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Seven debutants named in Kangaroos squad

Posted October 7, 2008 12:33:00
Updated October 7, 2008 13:13:00

Australian selectors have named seven Test debutants in a 24-man squad for this year's rugby league World Cup, including four from the premiership-winning Manly side.

Forwards Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and winger David Williams from the Sea Eagles have all been included for the first time joining team-mates Brent Kite and Brett Stewart in a Manly-dominated squad.

But Dally M Player of the Year Matt Orford and fellow grand final half-back Cooper Cronk have been overlooked with Scott Prince named behind Johnathan Thurston for the number seven spot.

The other debutants are Canberra's Joel Monaghan and Terry Campese and Gold Coast workhorse Anthony Laffranchi.

Cam Smith relinquishes the captaincy to Darren Lockyer, one of only two Broncos players in the squad along with Justin Hodges.

Bullocking second rower Sam Thaiday and Karmichael Hunt have been overlooked reportedly for footballing reasons only and not for their part in a sexual assault investigation.

Storm enforcer Michael Crocker, who will play for UK Super League side Hull from next season, has been included despite coach Ricky Stuart saying he would not pick players who were leaving the NRL.

Craig Fitzgibbon returns to the Test arena after a momentous season for both the Roosters and New South Wales.

Wests Tigers Robbie Farah and Anthony Tupou, who will be linking up with Stuart at Cronulla next season, were both mentioned by Stuart as being unlucky to miss selection.

New Zealand has also announced its World Cup squad with 21-year-old Storm forward Sika Manu the only debutant included in the 24.

Injured pair Brent Webb, who missed Leeds Rhinos' UK Super League grand final win last weekend with a back problem, and Steve Matai, who injured his shoulder in Manly's premiership win, were also named.

Nathan Cayless has been reinstated as captain with Roy Asotasi out injured.

Asotasi joins Frank Pritchard on the sidelines while Ben Roberts, Jason Nightingale and Sonny Bill Williams have been omitted from the squad that played Australia in the Centenary Test.

Kangaroos squad:

Terry Campese (Canberra), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Michael Crocker (Melbourne), Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), Israel Folau (Melbourne), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Justin Hodges (Brisbane), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Brent Kite (Manly), Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast), Darren Lockyer (capt, Brisbane), Joel Mongahan (Canberra), Josh Perry (Manly), Steve Price (Warriors), Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Billy Slater (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Brett Stewart (Manly), Glenn Stewart (Manly), Brent Tate (Warriors), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), Anthony Watmough (Manly), David Williams (Manly).

New Zealand squad:

Nathan Cayless (Parramatta, captain), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (New Zealand Warriors), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Sam Rapira (NZ Warriors), Jerome Ropati (NZ Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Brent Webb (Leeds).

Tags: sport, rugby-league, australia, new-zealand

Comments (19)

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• Felix:

  07 Oct 2008 1:19:26pm

  Did Orford and Cronk get injured in the GF? Surely on form and ability, one of them would have to get a nod? Are we trying to fill quotas in Australian Rugby League teams now as well?

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  • charlie:

    07 Oct 2008 3:27:38pm

    I agree with the selectors that Scott Prince is the halfback to get the nod.But do not agree that Thurston was picked.I think the Dally M player maybe picked as the other one. But not certain and I'm a Manly supporter.

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• Dr J:

  07 Oct 2008 1:45:37pm

  Apart from Paul Gallen (thank you very much Ricky Stuart!!!) and Josh Perry, it would appear they have largely picked a side on form. Orford can probably consider himself a little unlucky, as can Cronk (excluding the GF).

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  • JG:

    07 Oct 2008 2:12:41pm

    Gallen's form's been good all year. He made the NSW side without Stuart's input. Also, Ricky Stuart coached one of the toughest and most consistent sides of the year, a side that came equal first on points. He's got one player in the Australian side. If Stuart had so much influence over the selectors, where's Kimmorley? He's been in career best form and has always played well for Australia.

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  • eagle:

    07 Oct 2008 2:24:28pm

    are you serious paul gallen agree ,josh perry are you kidding he has been great for manly and he has gone along way to helping manly get to the GF what have you been watching ?

