Kangaroos squad to be first since 1988 without a Broncos player

THE Broncos' 25-year run of having players in the Australian team has been broken, with none picked for next week's Test against New Zealand.

BRISBANE'S unbroken 25-year run of supplying players to the Australian rugby league team has ended, with no Bronco picked for the October 13 Test against New Zealand.

In a twist, two 2012 Broncos, fullback Josh Hoffman and Dragons-bound utility back Gerard Beale, have been named by New Zealand for the Townsville Test and South Sydney-bound Ben T'eo is the 18th man for Australia.

The Broncos had three players, Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant, in the Kangaroos team that beat New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Test in April, with youngster Matt Gillett as 18th man.

None of the four was available for next week with Hodges (back), Thaiday (shoulder), Hannant (elbow), Gillett (shoulder) having operations or in rehab.

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Sam-Thaiday

The only period since 1988, when the Broncos entered the top competition, in which Brisbane had no "official" representation in the Kangaroos was 1995-97 when the Super League-aligned Broncos players were not considered for the ARL team.

In 1997, several Broncos played international football but Super League Tests were not recognised in official records.

NRL premiers Melbourne have four players in the 17.

Tryscoring second-rower Ryan Hoffman has been rewarded for his excellent season with inclusion alongside the Storm's big three of Billy Slater, Clive Churchill Medallist Cooper Cronk and skipper Cameron Smith.

In-form Canterbury stars Ben Barba and Josh Reynolds were left out of the team, with Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah filling the utility role on the interchange bench.

Despite their State of Origin victory, Queensland haven't enjoyed the dominance in selection they have in recent years, with nine Maroons, Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston, Cronk, Matt Scott, Smith, Nate Myles and David Shillington picked.

The squad: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Josh Morris, Brett Morris, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, James Tamou, Greg Bird, Paul Gallen, Nate Myles. Interchange: Robbie Farah, Ryan Hoffman, David Shillington, Tony Williams. 18th man: Ben Te’o