Slater out as Meninga picks strong team
He’s almost 34 and played just seven games in two years, but Billy Slater still has a future in international rugby league, Australian coach Mal Meninga insists.
Meninga yesterday overlooked Slater when retaining Darius Boyd as fullback for the Kangaroos’ Anzac test against New Zealand on Friday week in Canberra.
But the former world player of the year remains ‘‘certainly’’ in the mix for a recall for this year’s World Cup if he continues impressing in his comeback from a second shoulder reconstruction.
Meninga admitted he and fellow selectors ‘‘agonised’’ over vaulting Slater into his first test since 2015.
‘‘He’s getting back to somewhere near his best form from injury extremely well,’’ the coach said.
‘‘It’s very pleasing to see him in the game ... but we felt that Darius deserves to retain his spot.
‘‘He was man of the match in the Four Nations final at Liverpool (last November) and he’s in great form at the moment so we just chose to go that way.’’
Selectors largely retained faith in Australia’s Four Nations champions, dropping only Canberra front-rower Shannon Boyd and losing Greg Inglis and Matt Scott through injury.
Meninga said Johnathan Thurston could still take on New Zealand even if he is ruled unfit for North Queensland in the NRL this week.
Thurston was named in the 20-man squad despite missing the past two games for the Cowboys with a calf injury.
He was included in an extended squad to face Parramatta on Friday, but is no certainty to play.
But Meninga is confident the long-time Kangaroos five-eighth will be fit to play in Canberra although James Maloney is on standby as 19th man.
The match will be Australian skipper Cameron Smith’s 50th test match, as well as his 27th 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.
Canterbury forward David Klemmer has replaced injured prop Scott in the starting line-up, while St George Illawarra star Josh Dugan comes in at centre for Inglis.
‘‘This is an incredibly important game for us, coming in a World Cup year,’’ Meninga said.
‘‘Any test match is important, but the fact this will be Cameron’s 50th test match certainly adds some extra significance.’’
‘‘Cameron’s incredible milestones will form a significant part of our week.’’
The Kangaroos squad will assemble on Monday in Canberra.