Mitchell Barnett’s move to the One New Zealand Warriors netted New South Wales State of Origin selection for the first time this year and now he has been named in Australia’s squad for the coming Pacific Championships.
His Kangaroos call-up caps a season which saw him help the Blues to a series victory on debut in the third and final match of the campaign and then take out the prestigious Simon Mannering Medal as the Warriors’ player of the year.
The 28-year-old Wingham-raised prop-second rower was also chosen as one of the two props alongside clubmate Addin Fonua-Blake in the RLPA’s peer-voted 2024 Dream Team.
Today came the ultimate honour of selection in the Mal Meninga-coached Kangaroos for the Pacific Championships matches against the New Zealand Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga being played in New Zealand and Australia.
He becomes the first Warrior since Brent Tate in 2010 to make the Kangaroos and just the fourth in total following Richard Villasanti, Steve Price and Brent Tate.
Barnett’s career took a dramatic turn when he ended seven seasons and 126 games with Newcastle to move to Auckland on a three-year contract from 2023.
It paid immediate dividends as he played an influential role in helping the Warriors to the NRL finals for the first time since 2018 falling just one win short of making the grand final.
In June this year he recommitted for another two seasons to the end of 2027.
Barnett is one of eight debutants named in the 21-man Australia squad while six players are included from last night’s grand final between Penrith and Melbourne.
The Kangaroos play Mate Ma’a Tonga at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on October 18 followed by the New Zealand Kiwis at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on October 27.
Penrith’s Isaah Yeo is captain and Harry Grant is vice-captain.
Only nine of the playing side remain from last year’s record 0-30 loss to the Kiwis in the Pacific Championship final.
Among those not included or unavailable from the 2023 squad are James Tedesco, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Kotoni Staggs, Valentine Holmes, Payne Haas, Jake Trbojevic, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Nicholas Hynes.
2024 PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS | KANGAROOS
Mitchell Barnett* (One New Zealand Warriors)
Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
Bradman Best* (Knights)
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
Xavier Coates* (Storm)
Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Tom Dearden* (Cowboys)
Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
Harry Grant (Storm) vice-captain
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Zac Lomax* (Dragons)
Liam Martin (Panthers)
Mitch Moses* (Eels)
Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
Reece Robson* (Cowboys)
Lindsay Smith* (Panthers)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
Isaah Yeo (Panthers) captain
