Squads and Draw for the Six-Nation Pacific Championships

Twenty-one players, including 12 Queensland Origin stars, have been selected in Kangaroo coach Mal Meninga’s Australian squad for the six-nation Pacific Championships which kick-off on Saturday.

The 12 Maroons in the Meninga’s squad are Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly), Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane), Harry Grant (Storm), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys), Ben Hunt (Dragons), Cameron Munster (Storm) and Hamiso Tabua-Fidow (Dolphins).

Eight members of Meninga’s squad played in this month’s magnificent grand final in which Penrith pulled off a rare hat-trick of premierships with a 26-24 win over Brisbane who appeared headed for the club’s seventh title when leading 24-8 in the second half.

Meninga has selected four rookies in his squad; Broncos trio, Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs and forward Thomas Fegler while the NRL’s newest franchise, the Dolphins, has its first club international in the flying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Three of them – Cobbo, Staggs, and Tabu-Fidow will make their debuts in the opening game of the Championship against a powerful Samoa side at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday.

Injuries to backline stars Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic paved the way for Queensland-based Staggs and Tabuai-Fidow, to start against Samoa.

The six nations competing in the Pacific Championships are: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, PNG, and the Cook Islands.

Tonga is missing from the tournament as they are playing a historic three-Test series against England in the UK this month.

The Australian Jillaroos will play the first of their two internationals against New Zealand in their opening game before the Kangaroos kick off their campaign in Townsville against Samoa.

Karyn Murphy medal winner and the game’s best player, Tamika Upton, is set to make her international debut as one of the 21 players in coach Brad Donald’s exciting squad.

Donald has stuck with the core of players who landed last year’s World Cup but he has declared Upton will wear the number 1 jumper for this series.

“We’ve got a few fullbacks but Upton has been outstanding all year,” said Donald after his squad was revealed.

“She is a special player.”

The other new faces in the Donald’s Jillaroos squad are Emma Manzelmann and Jess Eliston.

The PNG Kumuls make their first appearance hosting the Cook Islands at Santos National Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday, October 15.

The other nations competing are the New Zealand Kiwis and the Fiji Bati, who make their first appearance in week two of the Championship.

The final of the Pacific Cup will be played at Hamilton in New Zealand on November 4 with a Pacific Bowl final scheduled to be played in Port Moresby at the Santos National Stadium, formerly known as Lloyd Robson Oval on November 5.

The ground, with an all-seat capacity of 15,000, will struggle to hold the fanatical supporters who love their rugby league.

Meninga has displayed loyalty to NSW Origin captain and Test incumbent, James Tedesco, as his preferred number one.

While Tedesco may not be considered the game’s best fullback at the moment by some critics, in Meninga’s eyes, he has done the job many times for Australia previously and has earned his place.

Meninga though has already been forced to make two key changes with two-time Clive Churchill medal winner Nathan Cleary and flying winger Josh Add-Carr both withdrawing from his squad.

It’s opened the door for Dally M winner, Nicho Hynes from the Cronulla Sharks to pull on the green and gold.

Below are the 12 Queensland Origin players selected and their Origin and Australian records.

Queensland Players Origins Tests

Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane) 6 5

Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly) 22 18

Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane) 4 0

Lindsay Collins (Roosters) 9 3

Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) 4 2

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 12 5

Thomas Flegler (Brisbane) 3 0

Harry Grant (Storm) 8 5

Valentine Holmes (Cowboys) 16 19