Bradman Best Named in Australian Kangaroos Squad, Kalyn Ponga Overlooked by Mal Meninga
The meteoric rise of Newcastle Knights powerhouse Bradman Best continues as he has been named in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships. Best is the only Hunter-based player to make the squad, as Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga controversially overlooked Kalyn Ponga, despite his strong performances this season.
Ponga, the 2023 Dally M Medallist, had initially ruled himself out of Kangaroos contention to focus on his club duties with the Knights. However, he was forced to reconsider due to NRL contractual obligations that require players to participate in representative matches unless injured.
“We considered Kalyn as a specialist fullback,” Meninga explained. “However, we felt Dylan (Edwards) was the No.1 fullback in our game, so we chose him in front of Kalyn.”
Meninga’s squad selections also saw notable omissions, including incumbent skipper James Tedesco and State of Origin stars Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans. In their place, Meninga unveiled a refreshed squad, featuring eight potential debutants, including Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses, Penrith grand final forward Lindsay Smith, and Best himself.
Former Knight Mitch Barnett, now with the New Zealand Warriors, was also named in the squad. However, the biggest talking point was the axing of Tedesco, following last year’s crushing 30-0 loss to New Zealand.
Penrith’s Dylan Edwards will don the No.1 jersey, while Panthers captain Isaah Yeo has been appointed Kangaroos captain, with Melbourne hooker Harry Grant named as his deputy.
“This is a bit of an evolution, especially after what happened in the Pacific Championships last year,” Meninga said. “We considered form in Origin and the finals. Teddy played game one for NSW, but for two and three, Dylan was the fullback, and we made our decision based on that.”
Meninga also explained that Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic were left out due to their limited versatility, with a forward-looking eye toward the 2026 World Cup.
“When selecting the squad, we focused on versatility and flexibility. We have players who can cover multiple positions, which was key in building this team.”
Meninga was unable to call upon Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster, as both are preparing for off-season surgeries.
The Kangaroos will face Tonga in Brisbane on 18 October and New Zealand in Christchurch on 27 October.
Kangaroos Squad: Mitch Barnett*, Matt Burton, Bradman Best*, Patrick Carrigan, Xavier Coates*, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Angus Crichton, Tom Dearden*, Dylan Edwards, Harry Grant (vc), Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax*, Liam Martin, Mitchell Moses*, Cameron Murray, Reece Robson, Lindsay Smith*, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo (c)
*Denotes uncapped
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