Kangaroos squad selected for ANZAC Test

The Australian Rugby League Commission has today selected the following players to represent the Australian Kangaroos in the 2017 ANZAC Test.

The 2017 ANZAC Test match, against New Zealand at Canberra’s GIO Stadium on Friday, May 5, will be Australian Captain Cameron Smith’s 50^th Test match, as well as his 27^th as Captain.

Smith will become just the second player to play 50 Test matches for Australia, behind Darren Lockyer (59), while he will also join Clive Churchill as Australia’s second most capped captain.

The 20-man squad contains five Club captains (or co-captains) – Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys), Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) and Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters).

“This is an incredibly important game for us, coming in a World Cup year,” Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga said.

“Any Test match is important, but the fact this will be Cameron’s 50^th Test match certainly adds some extra significance.

“Cameron’s incredible milestones will form a significant part of our week.”

Meninga said that given the short preparation, he and Kangaroos selectors had looked to reward those who played in the successful Four Nations campaign in 2016.

“Not only do these players have established combinations with each other, but they are also well aware of our values,” Meninga said.

“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 Kangaroos squad will assemble on Monday, May 1 in Canberra.

The 2017 ANZAC Test Kangaroos squad is:

Position	Player	NRL Club	Junior Club
Fullback	Darius Boyd	Brisbane Broncos	Mudgeeraba Redbacks
Wing	Blake Ferguson	Sydney Roosters	Wellington Cowboys/Earlwood Saints
Centre	Josh Dugan	St George Illawarra Dragons	South Tuggeranong Knights/Valley Dragons
Centre	Will Chambers	Melbourne Storm	Nhulunbuy, NT
Wing	Valentine Holmes	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Western Lions/Townsville
Five-Eighth	Johnathan Thurston (vc)	North Queensland Cowboys	Souths Sunnybank
Halfback	Cooper Cronk	Melbourne Storm	Souths Acacia
Prop	Aaron Woods	Wests Tigers	Leichhardt Juniors
Hooker	Cameron Smith (c)	Melbourne Storm	Logan Brothers
Prop	David Klemmer	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	All Saints Toongabbie
Second Row	Boyd Cordner	Sydney Roosters	Old Bar Pirates
Second Row	Matt Gillett	Brisbane Broncos	Bribie Island Warrigals
Lock	Trent Merrin	Penrith Panthers	Shellharbour Sharks
Interchange	Michael Morgan	North Queensland Cowboys	Townsville Brothers
Interchange	Josh Papalii	Canberra Raiders	Logan Brothers
Interchange	Tyson Frizell	St George Illawarra Dragons	Corrimal Cougars
Interchange	Sam Thaiday	Brisbane Broncos	Townsville Brothers
18th man	Shannon Boyd	Canberra Raiders	Cowra Magpies
19th man	James Maloney	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	St Edwards, Gosford
20th man	Justin O’Neill	North Queensland Cowboys	Hughenden Hawks/Townsville Brothers