Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has kept his cards close to his chest by naming his 19-man squad to face Italy in alphabetical order.
However, Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary are all but confirmed to join the halves with Cameron Munster rested.
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AUSTRALIA NAMES 19-MAN SCHOOL FOR ITALY’S ENCORD
Mal Meninga has chosen his squad for Australia’s final group game against Italy and, if the unconventional numbers weren’t confusing enough, the squad has been named in alphabetical order.
Cameron Munster has been rested, meaning Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary are likely to both line up in the halves, but it is still unknown who plays at half-back.
Cherry-Evans got the first crack at the Kangaroos’ tournament opener, before Cleary destroyed Scotland on his debut.
The duo are battling to take Munster into the semis for the last 16, with manager Meninga still undecided.
Jack Wighton has also been named and former Dally M medal winner could also fill in at five-eighth while DCE and Cleary each play half.
“I was very pleased with the performance against Scotland last week,” Meninga said.
“Defensively, we’ve been excellent, and I’m looking forward to seeing more cohesion with the ball.
“Every player in the squad will have played at least two games in the group stage, which is very important ahead of the quarter-finals and hopefully beyond.”
Australia face Italy on Sunday at 5:30 AEDT.
Kangaroo squad (in alphabetical order): 12. Matt Burton, 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Reuben Cotter, 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 19. Campbell Graham , 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 11. Cameron Murray (vc), 22. Jeremiah Nanai, 23. Murray Taulagi, 1. James Tedesco (c), 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaac Yeo (vc).
LIKELY KANGAROO TEAM
1. James Tedesco ©
19. Campbell Graham
10. Jack Wighton
12. Matt Burton
23. Murray Taulagi
2. Daly Cherry-Evans
14. Nathan Cleary
6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
3. Ben Hunt
13. Patrick Carrigan
11. Cameron Murray
21. Liam Martin
24. Isaac Yeo
4. Valetine Holmes
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Reuben Cotter
18. Physical abuse
18th man: 8. Jack Wighton
19th man: 22. Jeremiah Nanai
COTTER IS BACK
Kangaroos forward Reuben Cotter has been cleared to play in Australia’s final group game against Italy on Sunday AEDT.
Cotter dealt with a nasty head clash in Australia’s opener against Fiji and was sidelined for their win against Scotland due to concussion protocols.
The 23-year-old admits the concussion was “bad” but stressed he is looking forward to going up against the Italians.
“I didn’t realize how bad it was. I’m glad I ended up sitting out because it was pretty bad,” Cotter said The Daily Telegraph.
“I tried to use some late feet to throw them – wrong place, wrong time. Tui (Kamikamica) got ahead and I went in. It was a bad way to go out, but I’ll be right.
“(I’ve had) a week off and I’ll be back.
“I remember everything that happened until it hit my head. Obviously we won, which is also good. I’m fine now and I didn’t have many symptoms afterwards. It was a positive sign.”
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While the North Queensland star was on board with the decision to be taken off the field, his father Terry was far from impressed.
“My phone was blowing up when I came out,” Cotter said.
“Dad walked in on me. No sympathy from dad.
“They were quite excited – they got up early to see him.”
Australia have already qualified for the quarter-finals and are expected to face Lebanon, ahead of a highly-anticipated clash against New Zealand in the semi-finals.
But Cotter stressed the Kangaroos are not getting ahead of themselves.
“Every game you put on an Australian jersey is important and I won’t look at it any differently,” he said.
“I’m sure the boys playing won’t be either. We have to keep building on these three games.
“I just have to play to my ability and my strengths.
“Everybody wants to play … in these big games. Everybody’s going to play really hard.”
Read the World Cup and Late Mail team lists below.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 30
England vs Greece 12:30 AEDT at Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Selection of England: 6. Jack Welsby 14. Dominic Young 24. Kai Pearce-Paul 12 John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall 21. Marc Sneyd 7. George Williams 8. Thomas Buress 19. Andy Ackers 18. Chris Hill 15. Morgan Knowles 20. Mike McMeeken 13. Victor Radley. Inter: 10. Luke Thompson 16. Matty Lees 17. Mike Cooper 23. Mikolaj Oledzki 18th man: 22. Joe Batchelor 02. Tommy Makinson
Late Mail: With a place in the quarter-finals locked in, manager Shaun Wane will rest a number of players, including full-back and skipper Sam Tomkins. George Williams will captain the side and link up with Mark Sneyd in halves like Jack Welsby move to the side
Greece team: 3. Terry Constantinou 2. Siteni Taukamo 21. Konstantinos Katsidonis 4. Nick Mougios 5. Johnny Mitsias 7. Jordan Meads 6. Lachlan Ilias 21. Nicholas Flocas 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Stefanos Bastas 14. Jake Kambos 25. Adam Vrahnos 25 .Adam Vrahnos .Sebastià Sell. Interchange: 11. Mitchell Zampetides 17. Theodoros Nianiakas 19. Liam Sue-tin 22. Ioannis Rousoglou. 18th man: 20. Ioannis Nake 08. Robert Tuliatu
Late Mail: Game creator Jordan Meads returns to action after missing Greece’s clash with Samoa.
