Australian men's and women's squads announced for Pacfiic Championships

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The Australian Rugby League Commission has today confirmed the 21-player squads to represent the Gallagher Kangaroos and Harvey Norman and Jillaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships.

Kangaroos

The Kangaroos selectors have named four debutants in the squad, which will play in the tournament against Samoa and New Zealand.

The squad also includes eight players who took part in Sunday's Grand Final.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will also become the first player from the new NRL Club the Dolphins to represent Australia.

The Kangaroos will play Samoa at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, on October 14, followed by New Zealand at AAMI Park, Melbourne on October 28.

The Commission also confirmed Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco as Captain.

"These players have all been exceptional this season and should be very proud to play in the green and gold colours.  It's the ultimate achievement in our game," ARLC Chairman Mr Peter V'landys AM said.

"The Commission is excited to see further growth in the Pacific through this tournament, highlighted by the strength of the squad assembled to represent the Kangaroos."

Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga congratulated all of the players on their selection in the squad.

"The quality we saw in the regular season, the State of Origin series and the Finals Series means we have been able to put together an outstanding squad," Meninga said.

"The squad has a healthy blend of representatives from last year's World Cup, as well as others who have performed extremely well over the course of the season."

The squad, listed alphabetically, is as follows:

Patrick Carrigan               Broncos
Daly Cherry-Evans           Sea Eagles
Selwyn Cobbo*                Broncos
Lindsay Collins                 Roosters
Reuben Cotter                  Cowboys
Dylan Edwards                Panthers
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui      Titans
Thomas Flegler*              Broncos
Harry Grant                       Storm
Payne Haas                      Broncos
Valentine Holmes            Cowboys
Ben Hunt                           Dragons
Nicho Hynes                     Sharks
Liam Martin                      Panthers
Cameron Munster           Storm
Cameron Murray             Rabbitohs
Kotoni Staggs*                 Broncos
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow*   Dolphins
James Tedesco (c)           Roosters
Jake Trbojevic                  Sea Eagles
Isaah Yeo                          Panthers

* denotes debutant

Note: Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs, suspended) and Nathan Cleary (Panthers, injured) were both initially selected but later withdrawn. Edwards and Hynes are their replacements.

Jillaroos

The Australian Rugby League Commission has today confirmed the following squad to represent the Harvey Norman Jillaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships.

The Jillaroos will play New Zealand at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, on October 14, and AAMI Park, Melbourne on October 28.

The Commission also confirmed Ali Brigginshaw and Kezie Apps as Co-Captains of the squad.

All four expansion teams Wests Tigers (Kezie Apps), North Queensland Cowboys (Emma Manzelmann), Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Emma Tonegato) and Canberra Raiders (Simaima Taufa) are represented in the 21-player squad.

"The expanded NRLW premiership has been an outstanding success this year and we will now see the best of the best represent the Jillaroos," ARLC Chairman Mr Peter V'landys AM said.

"I'd like to congratulate all of these players who thoroughly deserve their selection, and will now proudly wear the Australian colours in an exciting tournament for the international game."

Jillaroos Coach Brad Donald congratulated the players.

"I'm extremely excited to see what this squad is capable of," Donald said. "All of the players have shown great form in the NRLW competition. We have a good mix of experience and youth to ensure the best possible showing against the Kiwi Ferns."

The squad, listed alphabetically, is as follows:

Tarryn Aiken                     Roosters
Kezie Apps                        Tigers
Shaylee Bent                    Titans
Ali Brigginshaw                Broncos
Lauren Brown                   Titans
Jaime Chapman              Titans
Kennedy Cherrington      Eels
Yasmin Clydsdale            Knights
Keeley Davis                     Roosters
Jess Elliston*                   Titans
Caitlan Johnston             Knights
Keiliee Joseph                Roosters
Isabelle Kelly                    Roosters
Olivia Kernick                   Roosters
Emma Manzelmann*      Cowboys
Shannon Mato                 Titans
Julia Robinson                 Broncos
Jessica Sergis                  Roosters
Simaima Taufa                Raiders
Emma Tonegato              Sharks
Tamika Upton*                 Knights
 
*  Denotes debutante

Note: Evania Pelite (Titans, injured) was initially named in the squad but was withdrawn and replaced by Keilee Joseph.