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• Brad Izzard:

  07 Oct 2008 1:48:29pm

  I think this is an excellent team but i am wondering how josh perry made the team he is rubbish! If the starting line-up is not dominated by QLD players then they are not picking the best team.

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• EternalOptimist:

  07 Oct 2008 1:52:33pm

  Great to see another Campo in Australian colours.

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• Brendon:

  07 Oct 2008 1:54:54pm

  Nah, Orford is not allowed to be selected for any representative side. its the only reason he could have been left out of every single Blues team since he made his debut.
  
  And, to be honest, Cronk isnt much without Smith feeding the ball to him. Together, they are a great pair, but on his own, doesnt quite get there ahead of Prince or Thurston.
  
  

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• Ty:

  07 Oct 2008 1:57:58pm

  Surely Thaiday deserved a nod for consistency this year. He's unlucky, though this team will be hard to beat.

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• Arthur:

  07 Oct 2008 2:01:09pm

  Selections are fair enough I feel. Thurston can probably consider himself lucky, not because he is not good enough but because he hasn't played in the past few weeks and other good half backs have. Robbie Farrah probably fell victim to his own team not being in the finals.
  
  On the flip side the number of Manly players is reward for a good team effort, but good teams don't always provide the best rep players. It will be interesting how many of the Manly group actually make the their places for the main games.
  Those sour grapes taste bloody awful.

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• david :

  07 Oct 2008 2:15:11pm

  You gotta be jokin! bronks 2 after losin to storm in a schemozzle to storm slidin to oblivion. get real gallop & realize the game has been perverted by the manly heavies for about 40 years too long; quayle etc.

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• Geoff:

  07 Oct 2008 2:19:16pm

  Is Karmichael Hunt injured? He was nothing but inspirational this year. And as far as the other selections go they are fair but it really goes to show if you want to play rep footy you have to be in a winning side. I hope someone like a Craig Wing doesn't regret going to the Rabittohs, they need him to lead them next year.

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• pedro:

  07 Oct 2008 2:24:05pm

  I cant see the Kiwis having any trouble beating this Kangaroos line-up.......?

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• Bard:

  07 Oct 2008 2:26:29pm

  Go the "Wolfman".
  
  I wonder how well the Manly / Melbourne players will combine in a Kangaroos jersey?

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• algernon:

  07 Oct 2008 2:27:35pm

  Some players in this side a past their best and clearly have favour with the coach and selectors. One has to question what Scott Prince is doing in this squad.

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• More than a name:

  07 Oct 2008 2:34:35pm

  Get rid of Hdges. He's a selfish joke of a player.
  I've never seen a top grade player walk so much on field-he has no drive.
  If he would learn how to offload Brisbane would have been atleast in the final!
  We need to get past the name and pick on form and true skill.

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  • Julie:

    07 Oct 2008 2:46:31pm

    I'm a Roosters fan who is very happy for Craig Fitzgibbon (and for our Kiwi selections), but why is Lockyer captain instead of Smith? Objectively, the Manly players deserve to be there, although why weren't they ALL selected, mourns the Manly Daily (er.... Daily Telegraph. Did anyone else think that paper's coverage of grand final week was a disgrace)?
    
    I'm extremely happy for Terry Campese most of all. To me he was the player of the season.

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    • Mark:

      07 Oct 2008 3:13:43pm

      Julie: Lockyer is the captain, Smith only filled in for one test due to injury. Much the same way Gilly filled in for Ricky Ponting.
      
      How did Perry and MIA Watmough get in ahead of Sam Thaiday, Chris Heighington, Dallas Johnson? Absolute joke selections.
      
      And Karmichael Hunt? He is made for rep footy. However I can only disagree with the selection of Perry and Watmough so very hard to see where Hunt would fit in.

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    • Eaglebeagle:

      07 Oct 2008 3:16:00pm

      I am a 45-year Manly fan and obvioucly happy to see the boys get a fair representation in the side.
      But I agree about Terry Campese, I am sure he will get a run in the series when they rest Locky and I am also sure he will prove a handful.
      People who are again writing the Raiders off for 09 are (same as this year) not looking closely enough at the balance of their squad.
      

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