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PNG vs Cook Islands: Match Highlights | 03:00
Fiji vs Scotland 03:00 AEDT at Kingston Park, Newcastle
Team Fiji: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Maika Sivo 19. Semi Valemei 4. Kevin Naiqama 24. Vuate Karawalevu 9. Api Koroisau 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu 14. Penioni Tagituimua 17. King Vuniyayawa 22. ..Corbin Sims. Exchange: 11. Taniela Sadrugu 15. Tevita Toloi 16. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 20. Henry Raiwalui. 18th man: 18. Netane Masima 5. Mitieli Vulikijapani
Late Mail:Tui Kamikamica is out through suspension with Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu moving into the 17 to replace him.
Scotland team: 5. Lachlan Walmsley 2. Matty Russell 23. Bayley Liu 4. Kieran Buchanan 20. Davey Dixon 7. Ryan Bierley 19. Calum Gahan 8. Logan Bayliss-Brow 9. Liam Hood 10. Sam Luckley 11. Euan Kane 12. Linnett 13. James Bell. Subs: 3. Ben Hellewell 14. Kyle Schneider 15. Luke Bain 24. Dale Ferguson. 18th Man: Jack Teanby 19th Man: Guy Graham
Late Mail: Young Bulldogs Game Maker Bailey Hayward is out with Ryan Bierley replacing it in halves.
Australia vs Italy 5:30 AEDT at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens
Team Australia(alphabetical): 12. Matt Burton, 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Reuben Cotter, 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 19. Campbell Graham, 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 11. Cameron Murray, 22. Jeremiah Nanai, 23. Murray Taulagi, 1. James Tedesco (c.), 10. Jack Wighton , 24. Isaac Yeo
Late Mail: Reuben Cotter he is good to go after missing the Kangaroos clash with Scotland due to concussion protocols. wait to see James Tedesco was taken off in the second half to rest with Valentine Holmeswho will come off the bench, replacing him as a winger.
Italy team(alphabetical): 3 Daniel Atkinson, 13 Nathan Brown (c), 6 Jack Campagnolo, 16 Gioele Celerino, 20 Jack Colovatti, 19 Luke Hodge, 10 Anton Iaria, 2 Richard Lepori, 5 Jake Maizen, 15 Luca Moretti, 4 Ethan Natoli, 17 Ronny Palumbo, 9 Dean Parade, 18. Kyle Pickering, 1 Luke Polselli, 7 Radean Robinson, 12 Brenden Santi, 8. Alec Susino, 14 Joey Tramontana
Late Mail: To come.
Lebanon vs Jamaica 11pm AEDT at Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Lebanon Team: 6. Adam Doueihi 2. Josh Mansour 3. Bilal Maarbani 16. Reece Robinson 5. Abbas Miski 18. Khaled Rajab 7. Mitchell Moses 20. Jaxson Rahme 15. Andrew Kazzi 19. Khalil Rahme 11. Elie El-Zakham Tale 12. 13 Jaume Roumanos. Subs: 4. Brad Morkos 9. Michael Tannous 14. Anthony Layoun 17. Jalal Bazzaz. 18th man: 22. Tony Maroun 10. Hanna El-Nachar
Late Mail: Adam Doueihi will return after serving a one-game suspension for dissent, but will play as a substitute at fullback Jaob Cherry. young gun Khaled Rajab retains its place in the halves.
Team Jamaica: 1. Ben Jones-Bishop 2. Mo Agoro 20. Greg Johnson 4. Jacob Ogden 5. Alex Young 6. James Woodburn-Hall 7. Kieran Ruch 16. Keenen Tomlinson 13. Ashton Golding 10. Michael Lawrence 11. AJ Wallace 12. Joel Farrell 3. Joe Brown. Sub: 9. Jy-mel Coleman 15. Jordan Andrade 8. Khamisi McKain 17. Aaron Jones-Bishop. 18th man: 18. Abevia McDonald 22. Chevaughn Bailey
Late Mail: To come.
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MONDAY OCTOBER 31
Tonga vs Cook Islands 1:30 AEDT at Riverside Stadium, Middlesborough
Team Tonga: 22. Tesi Niu 2. Daniel Tupou 23. Konrad Hurrell 4. Will Benzini 5. Sione Katoa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Tuimoala Lolohea 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Soni Luke 17. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Felise Keufusion Koloa 12. 10. George Taukeiaho. Exchange: 21. Well…