Nicho Hynes will get his chance to prove he belongs in the representative ranks when he makes his Kangaroos debut in Saturday’s Pacific Championships clash with New Zealand.
Hynes and prop Tom Flegler are the only debutants in coach Mal Meninga’s 17-man line-up for the AAMI Park showdown which serves as a warm-up to next weekend’s final at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Both teams have already qualified for the decider after emphatic wins over Samoa in the opening two rounds.
Cameron Munster had been in doubt after being quarantined with an illness. Meninga said on Friday he expected the star No.6 to take part in their final hit-out late Friday before a call will be made on whether he will tackle the Kiwis, with Hynes on stand-by.
“He’s (Munster’s) a lot better but he probably needs to get all his energy back so we’ve still got well over 24 hours before the kick off so we’ll see what happens.
“I think he’ll be ready to play – he wants to play so it’s just up to his energy levels and to see if he’s up to a Test match.”
Valentine Holmes has been recalled after serving a one-game ban for being photographed with a bag of unidentified white powder during end-of-season Cowboys celebrations.
He will replace Selwyn Cobbo on the wing.
Nicho Hynes. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Payne Haas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have been rested after starting in the front row against Samoa with Jake Trbojevic and Tom Flegler.
Reuben Cotter has been elevated to the back row with Liam Martin back in the reserves.
“They’re all great players who deserve the opportunity to represent their country,” Meninga said.
“It’s really important that our full squad gets exposure to the intensity of international football to build confidence and match fitness for the duration of the Pacific Championships.
“Having all players take the field over the course of the first two games means we will be much better placed to handle any of the unknowns, like the possibility of injury or suspension, heading into a final.”
The Kiwis have listed Kieran Foran at No.9 after naming him on the bench then starting him in the 50-0 thrashing of Samoa last Saturday.
Fa’amanu Brown will be his back-up on the bench.
Wests Tigers star Jakiya Whitfeld will make her Test debut on the wing ahead of Julia Robinson (personal reasons) for the Jillaroos while Lauren Brown has replaced Keeley Davis at hooker.
Cowboys hooker Emma Manzelmann will makes her Test debut off the bench while Yasmin Clydsdale has also been added to the interchange with Caitlan Johnston out.
In the Sunday match, Justin Olam is the big absence for hosts Papua New Guinea, with their star man missing the clash with Fiji with a knee injury.
Their Super League contingent is back on deck after missing the win over the Cook Islands, with livewire hooker Edwin Ipape and goalkicking backrower Rhyse Martin in the run-on side, forcing Judah Rimbu and Jacob Alick to the bench.
Fiji also call in some English-based talent with King Vuniyayawa into the front row, with Gordon Whippy shifting to the interchange.
Pacific Championship teams
all times AEDT
Australian Jillaroos vs NZ Kiwi Ferns: Saturday, October 28, AAMI Park, Melbourne at 6pm
Jillaroos: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Jakiya Whitfeld 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Shannon Mato 9. Lauren Brown 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Kezie Apps 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Simaima Taufa 14. Emma Tonegato 15. Yasmin Clydsdale 16. Kennedy Cherrington 17. Emma Manzelmann 18. Shaylee Bent 18. Lauren Brown 19. Shenae Ciesiolka 20. Teagan Berry 21. Keeley Davis
Kiwi Ferns: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Abigail Roache 5. Shanice Parker 6. Tyla Nathan-Wong 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Mya Hill-Moana 9. Brooke Anderson 10. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 11. Anessa Biddle 12. Otesa Pule 13. Georgia Hale 14. Ash Quinlan 15. Najvada George 16. Jasmine Fogavini 17. Tiana Davison 18. Liaison Albert-Jones 19. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 20. Capri Paekau
Australian Kangaroos vs New Zealand: Saturday, October 28, AAMI Park, Melbourne at 8.10pm
Kangaroos: 1. James Tedesco 2. Dylan Edwards 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Val Holmes 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Ben Hunt 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Cameron Murray 12. Reuben Cotter 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Nicho Hynes 18. Liam Martin 19. Selwyn Cobbo 20. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 21. Payne Haas
Kiwis: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo 3. Matt Timoko 4. Joey Manu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Kieran Foran 10. Moses Leota 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joe Tapine 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Griffin Neame 17. Leo Thompson 18. Naufahu Whyte 19. Danny Levi 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Keano Kini
PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati: Sunday, October 29, Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby at 4.00pm
PNG Kumuls: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Benji Kot 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Epel Kapinias 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Valentine Richard 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin 14. Judah Rimbu 15. Wellington Albert 16. Keven Appo 17. Jacob Alick 18. Liam Horne 19. Nixon Putt 20. Junior Rop 21. Mackenzie Yei
Fiji Bati: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Maika Sivo 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Waqa Blake 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Tui Kamikamica 14. Noah Nailagoliva 10. King Vuniyayawa 11. Kitione Kautoga 13. Taane Milne 15. Caleb Navale 9. Penioni Tagituimua 12. Apisalome Saukuru 16. Gordon Whippy 19. Mesake Ravonu 18. Jason Qareqare 17. Watisoni Waqnaisaravi 20. Sirilo Lovokuro 21. Pio Seci
with AAP
Tony
Roar Guru
Looks overweight to me, and his defensive reads haven't got any better
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
They are being a bit cute . The final is obviously the big one and Tino, Haas and Martin will all play.. Will it work ? Sadly it probably will.
