The Australian Rugby League Commission has today selected the following players to represent the Australian Kangaroos in the 2016 Downer Test Match.
Four debutants – wingers Semi Radradra and Blake Ferguson and interchange players Josh McGuire and Michael Morgan – will play against the New Zealand Kiwis at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium on Friday, May 6.
The match will mark Mal Meninga’s first match as coach of the Kangaroos.
“This is a well-balanced squad and I’m extremely happy with it,” Meninga said.
“We have some experience as well as a handful of younger players who I am looking forward to seeing in this arena.
“It is the fourth most experienced line-up in Australia’s Test history but there will also be four players making their debuts.
“This is an incredibly important game for this group. I want to ensure the players have pride in the national jumper and my goal is to establish the Kangaroos back at the top of the international rankings.
“We have a Four Nations tournament at the end of this year and then a World Cup in 2017. This is the start of an important journey for the Kangaroos.”
The 2016 Kangaroos squad is:
Position |
Player |
NRL Club |
Junior Club |
Fullback |
Darius Boyd |
Brisbane Broncos |
Mudgeeraba Redbacks |
Wing |
Semi Radradra |
Parramatta Eels |
Wentworthville (NSW Cup) |
Centre |
Greg Inglis |
South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Bowraville Tigers |
Centre |
Josh Dugan |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
South Tuggeranong Knights/Valley Dragons |
Wing |
Blake Ferguson |
Sydney Roosters |
Wellington Cowboys/Earlwood Saints |
Five-Eighth |
Johnathan Thurston |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Souths Sunnybank |
Halfback |
Cooper Cronk |
Melbourne Storm |
Souths Acacia |
Prop |
Matt Scott |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Longreach Tigers |
Hooker |
Cameron Smith (c) |
Melbourne Storm |
Logan Brothers |
Prop |
Paul Gallen |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
Wentworthville |
Second Row |
Josh Papalii |
Canberra Raiders |
Logan Brothers |
Second Row |
Matt Gillett |
Brisbane Broncos |
Bribie Island Warrigals |
Lock |
Corey Parker |
Brisbane Broncos |
Logan Brothers |
Interchange |
Josh McGuire |
Brisbane Broncos |
Aspley |
Interchange |
Michael Morgan |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Townsville Brothers |
Interchange |
James Tamou |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Levin Knights/Paddington Tigers |
Interchange |
Sam Thaiday |
Brisbane Broncos |
Townsville Brothers |
18th man |
Aidan Guerra |
Sydney Roosters |
Townsville Brothers |
19th man |
Michael Jennings |
Parramatta Eels |
St Marys/West City Tigers |
For player profiles of the 2016 Kangaroos, click here
The Kangaroos will enter camp on Sunday night.
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