Grand final hero Liam Martin ruled out as Raiders star earns Kangaroos call up
Updated . First published
Canberra backrower Hudson Young has been called into the Kangaroos squad after Liam Martin was ruled out on Thursday.
Grand final hero Martin will miss the Pacific Championships as he recovers from several injuries.
Young has played three Origin games for New South Wales but is now in line for a Test debut.
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James Tedesco has been axed as Kangaroos skipper, while both State of Origin captains have also been overlooked ahead of the Pacific Championships.
The champion Roosters fullback has been left out of Mal Meninga's 21-man group for the tournament, with Dylan Edwards expected to wear the No.1 jumper.
It comes despite Tedesco narrowly missing out on last week's Dally M Medal, finishing just one point behind Jahrome Hughes.
James Tedesco looking dejected during State of Origin game 1. NRL Images
After a messy saga over the past few weeks, Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga also missed out on selection, with Edwards and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow picked as fullback options.
Meninga stated the specialist nature of Ponga's talent at fullback as the reason for his absence.
"We consider Kalyn as a specialist fullback," he said at the Kangaroos press conference.
"When we looked at our team we thought Dylan was the number one fullback. He has been in the wings for quite a long time.
"We felt someone like Ben Hunt and Matt Burton who can play various positions (were better suited), which is why they are in the team.
"It was a difficult decision ... we have selected a whole array of players who can play different positions."
Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans shake hands before Origin. NRL
Manly duo Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans have been snubbed, with a host of players now in line for their Test debut in the green and gold.
"The two grand final team captains are involved," Meninga said when asked why the State of Origin captains were not selected.
"It's like anything, we sit around a table trying to select our best 21. We look at positions first then flexibility and ability."
The Kangaroos look dejected after losing the Pacific Cup to the Kiwis. Phil Walter via Getty Images
Zac Lomax, Mitchell Moses, Bradman Best and Reece Robson have all been called into Australian camp, with the end-of-year fixtures to begin on October 18.
Isaah Yeo will captain the Kangaroos after another stellar year with the Panthers.
"Isaah is an outstanding player and outstanding person and they are two great qualities we want in an Australian captain," said Meninga.
"He understands winning, he understands how to lead winning teams as well, I'm very comfortable that Isaah is the national captain.
"Isaah has been the vice-captain since the World Cup under Teddy [James Tedesco] and deserves that chance to captain his country."
Kangaroos squad
Mitch Barnett, Matt Burton, Bradman Best, Pat Carrigan, Xavier Coates, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Angus Crichton, Tom Dearden, Dylan Edwards, Harry Grant (vc), Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, Hudson Young, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Murray, Reece Robson, Lindsay Smith, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo (c)
