Canberra Raiders Prop Shannon Boyd has been called into the Kangaroos 17 for Raiders team mate Josh Papalii who was omitted from the squad today.
Boyd was a member of the four nations squad which went through last years tournament undefeated and had been named in the Kangaroos 20 man squad. He will now replace Papalii in the 17 and have the opportunity to play a test match at his home ground of GIO Stadium.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles forward Jake Trbojevic is the Kangaroos' new 18th man.
"Shannon was already included in the broader squad so it was an easy choice to bring him into the 17," Meninga said. "He was excellent for us in last year's Four Nations and it will be great to see him able to play a Test match in front of his home fans."
The updated 2017 ANZAC Test Kangaroos squad is:
Position |
Player |
NRL Club |
Junior Club |
Fullback |
Darius Boyd |
Brisbane Broncos |
Mudgeeraba Redbacks |
Wing |
Blake Ferguson |
Sydney Roosters |
Wellington Cowboys/Earlwood Saints |
Centre |
Josh Dugan |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
South Tuggeranong Knights/Valley Dragons |
Centre |
Will Chambers |
Melbourne Storm |
Nhulunbuy, NT |
Wing |
Valentine Holmes |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
Western Lions/Townsville |
Five-Eighth |
Johnathan Thurston |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Souths Sunnybank |
Halfback |
Cooper Cronk |
Melbourne Storm |
Souths Acacia |
Prop |
Aaron Woods |
Wests Tigers |
Leichhardt Juniors |
Hooker |
Cameron Smith © |
Melbourne Storm |
Logan Brothers |
Prop |
David Klemmer |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
All Saints Toongabbie |
Second Row |
Boyd Cordner |
Sydney Roosters |
Old Bar Pirates |
Second Row |
Matt Gillett |
Brisbane Broncos |
Bribie Island Warrigals |
Lock |
Trent Merrin |
Penrith Panthers |
Shellharbour Sharks |
Interchange |
Michael Morgan |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Townsville Brothers |
Interchange |
Shannon Boyd |
Canberra Raiders |
Cowra Magpies |
Interchange |
Tyson Frizell |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
Corrimal Cougars |
Interchange |
Sam Thaiday |
Brisbane Broncos |
Townsville Brothers |
18th man |
Jake Trbojevic |
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
Mona Vale Raiders |
19th man |
James Maloney |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
St Edwards, Gosford |
20th man |
Justin O’Neill |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Hughenden Hawks/Townsville Brothers |
The NRL Issued the following statement this afternoon in regards to Josh Papalii's withdrawal
The NRL said today that Canberra Raiders forward Josh Papalii has been withdrawn from the Kangaroos team for the 2017 ANZAC Test next Friday.
CEO Todd Greenberg said he had been advised by the Raiders that Papalii will face a disciplinary hearing before the club’s Board early next week.
“Given that Josh pleaded guilty to drink driving we believe it is inappropriate for him to join the Kangaroos camp," Mr Greenberg said.
“We would expect that the decision to stand him down from the Test will be taken into consideration when the Raiders Board considers the matter next week.”
Kangaroos Coach Mal Meninga said he supported the decision by the NRL to stand down Papalii from the ANZAC Test match, against New Zealand on Friday, May 5.
“I have spoken to Josh and, while it is disappointing for him to miss a Test, he understands the decision was made in the best interests of the team,” Meninga said.
"The game has made a really strong stance against this behaviour and I'm a very strong believer that this stance is the right course of action.
"This doesn't prevent Josh from making himself available for the World Cup at the end of the year and I reiterated that to Josh today."
