Ahead of the announcement of the Australian Test squad to play New Zealand at Hunter Stadium on May 6, we in the NRL.com offices have come up with the side we would pick to represent the Kangaroos.
Tony Webeck - Chief Queensland Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Josh Dugan, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Semi Radradra, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Paul Gallen, 11 Matt Gillett, 12 Greg Bird, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 James Tamou, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Josh Papalii.
It's a moral conundrum I'm not comfortable with but if Semi Radradra has declared himself available for selection for Australia I don't know how Mal Meninga can overlook the NRL's best winger for the past two years. Inglis has to sacrifice his fullback position for the greater good and Greg Bird brings the toughness you need in the rep arena. Michael Morgan is now the perfect representative super-sub.
Chris Kennedy - National Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Josh Dugan, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Josh Mansour, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 James Tamou, 11 Sam Thaiday, 12 Greg Bird, 13 Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Corey Parker, 16 Matt Gillett, 17 Josh Papalii.
I floated the idea of giving Tedesco a run but we all know Mal won't do that. Boyd and the Broncos are in far better form than Inglis and the Rabbitohs so Boyd gets the No.1 jersey. I've otherwise tried to stick to specialists in their spots and with a few backline absentees have gone for in-form Mansour on one wing. Dugan's form pretty much demanded his inclusion though and that's the only spot I could fit him in so he gets the other flank. The only big-name absentee from the forward pack is Nate Myles – I just couldn't leave any of the other guys out given the form they're in. Morgan gets the utility spot given how many spots he can cover – including back row if needed – but Hunt and Milford both went very close.
Martin Gabor - National Correspondent
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 James Tamou, 11 Paul Gallen, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Josh Papalii, 16 Trent Merrin, 17 David Klemmer.
Injuries to automatic selections Billy Slater and Will Chambers forced a slight reshuffle in my backline, with the form of Darius Boyd too good to ignore (especially when Inglis can comfortably slot into the centres). Corey Oates narrowly pips Semi Radradra for the vacant left wing spot, while Michael Morgan will wreak havoc as the utility player. I've gone for plenty of grunt off the bench, with enforcers Josh Papalii and David Klemmer set to take it to the Kiwis head-on.
Jack Brady - National Correspondent
1 James Tedesco, 2 Darius Boyd, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 Dane Gagai, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 James Tamou, 11 Paul Gallen, 12 Sam Thaiday, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Matt Gillett, 17 Josh Papalii.
After six rounds of the NRL Telstra Premiership James Tedesco had scored more tries than the entire Dragons team, and with that kind of form he deserves the Kangaroos No.1 jersey. The injury to Will Chambers opens up a can of worms for the outside backs but I can see Josh Dugan and Dane Gagai filling in the holes quite comfortably. With just interchanges, I've named Trent Merrin and Josh Papalii on my bench as each are dynamic enough to fill almost every position in the pack. Michael Morgan may also be the Kiwis' kryptonite.
Corey Rosser - New Zealand Correspondent
1 James Tedesco, 2 Darius Boyd, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 James Roberts, 6 Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, 8 Matthew Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Andrew Fifita, 11 Josh Papalii, 12 Corey Parker, 13 Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Dylan Napa, 16 David Klemmer, 17 Josh Jackson.
Despite there being some more tried-and-tested options available, James Tedesco is a must because he is the best all-round attacker in the game right now. I have gone with Josh Dugan in the centres, while James Roberts fills a wing spot comfortably. Andrew Fifita is my major bolter, offering some ball-playing to the front row and a real point of difference for the Kiwis to contain. Michael Morgan is the perfect interchange man who can cover the halves, most of the backline and even hooker or lock if he has to.
Adrian McMurray - Producer
1 Josh Dugan, 2 Darius Boyd, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Semi Radradra, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Paul Gallen, 11 Greg Bird, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 James Tamou, 16 Sam Thaiday, 17 Trent Merrin.
Given the injuries elsewhere in the backline, I've kept Greg Inglis in the centres and named Josh Dugan at fullback. Darius Boyd and Inglis have an established partnership at rep level, and Dugan has a lot to offer at the back. Semi Radradra and Michael Jennings also have a club combination, while Michael Morgan is the perfect man off the bench. Trent Merrin just grabs the final bench spot over Andrew Fifita.
Dominic Brock - Production Editor
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Paul Gallen, 11 Matt Gillett, 12 Greg Bird, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 James Tamou, 17 Josh Papalii.
It's tempting to go with James Tedesco at the back but Boyd's experience and form with Brisbane gets him the nod, with one wing spot going to an in-form specialist in Oates and the other going to Dugan who can play anywhere in the outside backs. The rest of the team just about picks itself – I've opted for Paul Gallen up front to allow Corey Parker to start at lock, with James Tamou adding size to a bench that features new rep super sub Michael Morgan.
Andrew Bryan - Deputy Editor
1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Michael Jennings, 5 Semi Radradra, 6 Johnathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 James Tamou, 11 Paul Gallen, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Corey Parker. Interchange: 14 Michael Morgan, 15 Sam Thaiday, 16 Nate Myles, 17 Andrew Fifita.
Semi Radradra is eligible for selection, and it is hard to argue he isn't one of the best wingers in the game. I think Corey Oates also deserves a spot with his size, speed and form shown in the opening eight rounds. He could hold the jersey for a long time. I've gone with a lot of experience in the forward pack, while Andrew Fifita edges Josh Papalii for the big man bench spot. Michael Morgan as the utility bench spot is an absolute no-brainer.
NRL.com's combined Kangaroos team
1 Darius Boyd (Broncos)
2 Corey Oates (Broncos)
3 Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs)
4 Michael Jenings (Eels)
5 Josh Dugan (Dragons)
6 Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
7 Cooper Cronk (Storm)
8 Matt Scott (Cowboys)
9 Cameron Smith (Storm)
10 James Tamou (Cowboys)
11 Paul Gallen (Sharks)
12 Matt Gillett (Broncos)
13 Corey Parker (Broncos)
Interchange:
14 Michael Morgan (Cowboys)
15 Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
16 Josh Papalii (Raiders)
17 Greg Bird (Titans)
