Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes and Panthers fullback have been added to the Gallagher Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships in place of Nathan Cleary and Josh Addo-Carr.
Cleary has withdrawn due to a knee injury sustained in Penrith's premiership win over Brisbane while Addo-Carr has been issued with a breach notice following an NRL Integrity Unit investigation into an alleged incident at NSW Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Competition on September 30.
Hynes recently featured as part of the Australia Prime Minister's XIII side in their 30-18 win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby last month.
Hynes and Edwards join Broncos trio Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler and Kotoni Staggs as potential debutants in the 21-man squad, with the Brisbane trio joining teammates Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan in the green and gold.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who played centre for Queensland in their Origin series win earlier this year, is the other rookie in the team.
The updated squad, listed alphabetically, is as follows:
- Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
- Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
- Selwyn Cobbo* (Broncos)
- Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
- Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
- Dylan Edwards* (Panthers)
- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
- Thomas Flegler* (Broncos)
- Harry Grant (Storm)
- Payne Haas (Broncos)
- Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
- Ben Hunt (Dragons)
- Nicho Hynes* (Sharks)
- Liam Martin (Panthers)
- Cameron Munster (Storm)
- Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
- Kotoni Staggs* (Broncos)
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow* (Dolphins)
- James Tedesco, capt. (Roosters)
- Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
- Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Australia will play its first game of the Pacific Championships against Samoa in Townsville on October 14 before taking on New Zealand in Melbourne on October 28. The final of the tournament will be played the following week in Hamilton.
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