Australian coach Mal Meninga has given the biggest hint yet on who will wear the Kangaroos no.1 jersey when international play begins later this year.
Fullback looms as being one of, if not the most difficult position for Meninga and the Australian selectors to land on with a number of players putting their hand up for selection.
These include Broncos and Maroons star Reece Walsh, Knights’ Kalyn Ponga, who has arguably been the NRL’s best player over the past two months, and the Kangaroos incumbent James Tedesco.
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Tedesco had a quiet and patchy start to the season, but was one of the best on the field in Origin III and has parlayed that into some great form in recent weeks as the Roosters make a late charge for the top eight.
Speaking on Wednesday at the announcement of the new Pacific Championships, Meninga endorsed Tedesco to keep his spot at the back for Australia.
“Teddy is the incumbent, he’s the captain of the Kangaroos. He led the team to a successful World Cup last year,”
“He’s coming back into form but I think he’s been going well all year. His effort levels are great.
“He’s in my mind, we have a couple of other selectors, but in my mind he’s the number one fullback at the moment and out of loyalty he should be selected.”
While it appears to be Tedesco’s job to lose, Meninga admitted there was plenty of competition, pointing to Walsh as a utility/bench role possibility.
“I think versatility is really key to picking squads for the Kangaroos in a national space so Reece can fullback obviously, but I know he can play in the halves as well so it’d be interesting if he can put his head in the scrum at 13 because that’s what you need.
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“You need a player who can play 14 or a player who sits on your reserves that can play a number of positions.
“Again, that will be spoken about at the selectors meeting but he’s certainly putting pressure on actually being in the team itself but so is Dylan Edwards, so is Kalyn Ponga, you got Ryan Papenhuyzen coming back as well so there are plenty of good fullbacks around who can play a number of positions”
Rugby league legends Billy Moore and Mark Carroll are in Meninga’s corner, believing it’s hard to go against Tedesco.
“Does Teddy deserve the right to stay on as captain, well I reckon he’s earned it. You don’t deserve the Australian captaincy, you have to earn it,” Moore said on NRL 360.
“His Origin series wasn’t the best in Game I and Game II, but he starred in Game III and he’s leading the Roosters out of a dark spot now where they can potentially still of chance of playing finals. I think he’s earned the right to stay as captain.
“Reece Walsh is there and he will be nipping at his heels and if there’s a chink or a falter from Teddy, he’ll (Walsh) will grab it but I do believe Teddy is the right one to have the number one on his back this year.”
“And what has he done wrong playing for Australia? He’s had ten tests, captain six times, he was captain of the World Cup side that just won,” Carroll said.
“For me, just to hear loyalty is still in this game, I like that.”
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