Coach Mal Meninga has named 13 debutants in the Australia squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in England, while a couple of the sport's most notable names have been excluded.
Cronulla Sharks' Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes and Dylan Edwards - fresh from winning the Clive Churchill Medal in leading Penrith Panthers to the NRL Premiership - have been omitted from the 24-strong group. Both have been put on standby as injury replacements.
Star Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is among the Kangaroos newcomers, although Meninga confirms Manly Sea Eagles Daly Cherry-Evans will wear the team's No.7 jersey.
"It is a good question, but Daly is the incumbent as well, so he was there three years ago and had a really good season, particularly in Origin," Meninga explained. "Everyone will have an opportunity to prove that they deserve to be at the backend of the tour.
"All players will get an opportunity to play and put their hand up to play at the backend of the tour, when it does matter."
South Sydney Rabbitohs sparkplug Damian Cook is another demoted to an injury standby, with Dally M Hooker of the Year Api Koroisau also overlooked in favour of first-choice No.9 Ben Hunt and Melbourne Storm's Harry Grant.
Meninga called the decision to leave Cook out as "extremely difficult", with Hunt's Origin form and Reuben Cotter's versatility earning them the nod.
“We made a decision that we want to go with two hookers and a third one with utility value, which is Reuben Cotter," said Meninga.
"Damien has been a great servant and was the incumbent, but we felt the two hookers we picked are going a little bit better than him at the moment.
"Api is in the same situation. He obviously played in the premiership-winning side, but we felt that the Queensland hookers were best placed to be in this squad."
Amid the other new names are Cowboys breakthrough stars Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi, Gold Coast Titans powerhouse Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Brisbane Broncos' Patrick Carrigan.
Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco will captain the side, with vice-captains Cameron Murray of the Rabbitohs and Panthers debutant Isaah Yeo.
Australia kick off their World Cup campaign against Fiji on October 16 (NZ time).
Kangaroos squad: Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Patrick Carrigan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Angus Crichton, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Campbell Graham, Harry Grant, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster , Cameron Murray, Jeremiah Nanai, Murray Taulagi, James Tedesco, Jake Trbojevic, Jack Wighton, Isaah Yeo
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