Mal Meninga has named a host of fresh faces for the upcoming World Cup, the dawn of a number of promising careers in the green and gold. Only thing is, it could bring down the curtains on a few veteranโs rep careers.
Meninga has named debutants Jordan MacLean, Wade Graham, Dane Gagai, Tom Trbojevic, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Regan Campbell-Gillard, along with a host of other youngsters just beginning their international careers.
But while these young guns achieve their dream in the World Cup, injured stars Greg Inglis, Matt Scott, Jonathan Thurston and Darius Boyd watch on from the sidelines, wondering if theyโll run out in that jersey again.
Thurston has already confirmed he wonโt be returning to the international side, solely focusing on the Cowboys from here on out. But for the rest of the crew, they remain in limbo.
Both Inglis and Scott tore their ACLโs in the opening rounds of the season, while Boydโs hamstring caused him grief leading into the finals. All three are set to return to full health by next season to captain their respective clubs, but club footy could be as far as these stars get.
Inglis especially has left a legacy in the Kangaroosโ jersey, scoring 31 tries in 39 games for the green and gold. Having switched between wing, centre and fullback for Australia, Inglis may be bumped from the side in favour of the young brigade rising through the ranks.
Debutants Gagai and Trbojevic join fellow rookies Valentine Holmes and Josh Mansour in the squad, while Origin stars Jack Bird, James Tedesco and Corey Oates surely werenโt far off selection.
Itโs so hard to deny a legend like Inglis a spot in the backline, though how can you deny an up and comer their shot for him?
Scott has featured 22 times for the Roos, starting the match in 21 of them, a cornerstone of Australiaโs forward pack. But at 32 years old and coming off a knee reconstruction, itโs hard to Scott returning to the international side with so many young front-rowers pressing their claims.
If Boyd never pulled the jersey on again, heโd claim a very rare achievement โ undefeated in his decade-long, 23 game career representing his country. Though like Inglis, there are simply so many superstars coming through the ranks.
Mal Meninga has already shone this year that players past or reputation doesnโt matter when it comes to selection, itโs form that decides if they earn the privilege to wear the jersey.
Sam Thaiday and Blake Ferguson found that out the hard way this year, both dropped after featuring for Australia in last yearโs Four Nations tournament.
If Inglis, Scott or Boyd are to ever wear the Kangaroos jersey again, itโs going to take some extremely strong form early in the season to break back into the team, though at least for now, the ball is in the young gunโs court.
