Kangaroos announce Rugby League World Cup squad with Edwards, Hynes left on standby

The Australian Rugby League Commission have officially announced the Kangaroos' squad for the upcoming 2022 Rugby League World Cup, with a mostly new group of faces set to pull on the green and gold later this month. 

Of the 24 players selected, 13 of them will be suiting up for the Kangaroos for the first time, with some big names such as Nathan Cleary, Matt Burton, and Angus Crichton eager to represent their nation. 

Following their second straight Premiership, the Penrith Panthers have three men selected: Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, and Isaah Yeo. 

However, despite winning the Clive Churchill medal in Penrith’s near-seamless Premiership victory on Sunday night, Dylan Edwards found himself on the outside looking in come Monday morning, with the Panthers’ fullback named as a standby player. 

Joining Edwards in the standby group is Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes, the 2022 Dally M medalist, as well as South Sydney’s Damien Cook. 

Fresh off of being named the player’s champion for 2022, James Tedesco has been named the captain of the Kangaroos, with Isaah Yeo and Cameron Murray taking the reins as vice-captains. 

In a statement, Australian coach Mal Meniga preached the importance of choosing a mix of new talent and experienced players but said that every player chosen is up to the task. 

“We have an extremely healthy mix of incumbent players as well as a number of players who are yet to represent their country,” Meninga said. 

“We will have players who have performed on this stage before. 

“Many of these players have produced form when it counts in both State of Origin and also in the Finals Series.

“The balance of the squad is extremely strong and will hopefully produce the results we’re after over the duration of the tournament.” 

Australia will open their World Cup account on the 15th of October when they take on Fiji.