JT’s inclusion

MAL Meninga wants to hear more from the Cowboys on Johnathan Thurston’s troublesome calf injury before pencilling in the Immortal-in-waiting for the Anzac Test as Billy Slater’s hopes of an international recall will have to wait until the World Cup.

The Kangaroos coach has given the strongest hint yet he will maintain the faith in 15 of the 17 players who were part of Australia’s Four Nations triumph – Greg Inglis and Matt Scott have long-term knee injuries – for the mid-season test against New Zealand in Canberra.

Meninga will name his team on Wednesday – despite a full week- end of NRL matches to come before the representative round – with Kiwis counterpart David Kidwell to wait until after the Warriors-Roosters clash to finalise his side.

While basically all of his Four Nations-winning side are set to be included, most intrigue surrounds the fitness of Thurston, who hasn’t played for a fortnight.

Meninga is likely to name Thurston on Wednesday with the final decision contingent on the five-eighth getting through the Cowboys’ clash with the Eels in Townsville 48 hours later.

‘‘The club’s keen on him playing and the game is Friday,