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Daly Cherry-Evans will get the first crack as Australian halfback at the Rugby League World Cupafter the Manly skipper was handed the honour instead of Nathan Cleary.
While James Tedesco has taken over the Kangaroos captaincy from Cherry-Evans, the Queensland State of Origin veteran will play at halfback in Australia’s opening World Cup clash with Fiji on Sunday morning (AEDT).
No Panthers players selected in the 24-man Kangaroos squad will feature in the first game, with Australian coach Mal Meninga opting to give NRL grand final heroes Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin extra time off.
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Meninga afforded the same luxury to Raegan Campbell-Gillard, who represented Parramatta in the grand final.
Cleary says he’s relishing the scrap for the Australian halfback job.
“(Meninga) said he’s just going to give us equal opportunity and it’s up to us to earn the jersey,” Cleary told 9News.
“That’s the right way to do it, particularly with the pinnacle of the game, the Australian No.7 jersey.
“It’s going to be hard-fought. I think it’s healthy competition. I’m glad it’s there.
“I’m looking forward to being alongside Chez (Cherry-Evans), and being able to learn off him and all these other great players.”
The Kangaroos have shaken up their jersey system for the World Cup, opting against the traditional method of allocating numbers based on positions.
Tedesco received the No.1 because he’s captain, but the rest will wear numbers based on how long they’ve represented Australia for.
The numbers of the 13 debutants were decided by alphabetic order, meaning Yeo will pull on the No.24.
Australian team for World Cup opener
1. James Tedesco (c)
9. Josh Addo-Carr
8. Latrell Mitchell
4. Valentine Holmes
23. Murray Taulagi*
7. Cameron Munster
2. Daly Cherry-Evans
18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui*
3. Ben Hunt
5. Jake Trbojevic
17. Angus Crichton*
22. Jeremiah Nanai*
11. Cameron Murray (vc)
Interchange
20. Harry Grant*
16. Reuben Cotter*
13. Pat Carrigan*
10. Jack Wighton
18th man | Matt Burton (12)
19th man | Campbell Graham (19)
*Denotes Kangaroos debutant
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Why Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos will wear unfamiliar jersey numbers at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup
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