Kangaroos squad: Cleary injured, Meninga backs Tedesco after snubbing in-form trio as Latrell 'comeback' surprises

Mal Meninga has found no room for Dally M Medal winner Kalyn Ponga or Broncos breakout star Reece Walsh in his 21-man Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships while star halfback Nathan Cleary is in doubt with a knee injury.

Josh Addo-Carr has been picked but is under investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit for his involvement in a brawl at the Koori Knockout on the weekend. 

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the Kangaroos would await the outcome of that investigation before deciding Addo-Carr’s fate.

Valentine Holmes will not be available for selection for the first Tests after he was also fined $25,000 by the NRL after he posted a photo on Instagram of himself and a bag containing white powder. 

Cleary suffered a knee in the early stages of Sunday’s Grand Final win over Brisbane and the Penrith star is awaiting the results of scans to determine the extent of the damage. Daly Cherry-Evans will regain the Kangaroo No.7 jersey if the Clive Churchill Medal winner is ruled out.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell, who was one of Meninga’s most valuable players in last year’s Rugby League World Cup, also played at the Koori Knockout.

Meninga said he was surprised to see him feature, given Mitchell’s club, South Sydney, had said he was unavailable for Kangaroos selection because of a finger injury.

“The club said that he’s out because of injury, so we’ve just gone with that,” Meninga said. “I was a bit surprised, but the club gave him permission to do that.

“Knowing Latrell, he loves the Koori Knockout, he always gets involved, (he is) a very proud First Nations person. He’s got through that tournament well and I look forward to him having a good off-season and playing well next year.

“Off the back of the World Cup it was a pretty torrid year. He got his first injury through State of Origin in the training camp, and didn’t really seem to get going after that.

“He has had a bit of bad luck this year and I think the rest is going to do him the world of good, get his mind right and get his body right and be a force for the Rabbitohs next year.”

Meninga has largely stuck solid with the players who retained the World Cup trophy last year. 

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

James Tedesco remains as captain with Ponga and Walsh snubbed despite their stellar seasons. 

The Kangaroos are set to use utility backs like Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as back-ups or even Cameron Munster if the skipper gets injured. 

V’landys said it was a unanimous decision of all selectors that Tedesco remained captain and fullback.

Penrith’s Dylan Edwards has also mounted a strong case for representative honours over the past couple of seasons but has again been overlooked.

“We’ve gone with specialists, this is only a short campaign and we’ve only got seven days off the back of what a great Grand Final it was on Sunday,” Meninga said.

“We’ve got to have players playing in their rightful positions and that helps the cohesion and the preparation.”

Brisbane trio Kotoni Staggs, Tom Flegler and Selwyn Cobbo have been given their first call-up for Australia. Tabuai-Fidow is the only other uncapped player in the squad.

Stephen Crichton has opted to remain with Samoa after his impressive Grand Final performance put him on the verge of a Test debut with Australia. 

The Kangaroos kick off their Pacific Championships campaign against Samoa in Townsville on October 14 before facing New Zealand in Melbourne on October 28. The top two teams will square off in the final at Hamilton on November 3. 

Kangaroos squad 

James Tedesco (c)
Josh Addo-Carr
Patrick Carrigan
Daly Cherry-Evans
Nathan Cleary
Selwyn Cobbo
Lindsay Collins
Reuben Cotter
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Tom Flegler
Harry Grant
Payne Haas
Valentine Holmes
Ben Hunt
Liam Martin
Cameron Munster
Cameron Murray
Kotoni Staggs
Hamiso Tabuai Fidow
Jake Trbojevic
Isaah Yeo

Panthers star Jarome Luai will miss Samoa’s campaign as he tries to rehabilitate his injured shoulder which he carried through the preliminary final and grand final wins.

New coach Ben Gardiner said he was hoping Luai would still join the squad to help out during the tournament.

Eels prop Junior Paulo will captain the team which made history last year by qualifying for the World Cup final.

Roosters star Joseph Suaalii was not selected but rising stars Keenan Palasia, Heilum Luki, Justin Matamua, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Terrell May, Sualauvi Faalogo, Daejarn Asi and Karl Oloapu have been named.

Along with Paulo, fellow Origin representatives Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Murray Taulagi and Stefano Utoikamanu are in the squad.

Samoa squad

Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm)
Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks)
Luciano Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys)
Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)
Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys)
Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)
Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers)
Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)
Karl Oloapu (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Keenan Palasia (Brisbane Broncos)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)
Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm)
Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)

with AAP