Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: August

With the Kangaroos heading to England in October to try and defend their World Cup crown, players across the NRL will be out to stake their claims for a berth in Mal Meninga's Kangaroos squad.

Every month this season, for a series presented by Gallagher, retired greats Steve Renouf, Josh Morris and Michael Morgan will select a 17-man Australian squad with a composite team then assembled based on their most popular picks.

Renouf played 11 Tests for his country and scored Australia's only try in the 1992 World Cup final triumph over England at Wembley while Morgan was part of the Kangaroos side that beat England 6-0 in Brisbane in the 2017 World Cup final.

Morris played six Tests for Australia and was part of Australia's successful 2013 World Cup campaign.

Incumbency and career achievements won't be part of the selection criteria, it's all about form, so the trio's teams aren't necessarily a reflection of who they believe should make Australia's next official side.

• Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: March
• Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: April
• Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: May
• Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: June
• Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: July

Kangaroos Form Team of the Month: August

It's a Roosters-dominated backline with James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Joseph Suaalii all earning selection along with Valentine Holmes and Stephen Crichton. 

Nicho Hynes narrowly edges out Ben Hunt to partner Cameron Munster in the halves, with Hunt named on the bench and Harry Grant at hooker. Up front, Payne Haas is joined by Titans tyro Tino Fa'asuamaleaui while in-form edge forwards Shaun Lane and Angus Crichton offer x-factor with Hudson Young on the bench. 

With Isaah Yeo named at lock, Cameron Murray joins Young and Hunt on the bench with Roosters prop Matt Lodge rounding out the 17-man team.

Experts' Kangaroos Form Team

Michael Morgan's team

1. James Tedesco 2. Alex Johnston 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Cameron Munster 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Payne Haas 9. Reece Robson 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Jeremiah Nanai 12. Hudson Young 13. Isaah Yeo (Interchange: 14. Harry Grant 15. Angus Crichton 16. Cameron Murray 17. Victor Radley)

Try-scoring freak Alex Johnston earns selection opposite Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii on the wings, while Nicho Hynes gets the nod in Morgan's halves alongside Cameron Munster. There's a pair of Cowboys in the forward pack, with Reece Robson and Jeremiah Nanai continuing their breakout seasons as North Queensland push towards the finals series, while Raiders edge Hudson Young also earns a spot after ending the year in try-scoring form. Harry Grant joins the Roosters pair Angus Crichton and Victor Radley on the bench alongside Cameron Murray, the latter of whom was a popular selection across all teams this month.

Josh Morris' team

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Cameron Munster 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Junior Paulo 9. Harry Grant 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Shaun Lane 12. Angus Crichton 13. Cameron Murray (Interchange: 14. Matt Lodge 15. Isaah Yeo 16. Nat Butcher 17. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui)

A similar side from Morris, who opted for Daniel Tupou alongside his Roosters teammates Joseph Suaalii and James Tedesco in the backline, while the Parramatta props — Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard — are named up front. There's a third Eel in the starting side with Shaun Lane's fine form seeing him partner Angus Crichton in the back row while Cameron Murray narrowly edges out the lock role ahead of Isaah Yeo, who is on the bench alongside Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and another two Roosters in Matt Lodge and Nat Butcher.

Steve Renouf's team

1. James Tedesco 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Brian To’o 6. Cameron Munster 7. Ben Hunt 8. Junior Paulo 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Josh Papalii 11. Shaun Lane 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo (Interchange: 14. Cameron Murray 15. Matt Burton 16. Scott Drinkwater 17. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui)

A handful of new faces in Renouf's side with Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr earning a spot on the wing alongside teammate Matt Burton, who joins the bench. Ben Hunt's end-of-season form for the Dragons has him in the number seven jersey ahead of Hynes, while Liam Martin's miraculous recovery from his ankle injury sees him named in the back row alongside Shaun Lane. Scott Drinkwater is on the bench alongside Titans skipper Fa'asuamaleaui and the ever-reliable Murray.