Guns snubbed for Origin firm as Roos World Cup bolters

NSW would just shade Queensland in representation in the 19-man Kangaroos squad for the World Cup if it was picked now, in the wake of the Blues’ upset State of Origin triumph.

My 19-man squad contains 10 Blues and nine Maroons and has the class, strength and depth to get the job done for Australia.

I have picked several players who were unavailable for Origin due to injury - Storm wing flyer Xavier Coates, Souths’ dynamic centre Latrell Mitchell, Cowboys half Tom Dearden and my ‘bolter’, Warriors workhorse Jackson Ford.

Ford was available for Origin I and II but was overlooked despite being the form front-rower of the NRL competition. 

He is expected to be back for the finals and if he can reproduce his early season form, should be the first front-rower picked. 

Fullback is the biggest headache for Kevin Walters and the selectors with three contenders - James Tedesco, Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh - vying for the two tour spots.

I’ve gone for Tedesco in the starting side and Walsh, who covers several backline spots, on the bench and Edwards the odd man out. It’s of course a demotion for Walsh, who lit up the UK in the Ashes at the end of last year.

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Bradman Best deserves a start in the centres after his superb season to date - and he and Mitchell give the Blues great strike power on both edges. 

Selwyn Cobbo wasn’t great in the Origin decider but how many Queenslanders were? On the balance of the season, he should get a spot on the flank.

On form, Cam Munster would miss the team, but his reputation as a big-match player and role as Queensland captain will see him selected. 

Nathan Cleary will steer the team around the park, with Dearden a capable back-up who can play the minor games.

Liam Martin’s awesome performance on Wednesday night should get him into the squad and I’d have him in the starting 13 alongside another firebrand, Canberra’s Hudson Young, in the second row. 

Jacob Preston is a selection for the future and he would be my bench second-rower, with Isaah Yeo just edging out Cam Murray for the lock spot in the run-on team.

I have picked Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as a starting front-rower, but the Titans skipper has indicated he may choose to represent Samoa instead of Australia at the World Cup.

The Mole’s Kangaroos squad

1. James Tedesco 2. Xavier Coates 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Bradman Best 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Cameron Munster 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Jackson Ford 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Liam Martin 12. Hudson Young 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tom Dearden 15. Patrick Carrigan 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Jacob Preston 18. Cam Murray 19. Reece Walsh