Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
AUSTRALIAN rugby league head coach Mal Meninga has named six debutants in his side to play Tonga in the Pacific Championships opening round in Brisbane tomorrow (October 18).
The NRL.com.au website reports that Tom Dearden and Mitchell Moses are to debut as a new halves combination.
The other debutants are wingers Zac Lomax and Xavier Coates, and interchange forwards Mitchell Barnett and Hudson Young.
The team will be led by Penrith’s Isaah Yeo; Storm hooker Harry Grant is vice-captain.
Yeo’s Panthers teammate Dylan Edwards will start at fullback with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Trbojevic in the centres, the website reports.
Meninga said the State of Origin form of Dearden and Moses proved they were ready for Test football.
“In my mind, Tommy was the player of the series for Queensland — his Game Three was exceptional — and Mitch was the same in Origin and club,” Meninga says.
“A tough mindset and good attitude are critical against a strong, big, talented Tongan side.
“We will definitely need to be tough and resilient, and I believe this group of players exemplify that.”
Squad: Dylan Edwards, Xavier Coates, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Trbojevic, Zac Lomax, Tom Dearden, Mitchell Moses, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Matt Burton, Mitchell Barnett, Reuben Cotter, Hudson Young, Ben Hunt, Lindsay Smith, Reece Robson and Bradman Best.
Full fixture: Brisbane, Sydney to host Aust leg of Pacific RL championship – NewsCop
WOMEN
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald says his players are raring to go in their championship opener against PNG tomorrow at Suncorp Stadium.
“We are really excited to be back in camp and getting the team on the field this Friday,” he says.
“There has been a strong theme in this week’s camp around past players and events in the women’s game.
“Watching the Prime Minister’s XIII Team play the PNG Prime Minister’s XIII in Port Moresby on Sunday allowed us to reflect on how far the game has come since the first women’s international match up there in 2017,” Donald says.
“The players were all watching on, keen to get out there themselves. We have exciting depth in the game at the moment, highlighted by the PM’s team, and we are looking forward to kicking off the Pacific Championships on Friday.”
Squad: Tamika Upton, Julia Robinson, Isabelle Kelly, Tiana Penitani, Jakiya Whitfeld, Ali Brigginshaw (c), Tarryn Aiken, Millie Elliott, Quincy Dodd, Shannon Mato, Kezie Apps, Yasmin Clydsdale, Simaima Taufa, Olivia Higgins, Sarah Togatuki, Keilee Joseph, Mahalia Murphy, Jessica Sergis, Abbi Church, Jessika Elliston and Lauren Brown.