dogs
Roar Rookie
Even considering "tournament state", a bench with two middles, a half, and a dummy half (who's a bit small for the running forward role) does not seem like a good idea against that Kiwi pack.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Surely the Aussies play their best team against the Kiwis - no Tino or Haas is bewildering. And I'd have Liam Martin on the bench instead of Nicho.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed. They haven’t played for two weeks - Tino once in about eight weeks as you point out - so resting shouldn’t be a massive issue Emus teams for tour matches not tests
Nat
Roar Guru
Hynes May only be a one year wonder by virtue of the guys in front. It’s not a knock to say he is in the same generation as Cleary. I know he can cover a few roles but when he’s not a #14 then he is a spare with no real plan bar cover. For mine I think the NZ team is far more balanced. Poor old Foran though, he can find an injury and Mal has come to this game with 7 middles. #14 May have given Madge more options should something happen in the backs. Instead he’s going to have a buggered old bloke trying to switch out.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I would have read the women's team first anyway. I really wanted Emma Manzelmann to get a run and she has !
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
He's a gem. I have enormous respect for the way he plays the game.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I thought that right from the start. Also the Kiwis playing three weeks in a row is a little unfair imo.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
The final is not at eden park it's apparently at fmg stadium in Hamilton.It's advertised with tickets on sale at ticketek for there.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
That is a massive compliment to Edwards that he kept his spot. It is always nice to see hard work, resilience and toughness paying off.
Stewy76
Roar Rookie
Cobbo also a bit average in GF I thought.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
I actually don't mind it. It's what I expected him to do. It's strategically smart. If NZ win, which they should, they've beaten an under-strength team and haven't had a good look at what they'll face in the final. And the Roos will have had a timely kick up the jacksy to shake out any complacency. If NZ lose (unlikely, but it's a strange sport...) they will have lost to an under-strength team, which is even worse. On the flip side, if Roos fielded a full strength side and won this match, that would fire NZ up for the final and may be in danger of giving Aussies a false sense of security. Mal also gets a look at how a couple of other options in the backs shape up. Sure, maybe Tino could use another game under his belt - but he went okay last game. And yes, its a Test match etc, but really all people will remember in the end is who won the series.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Good to see Holmes back. I thought Cobbo was well below his best against Samoa. Don’t know why Mal’s giving Haas and Tino a break.
Stewy76
Roar Rookie
You don't like it!! Spare a thought for the poor bugger who makes a living out selling the little white letters for the names on the back of the jerseys.. you think he's happy Fa’asuamaleaui isn't playing?
dogs
Roar Rookie
Me neither, it's hardly a long tournament. It's still a test match, and so we should still be putting our best foot forward. And Tino in particular could probably do with more game time. One game since the end of August.
Tony
Roar Guru
No Tino no Haas? Don't like it.
Ellie
Roar Rookie
Nice to see the Jillaroos team list published ahead of the men's team. I knew it was just a matter of time before the women's game attracted more attention than the men's! :silly:
Simon G
Roar Rookie
I don't understand why Aus v NZ in the men's game wasn't the series opener. Yes Samoa made the WC Final last year, but with the squad available to them now they were always going to struggle. Now we are left with a dead rubber Test Match with both teams resting players before they play each other again next week in the Final. Seems like a waste of an opportunity where we could've had Samoa play this weekend, playing for a spot in the final.