Melbourne have been rewarded for their premiership-winning season with six players named in the Gallagher Kangaroos Merit Team.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and national selector Laurie Daley named the squad at Rugby League Central on Monday and also announced broker Gallagher as the new naming rights partner of the Australian Kangaroos.
Australian skipper Boyd Cordner retained the captaincy role in the Merit Team for his efforts in a season full of obstacles at club and state level.
Along with Test regulars Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi, their Storm teammates Christian Welch, Tino Fa’asumaleaui – who will play for Gold Coast next year – and Ryan Papenhuyzen were recognised with selection.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary unseated Test incumbent Daly Cherr-Evans for the No.7 jersey in the merit team while Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray got the jump on Manly’s Jake Trbojevic for the lock’s role.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou, who has not represented Australia since his lone Test in 2014, was another player who came from the clouds to get a spot in the squad after a superb season for his club and NSW.
Cleary, Welsh, Papenhuyzen, Crichton and Fa’asumaleaui are the five players chosen in the merit team yet to represent Australia in the Test arena.
They will be strong contenders to make the squad for next year’s World Cup in the UK.
Source: NRL.com
