Boyd Cordner has been retained as captain in a Kangaroos merit team that features emerging NRL premiership-winning stars Tino Fa’asumaleaui and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
The Melbourne pair were joined by four Storm teammates – Christian Welch, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi – in the honorary outfit announced on Monday.
The final squad was deemed the best 17 from players selected for the end-of-season State of Origin squads.
Cordner’s Origin series lasted just one game before concussion again kept him on the sidelines, while injury and then non-selection meant Clive Churchill Medallist Papenhuyzen never made his anticipated Origin debut and South Sydney lock Cameron Murray was picked despite lasting just seconds in his lone appearance.
Despite the Blues’ loss, Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary’s efforts in guiding the Panthers to the NRL grand final were enough to unseat Test incumbent and victorious Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans for the No.7 jersey ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Canberra’s Dally M Medal winner Jack Wighton was picked in the centres while Daniel Tupou was named on the wing after a dominant year with Cordner’s Sydney Roosters.
Cleary, Welsh, Papenhuyzen, bench forward Angus Crichton and Fa’asumaleaui were the five uncapped players to be selected.
“There is no greater honour in rugby league than representing your country, and while the pandemic has stopped the Kangaroos from playing this year, it is still incredibly important for the (Australian Rugby League) Commission to acknowledge the best 17 from the Origin series,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said.
“This merit team includes some of the most exciting young players in the competition who I’m sure will be part of the Gallagher Kangaroos program for many years.
“Players like Nathan Cleary and Ryan Papenhuyzen bring people to our games.
“They (Origin players) sacrificed more than anyone in our game (by moving from a club bubble to an Origin bubble) to ensure we completed an entire schedule.
“I want to say thank you for those sacrifices.”
Kangaroos merit team
1. James Tedesco, 2. Josh Addo-Carr, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Christian Welch, 11. Boyd Cordner (captain), 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 15. Payne Haas, 16. Angus Crichton, 17. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Big Daddy
Guest
Interesting the NRL have released a fan based (picked) team and the only difference is no Cordner . Not sure who these fans are but the NRL must think the normal fan is stupid when they produce stuff like this.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Incumbency in a merit team is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Does the AFL pick somebody for All-Australian honours simply because they were picked the last 2 years?
Hazza
Guest
Rah Rah really upsets you doesn't it Nat? At least They have the ability to play proper internationals because many other countries play the sport unlike AFL and Rugby League
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Cordner selection is ludicrous. He missed half the season, most of Origin. If it was a team to play games I would understand. But incumbency on a merit team is ridiculous.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Game 1 cost the Blues 2 tries..the first after being run past by Gagai gave up on the play didn't stay on Coates who finished the movement beautifully, in the second he throws the ball carelessly which lead to the Munster match winner. Was outstanding in the second game fair enough but they all were. Game 3 was directly responsible for the Edrich Lee try by dropping the ball in his red zone one tackle before. So 'one of NSW best throughout the series' disagree, he had a great Game 2, an awful Game 1, and an average Game 3.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
No it isn’t. The players were picked from it by Australian selectors Meninga, Lockyer and Daley, but it’s based on their season as much as the series.
Pete
Guest
You don't think Tupou deserves to be there based on his Origin performances alone? Thought he was one of NSW's best throughout the series.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
I am talking about SOO, what this merit side is based on...
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Cleary engaged the line an NRL leading 158 times, Cherry came in 15th with 81. Cleary made 379 tackles in the regular season Cherry 348. Cleary played 21 games Cherry 20.
Big Daddy
Guest
JGK, look up AON , they're supposed to be the world's biggest insurance broker. It's amazing how much they turnover.
Paul
Roar Guru
I suppose the NRL's not fussed where the money comes from, as long as they can spend it. I'm guessing the sort of insurance brokering they do is for multinationals, given they operate in more than 40 countries. Pretty sure they wouldn't be interested in talking to me about contents insurance options.
JGK
Roar Guru
Weird concept. Given it’s all imaginary anyway, maybe they can play the AFL All Australian team at some imaginary hybrid version and we can have a computer simulated outcome sponsored by some organisation that no one has heard and or even fewer know what they do.
JGK
Roar Guru
Insurance Broker? Do they still exist? Shows how desperate the NRL is for money.
Big Daddy
Guest
Barry, don't worry it's what COVID does to people. I'm sure we will see a knighthood for Peter V'Landys in the New Year or Queens Birthday day honours list or at the minimum an AM or OA.
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
DCE sometimes didn't play like a half, but did what he needed to do to help his team win, if it meant tucking the ball under and taking a hit up or making 15+ tackles, he did it! DCE for mine, also.
Larry1950
Guest
So incumbency applies for NSW captain Boyd Cordner despite missing half a season & being down on form but doesn't apply to Daly Cherry-Evans who busted a gut for a weakened club side & led the supposed worst team ever to a State of Origin series win?
Nat
Roar Rookie
The league team will play interantionals again and they won't be a national embarrasment like the union mob.
1ETC
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised the 'Dancing Queen" or should I say King didn't get a mention lolol.
Big T
Guest
AFL and Rugby League are very awfully similar when it comes to International product hence why they both name a team that play nobody
matth
Roar Guru
So 6 Queenslanders out of 17. How did NSW lose?