James Tedesco axed, six changes made as Paul Gallen overhauls Kangaroos team

Former Kangaroos captain Paul Gallen has made six changes to the Australian team he would pick for next month's Pacific Championships.

Australia will play New Zealand and Tonga in the men's Pacific Cup draw, starting October 18 in Brisbane.

It gives Mal Meninga's team the chance to hit back after being humiliated 30-0 in last year's final by the Kiwis.

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Gallen has axed six players from the team that lost that game, although Dolphins prop Thomas Flegler remains sidelined with injury.

Incumbent fullback and captain James Tedesco, centre Kotoni Staggs, halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, middle forward Jake Trbojevic, and utility Nicho Hynes have all been left out by Gallen, who put forward his ideal line-up on Nine's 100% Footy on Monday.

Selwyn Cobbo, Zac Lomax, Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, and Angus Crichton are the players called in to Gallen's line-up.

"I've gone Dylan Edwards (at fullback) just in front of Kalyn Ponga, because you just know what you're going to get from this bloke," he said.

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"I've gone for Carrigan in the front row because you can't leave Isaah Yeo out, and I think Carrigan is probably the best middle forward in the game at the moment.

"That's based on guys like Stephen Crichton (and) Spencer Leniu will play for Samoa, which I think they will."

Tedesco was brutally axed by new State of Origin coach Michael Maguire this year in favour of Panthers fullback Edwards. New South Wales beat Queensland for the first time in three years.

Last year Meninga refused to axe Tedesco despite calls for him to be dropped on form.

In Gallen's team, Lomax would be making his debut in the green and gold, following his stellar Origin debut for the Blues.

GAL'S KANGAROOS TEAM

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Zac Lomax 6. Cameron Munster 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Harry Grant 10. Patrick Carrigan 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Ben Hunt 15. Reuben Cotter 16. Cameron Murray 17. Lindsay Collins

Last Kangaroos team (Pacific Championships 2023 final): 1. James Tedesco 2. Dylan Edwards 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Ben Hunt 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Cameron Murray 12. Reuben Cotter 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Nicho Hynes