Fox League’s Corey Parker and Michael Ennis have named their Australian Kangaroos team to take the field on October 15 — and some shock players have earned a call-up.
Both have picked James Tedesco at fullback, with Parker tipping him to wear the captain’s armband and succeed backrower Boyd Cordner who was Australia’s last captain in 2019.
Ennis and Parker have also picked the back five, with Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton forging a centre partnership, while Valentine Holmes and Xavier Coates have been tipped to play on the wing.
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Both teams also boast Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster in the halves, which is a selection Ennis believes is a “no-brainer” alongside Ben Hunt and Harry Grant as the dummy-half rotation.
“Ben Hunt at dummy-half, there has been some great dummy-halves this year… but I have gone with the Queensland hooker rotation in Hunt and Harry Grant,” Ennis said.
Parker, with a selection he conceded was controversial, chose Roosters prop Matt Lodge to wear the No.8 jersey.
Lodge has been in fine form this season and Parker believes if the side is picked on the past season’s performances, he must be in Meninga’s side.
“If you are picking on form, there is no doubt Matt Lodge is in that conversation,” Parker said.
“There will probably be people say he doesn’t deserve an Australian jumper because of his past, but how long do you have to keep playing before your past stops coming up.”
Isaah Yeo takes the No.13 jersey in both teams, while Ennis tipped in-form Eels backrower Shaun Lane to line-up on an edge.
Lane was excellent in his side’s big preliminary final victory over the Cowboys and Parker agreed he needs to be on the plane headed to the World Cup.
“Shaun Lane for me has been the standout this year for the Parramatta side and I think he deserves his position there,” Ennis said.
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“Given the fact that Australia hasn’t played for two years, the best players and the in-form players deserve to be picked.
“In terms of Australian back-rowers, I think Shaun Lane, and the other one I argued with was Hudson Young… he deserves to be in the squad.”
“Shaun Lane should he be in the squad, yes he should be,” Parker said.
Cowboys enforcer Reuben Cotter was picked in Ennis’ team only, while Angus Crichton featured in both teams, starting and off the pine.
ENNIS’ KANGAROOS TEAM
1. James Tedesco
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Jack Wighton
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
9. Ben Hunt
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Cameron Murray
12. Shaun Lane
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Harry Grant
15. Angus Crichton
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Patrick Carrigan
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PARKER’S KANGAROOS TEAM
1. James Tedesco
2. Valentine Holmes
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Jack Wighton
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Matt Lodge
9. Harry Grant
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Angus Crichton
12. Cameron Murray
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Ben Hunt
15. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
16. Jake Trbojevic
17. Patrick Carrigan
