Date: 26/4/15
The Australian Rugby League Commission has today selected the following players to represent the Holden Kangaroos in the ANZAC Test.
Four players – Alex Johnston, Josh Dugan, Will Chambers and Trent Merrin – have been selected to make their Test debuts against New Zealand at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday, May 1.
Chambers will become the 800th player to represent Australia, while Johnston made his NRL debut exactly one year ago yesterday.
Melbourne’s Cameron Smith has been chosen to lead the Kangaroos for the 20th time. He joins only five players who have led his country in 20 or more Tests – Darren Lockyer (38), Clive Churchill (27), Brad Fittler (25), Mal Meninga (24) and Wally Lewis (24).
“We have a lot of experience in this squad but it is also important to be able to test some of the younger players at this level,” Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the likes of Alex Johnston, Josh Dugan and Will Chambers perform at this level, alongside our more experienced players like Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.”
Sheens will take charge of the Kangaroos for the 31st time since 2009.
The 2015 Holden Kangaroos squad is:
Position Player NRL Club Junior Club
Fullback Billy Slater Melbourne Storm Innisfail
Wing Alex Johnston South Sydney Rabbitohs La Perouse Panthers
Centre Greg Inglis South Sydney Rabbitohs Bowraville Tigers
Centre Will Chambers Melbourne Storm Nhulunbury, NT
Wing Josh Dugan St George Illawarra Dragons South Tuggeranong Knights/Valley Dragons
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 © Melbourne Storm Logan Brothers
Prop Aaron Woods Wests Tigers Leichhardt Juniors
Second Row Greg Bird Gold Coast Titans West Maitland Red Dogs/ Pumpkin Pickers
Second Row Sam Thaiday Brisbane Broncos Townsville Brothers
Lock Corey Parker Brisbane Broncos Logan Brothers
Interchange Luke Lewis Cronulla Sharks Blacktown City
Interchange Trent Merrin St George Illawarra Dragons Shellharbour Sharks
Interchange Nate Myles Gold Coast Titans Southern Suburbs / Gordonvale
Interchange James Tamou North Queensland Cowboys Levin Knights/Paddington Tigers
18th man Daly Cherry-Evans Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Mackay Brothers
19th man Michael Jennings Sydney Roosters St Marys/West City Tigers
20th man Josh Papalii Canberra Raiders Logan Brothers
Junior Kangaroos squad
Young NRL prospects including Jackson Hastings (Sydney Roosters), Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra), Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks) and Robert Jennings (Penrith Panthers) have been selected to play in the Junior Kangaroos squad to face their Kiwi counterparts on Saturday night at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.
The Junior Kangaroos will play the Junior Kiwis in the curtain-raiser to the Pacific Test Double Header on Saturday, May 2.
The squad, which will be coached by Justin Holbrook, will assemble on the Gold Coast tomorrow, April 27.
2015 Junior Kangaroos
1 Jackson Hastings Sydney Roosters
2 Brenko Lee Canberra Raiders
3 Robert Jennings Penrith Panthers
4 Euan Aitken St George Illawarra Dragons
5 Valentine Holmes Cronulla Sharks
6 Drew Hutchison St George Illawarra Dragons
7 Ashley Taylor Brisbane Broncos
8 Joe Ofahengaue Brisbane Broncos
9 Jayden Berrell Brisbane Broncos
10 Matthew Lodge Wests Tigers
11 Coen Hess Nth Qld Cowboys
12 Tepai Moeroa Parramatta Eels
13 Tevita Pangai Junior Canberra Raiders
14 Tyrell Fuimaono Parramatta Eels
15 Salesi Funaki Wests Tigers
16 Jayden Nikorima Brisbane Broncos
17 Alex Twal Parramatta Eels
18 Jai Arrow Brisbane Broncos
Coach Justin Holbrook Sydney Roosters
