Meninga proves to be a Latrell thinker
ROOSTERS sensation Latrell Mitchell has been rewarded for his grand final demolition of Maroons rival Will Chambers by clinching his maiden Australian jumper.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga will blood Mitchell in upcoming Tests against New Zealand and Tonga after he outpointed incumbent Australia centre Chambers in the Roosters’ 21-6 defeat of Melbourne in the NRL decider.
Australia’s 19-man squad was named yesterday with Mitchell to partner Greg Inglis, who has celebrated another career highlight by claiming the Test captaincy after being named Queensland skipper in May.
Chambers played a key role in Australia’s World Cup final defeat of England last December but the Storm centre has now been mauled by NSW ace Mitchell on the Origin and grand final stages.
When Mitchell brushed off Chambers to score on Sunday night and then brutally shoved him over the touchline, the Storm centre kissed goodbye to his green-andgold jumper.
Mitchell’s Roosters teammate Cooper Cronk’s representative retirement has also opened the door for a new halfback.
Maroons playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans has won a recall and will battle it out with Origin colleague Ben Hunt for the Australian No.7 jumper for the opening Test against the Kiwis in Auckland on Saturday week.
Cherry-Evans played the last of his 11 Tests way back in 2014, but his four-year national exile is over after his superb performance in Queensland’s 18-12 win in Origin III in July.
“This is a new era for the Kangaroos,” Meninga said. “This will give us a good gauge of who we will be looking at to lead the Kangaroos into the future.”
In other selection news, super-sub Tyrone Peachey is the bolter, with the Gold Coast Titans recruit in contention to claim a utility spot on the interchange bench.
Melbourne’s Cameron Munster has secured the fiveeighth spot despite his horror game on Sunday night when he was sin-binned twice in the grand final.
Munster was yesterday charged with contrary conduct but will only a pay a $1400 fine, ensuring he will stave off Roosters Clive Churchill medallist Luke Keary for the green-and-gold No.6 jumper.
Souths hooker Damien Cook has clinched the No.9 jumper vacated by skipper Cameron Smith. Broncos hardman Josh McGuire was one of seven Queenslanders picked in the squad.
After facing the Kiwis, Australia will play a historic Test against emerging force Tonga at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on October 20.