Kalyn Ponga has been overlooked for the Kangaroos after the saga surrounding his representative availability, with four-time premiership winner Dylan Edwards taking the fullback spot at the expense of captain James Tedesco.
Australian coach Mal Meninga unveiled his 21-man squad at a Sydney Cricket Ground luncheon on Monday, with Panthers front-rower Lindsay Smith one of eight new faces.
Tedesco was joined by Manly and Queensland No.7 Daly Cherry-Evans in being dropped from Australia’s last Test side. On top of that, presumptive first-choice halves Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster weren’t available due to upcoming surgery.
With Cleary and Munster unavailable, Mitchell Moses (Eels), Tom Dearden (Cowboys) and Matt Burton (Bulldogs) were the three halves selected.
The decision to also overlook Cherry-Evans was a clear indication Meninga and his selection panel – Cameron Smith, Laurie Daley, Boyd Cordner and Darren Lockyer – have one eye on the 2026 World Cup.
“It was a difficult conversation [with Tedesco], it is a bit of an evolution for the team, certainly on the back of what happened at the Pacific Championships last year,” said Meninga, in reference to the historic heavy loss to New Zealand.
Kalyn Ponga has been overlooked for the Kangaroos.Credit: Getty
“‘Teddy’ played game one for NSW, Dylan Edwards played in games two and three, so we chose [Edwards] on Origin form.
“The selectors and I chose Dylan who has been in the wings for a long time. We decided to go with him. Dylan is the No. 1 fullback in the game.”
Ponga was threatened with sanctions if he didn’t make himself available for the Pacific Championships before he said he was available to play. Meninga said the fact he was viewed as a specialist fullback – not his initial reluctance to wear the green and gold – was why he was not picked.
Panthers premiership-winning prop Smith had been on the radar for a couple of years, said Meninga, and someone who “has played every game this year, is very durable, and his finals series has been excellent.”
Australia’s 21-man squad
- Fullbacks: Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
- Wingers: Zac Lomax (Dragons), Xavier Coates (Storm)
- Centres: Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Bradman Best (Knights)
- Halves: Mitchell Moses (Eels), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
- Hookers: Harry Grant (Storm), Reece Robson (Cowboys)
- Props: Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Lindsay Smith (Panthers), Mitch Barnett (Warriors)
- Second-rowers: Angus Crichton (Roosters), Hudson Young (Raiders), Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
- Locks: Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
- Utilities: Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Penrith teammate Isaah Yeo will captain Australia, with Harry Grant his vice-captain.
Tom Trbojevic and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are the other fullback options, while Clive Churchill Medal winner Liam Martin was picked despite carrying a shoulder and rib cartilage injury.
Cowboys stars Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson have been included, while Ben Hunt has clung to his jumper. Dragons teammate Zac Lomax is in line to make his Kangaroos debut.
The Australian preliminary squad was reduced from 30 men to 21 on Monday.
Jillaroos snub Dally M Medal winner
Billie Eder
Dally M Medal recipient and premiership winner Olivia Kernick has been overlooked for the Australian squad for the 2024 Pacific Championship.
Kernick, who scored the Roosters’ first and last tries in the NRLW grand final on Sunday, was left out of Jillaroo’s coach Brad Donald’s side at the team announcement on Monday.
Roosters second rower Olivia Kernick won the 2024 NRLW Dally M Player of the year.Credit: Getty Images
Instead, Donald has opted to go with NSW captain Kezie Apps, Knights edge-forward Yasmin Clydsdale and Eels skipper Mahalia Murphy, with Donaldson citing Apps’ versatility as the reason she was picked over Kernick, despite the Tigers skipper being out injured for most of the NRLW season.
Murphy’s return marks nine years since the 30-year-old made her first and only appearance for the Jillaroos, while veterans Millie Elliott, Isabelle Kelly and Tiana Penitani have also been chosen.
Apps has been named as Jillaroos co-captain alongside experienced halfback Ali Brigginshaw, while Sharks hooker Quincy Dodd, Eels fullback Abbi Church, Tigers prop Sarah Togatuki, Titans prop Jessika Elliston and Brisbane hooker Olivia Higgins are five potential Jillaroos debutantes.
The Jillaroos will play Papua New Guinea’s Orchids in Brisbane on October, 18 and a Test against the Kiwi Ferns in Christchurch on October 27.
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