Cronulla pair Valentine Holmes and James Maloney along with St George Illawarra duo Tyson Frizell and Josh Dugan have been included in a 20-man Australia squad for the Kangaroos’ Anzac Test against New Zealand.
Australia will face the Kiwis in Canberra next Friday night with Holmes and Dugan named to start in the backline, while Dragons forward Frizell is listed to come off the bench.
Maloney has been named as 19th man and will provide cover for North Queensland five-eighth Johnathan Thurston who has been out with a calf injury.
The match is a one-off Test but players will already have one eye on the World Cup at the end of the year and be out to impress Australia coach Mal Meninga.
Meninga said Kangaroos selectors had looked to reward those who played in Australia’s successful Four Nations campaign at the back end of last year.
“This is an incredibly important game for us, coming in a World Cup year,” he said.
“Not only do these players have established combinations with each other but they are also well aware of our values.
“However, the State of Origin series and then the remainder of the NRL premiership will be major considerations when we look to name our squad for the World Cup later this year.”
The match will be Kangroos’ captain Cameron Smith’s 50th Test.
Smith will become the second play to play 50 Tests for Australia after another Queensland legend, Darren Lockyer. He will also join Clive Churchill as Australia’s second-most capped captain.
“Any Test match is important but the fact this will be Cameron’s 50th Test match certainly adds some extra significance,” Meninga said.
“Cameron’s incredible milestones will form a significant part of our week.”
The Kangaroos squad will assemble in Canberra on Monday.
Australia squad:
Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters), Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra), Will Chambers (Melbourne), Valentine Holmes (Cronulla), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers), Cameron Smith (c) (Melbourne), David Klemmer (Canterbury), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Matt Gillett (Brisbane), Trent Merrin (Penrith). Interchange: Michael Morgan (North Queensland), Josh Papalii (Canberra), Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane). 18th man Shannon Boyd (Canberra), 19th man James Maloney (Cronulla), 20th man Justin O’Neill (North Queensland)
