Darren Lockyer added to Australian selection panel in Kangaroo overhaul
AUSTRALIA’s rugby league selection panel has been overhauled to include one of the greatest players of the modern era, former Test skipper Darren Lockyer.
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AUSTRALIA’s rugby league selection panel has been overhauled to include one of the greatest players of the modern era, former Test skipper Darren Lockyer.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the streamlined panel of Lockyer and Bob Fulton will take the Kangaroos into next year’s prestigious World Cup in Australia.
Fulton and Lockyer will be appointed ‘lead selectors’ of NSW and Queensland respectively, with both states also providing a further advisory selector. NSW will name Bob McCarthy, while Queensland is yet to appoint their second selector.
The entire panel is expected to be finalised within the next fortnight before Australia’s one-off Test against New Zealand in Newcastle on May 6.
ARL Commission chairman John Grant will be chairman of selectors. Essentially though, the Kangaroos team will be run by Fulton, Lockyer and new head coach Mal Meninga.
Fulton is an Immortal and Meninga and Lockyer are locked in a two-way fight to join him, with the ninth Immortal to be announced later this year.
Previous Test selectors Allan Smith and Des Morris — both from Queensland — have been moved along.
The previous Test selection panel was Fulton, McCarthy, Smith and Morris.
The changes come as part of an extensive review into the Kangaroos’ operations, initiated after a Four Nations final loss New Zealand in 2014 at Wellington.
The Daily Telegraph can confirm Lockyer has been formally approached and will accept the highly-regarded role.
An NRL spokesman said the final make-up of the panel was still being finalised.
“As part of the review into the Australian Kangaroos, there have been a number of changes to enhance the Kangaroos program, including the appointment of Mal Meninga as dedicated coach,” the spokesman said.
“Following the review, there have also been changes to the selection panel. Both NSW and Queensland have nominated one lead selector each. Bob Fulton will be the NSW nomination while Darren Lockyer will be the Queensland nomination. They will sit on the panel alongside the chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, John Grant.”
Fulton’s legendary status, coupled with Lockyer’s contemporary ideas, places Australia ideally heading into the Four Nations in England after this season.
It is unlikely that either Smith or Morris would become Queensland’s second selector. The NRL is working with QRL officials to nail down the right candidate.
Grant will be chairman of selectors but his input into which team is chosen would be minimal. McCarthy has been a stalwart selector who has impressed current players with his knowledge of the modern day game. Melbourne’s Cam Smith will lead the Kangaroos for the Test match at Hunter Stadium.
Originally published as Darren Lockyer added to Australian selection panel in Kangaroo overhaul
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