Players selected for Kangaroos not guaranteed selection for NSW Origin side

NSW coach Laurie Daley has stressed the nine players chosen in coach Mal Meninga’s extended Kangaroos squad aren’t guaranteed selection in the Blues side.

YOU may be a Roo, but not necessarily a Blue.

NSW coach Laurie Daley has stressed the nine players chosen in coach Mal Meninga’s extended Kangaroos squad aren’t guaranteed selection in the NSW side.

On Wednesday Meninga named a powerful yet predictable 20-man Test squad to play New Zealand in Canberra next week.

The squad boasts nine NSW players — Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan, Aaron Woods, David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Trent Merrin, Tyson Frizell, Shannon Boyd and James Maloney.

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Trent Merrin’s selection has raised some eyebrows. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

Daley told The Daily Telegraph’s Loz and Dog Show that being chosen for Australia didn’t mean automatic selection in the NSW side for State of Origin I on May 31.

“No one is guaranteed,” Daley stressed. “When you play for Australia, you have to perform. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to play for NSW.

“There are different selectors and different points of view on who should be there and who shouldn’t.”

With a short preparation and possibly onto two training sessions, Meninga essentially stuck solid with the team that won last year’s Four Nations final in Liverpool.

Many fans have questioned Merrin’s selection given he has struggled for Penrith this season, with Cronulla’s Wade Graham considered unlucky to miss out.

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Boyd may also struggle to find a place in Origin I, while Maloney will be heavily considered for NSW but his statistics are down on last year and Matt Moylan is the incumbent five-eighth.

Meninga chose Maloney as a back-up for Johnathan Thurston, who has missed the past two NRL games with a calf injury.

Boyd and Justin O’Neill are also on standby should there be any late injuries in this weekend’s NRL round.

Meninga defended Merrin’s selection.

“Trent is playing in a team that is struggling at the moment. I still think he is trying hard and he’s working really hard for the team,’’ Meninga said.

“His efforts with the ball and in defence are pretty good.”

Mal Meninga has stuck with players he can trust. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Meninga said he had chosen a squad rewarded for their Four Nations win last year.

“We have acknowledged their efforts from last year. It’s only common sense because of the short turnaround to name players that have been part of the process before,” Meninga said.

“Not only do these players have established combinations with each other, but they are also well aware of our values.

“This Test was picked on loyalty and for their success in the Four Nations but that doesn’t mean we will be true to that at the back-end when we get through the season.”

Meninga said he “agonised” over whether to pick fullback Billy Slater.

“But we felt Darius Boyd deserves to hold his spot,” Meninga said. “He was man-of-the-match in the Four Nations final and he’s in great form at the moment.”

The Kangaroos squad to face New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Test.

Meninga said he was “very confident” Thurston would play for North Queensland against Parramatta on Friday night in Townsville and then back-up for the Test match.

“He is an experienced player. Knowing Johnathan, he will want to play the Test match if fully fit. He will come into camp and go through a medical,” Meninga said.

“That’s the reason James Maloney is 19th man, just in case.”

Australia will assemble in Canberra on Monday. The rugby league World Cup will be held later this year.