Date: 26/4/16

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 ©   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