world cup are above board everyone knows that. what would have happened if McGuire and kaufusi were picked for samoa or whover he played for last one and kaufusi for tonga before Australian team was announced. I wonder if Tedesco will make himself available for Australia next time after being rejected. these are the reasons why some fans think this is a joke.
republican
Guest
.....to be sure........
republican
Guest
.........oh I dont know, I reckon I am as accurate as the so called experts. Point is, Australia always assume they will win in sports they traditionally dominate, which are precious few these days, including League. NZ & England will be hungrier and more passionate, while we will be typically over confident, playing as a team of individuals.........
BrainsTrust
Guest
Daily Telegraph say full squads for every team, only to learn the PAcific islands are picking their squads after the others are announced and aren;t in there. So the Pacific islands are waiting for the richer boys to pick their squads and then getting the left overs.
Trillion Euro Extreme
Roar Rookie
From origin yes, but never officially from the Kangaroos.
Matth
Guest
Next interesting question. Will England finally be the bridge too far for Wayne Bennett. He got NZ a World Cup and the Dragons a premiership. He got Newcastle a preliminary final and a scapegoat for the next decade of results. But can he turn England into a contender?
Matth
Guest
How is this or an unlucky / not quite good enough 13? Tedesco Addo-Carr (love his speed and exuberance) Bird Roberts Oates Milford DCE Gallen Papali Jackson Campbell-Gillard Friend Vaughn Reserves: Boyd, Thaiday, Ferguson, Cooper.
big daddy
Guest
I don't know about Vaughan playing for kumuls. he last played for Italy in 2013 world cup.these are the vaguaries of world cup eligibility.
Cald
Guest
Gallen has retired from rep footy has he not?..
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
NZ vs ENG? You're having a laugh surely. USA vs Ireland is a lock.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Predictions have never been your strength to be fair Republican.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Spot on Bunney. Cronk is retiring. But you want the best for the RLWC and hence he is playing.
republican
Guest
.....it matters not who they select, because it will be a NZ v England final, to be sure.......
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I'd have Tedesco ahead of him every day of the week
Bunney
Roar Rookie
He can't pass. This is the key. As much as I dislike Dugan, if he could pass, he'd be a pretty darn good centre. But the ability to draw and pass is such a fundamental skill of a centre. You've got to be able to get on the outside of your opposite man, and then lock eyes on the opposing winger to see if he's coming in or staying out. If he is staying out, you dummy and go over yourself. If he comes in, you wait until he's committed and pass to your own winger who is now unmarked. Dugan gets the ball, and its like he has blinkers on: he just goes himself every time. The opposing winger just has to wait until Dugan has the ball in his hands for his defensive decision to be made: come in and tackle Dugan! The fact that Dugan never threatened against two makeshift centres in SOO 2 & 3 says a lot.
KingCowboy
Guest
Geoff I personally think he should be there but I can understand Mal deciding to go with Graham.