Australia World Cup Nines squads has eye on Kangaroos future

Author: Chris Kennedy NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Wed 9 Oct 2019, 09:23 PM

A more streamlined pathway for emerging NRL stars moving into the Australia national team will be on show in the upcoming World Nines tournament.

In announcing the Australia World Nines and Oceania Cup Test squads on Monday morning, Australia coach Mal Meninga gave an insight into how the crop of bolters in the Nines squad paved the way for the next generation of Test stars to be phased in.

Meninga, who has extended his national coaching agreement through to the end of the 2021 World Cup, said the likes of Kalyn Ponga and David Fifita were on the radar for higher honours.

"The whole idea of the under-23 concept is both the national squad and under-23 squad will train together with a view to setting down a program over the next couple of years," he said.

"Payne Haas has obviously made his way into the top squad this time around but guys like David Fifita, Kalyn Ponga, all those young superstars at the moment have got a great opportunity to come into the top squad over the next couple of years."

Titans back-rower Jai Arrow. ©Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Emerging stars like Titans duo AJ Brimson and Jai Arrow plus in-form Eels Mitch Moses, Nathan Brown and Clint Gutherson headline the exciting Nines squad.

Manly winger Reuben Garrick, experienced Souths playmaker Cody Walker, young Storm pair Curtis Scott and Ryan Papenhuyzen plus Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt round out the list of names with no Test experience who were not named in the Oceania squad.