Seven Maroons have been called up to make their first appearances for Australia as part of the 11 Queenslanders named in Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad for the World Cup.
Patrick Carrigan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Cameron Munster, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi were all included in a powerful Kangaroos squad for the tournament, which begins on October 15.
Carrigan, Collins, Cotter, Fa’asuamaleaui, Grant, Nanai and Taulagi have all been selected for Australia for the first time.
North Queensland were rewarded for their outstanding season, with veteran Holmes leading a posse of four Cowboys who made the cut.
But a winning State of Origin series as skipper of Queensland was not enough to protect Daly Cherry-Evans’ grasp on the Australian captaincy, with the incumbent Test halfback losing the leadership to Roosters and NSW skipper James Tedesco.
Cherry-Evans was not even made vice-captain, with another Blue – South Sydney’s Cameron Murray – acting as Tedesco’s deputy in a complete changing of the guard for the Kangaroos’ leadership.
Cherry-Evans will now be under pressure to retain his Australian No.7 jersey, with NSW halfback Nathan Cleary breathing down his neck after leading Penrith to back-to-back premierships.
Meninga though insists that the elevation of Tedesco to the Test captaincy is not an indicator that DCE’s time in the green and gold may be coming to an end.
“Daly is the incumbent (Test halfback),” Meninga said. “He was there three years ago and had a very good season, particularly Origin.
“We will consider all options. That is what the tour is all about. Everyone has the opportunity to prove that they deserve to be there at the back end of the tour.”
Carrigan, Cotter, Nanai and Taulagi have enjoyed rocket rides of seasons this year – turning good club form into exceptional Origin debuts, which have now been capped with national selection.
Australia should coast through their pool matches, which begin against Fiji on October 16, before clashes with Scotland (October 22) and Italy (October 30). The quarter finals then begin in the first weekend of November.
AUSTRALIAN WORLD CUP SQUAD: Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs, NSW), Matt Burton (Bulldogs, NSW), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels, NSW), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos, QLD), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles, QLD), Nathan Cleary (Panthers, NSW), Lindsay Collins (Roosters, QLD), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys, QLD), Angus Crichton (Roosters, NSW), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans, QLD), Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs, NSW), Harry Grant (Storm, QLD), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys, QLD), Ben Hunt (Dragons, QLD), Liam Martin (Panthers, NSW), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs, NSW), Cameron Munster (Storm, QLD), Cameron Murray (Vice Capt, Rabbitohs, NSW), Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys, QLD), Murray Taulagi (Cowboys, QLD), James Tedesco (Capt, Roosters, NSW), Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles, NSW), Jack Wighton (Raiders, NSW), Isaah Yeo (Panthers, NSW)
