Mal Meninga has named an inexperienced Australia squad for their upcoming Pacific Championships campaign after swinging the axe following last year’s horror loss to New Zealand in the inaugural final. 

A host of big-name talent including Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Payne Haas have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries, while some veterans have been overlooked with eight debutants named. 

The Sporting News takes a look at the biggest winners and losers from the selection decisions.  

MORE: Australia Kangaroos reveal team for Pacific Championships

Winners and losers from Australia Kangaroos selection

Winners

Dylan Edwards

As if a fourth premiership in a row wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, Edwards will cap the most successful season of his career to date by donning the Australian No.1 jersey for the first time later this month. 

Not only did he usurp James Tedesco for New South Wales, but he also stole a march on the incumbent in the international arena.

“State of Origin was really important,” Meninga said as he revealed his working out to reach his decision. 

“We chose based on Origin form.”

After initially being picked by Michael Maguire for the Origin opener, Edwards withdrew due to injury only to return in Game II and Game III to help the Blues produce their stunning comeback series victory. 

Isaah Yeo

The Aussie coach paid a glowing tribute to Yeo’s stunning success at Penrith as well as underlining how he represented the present and future of the national side ahead of the tournament. 

Despite Patrick Carrigan and Cam Murray also being picked in the side, it will be the Panthers leader who will start at lock. 

“Isaah is an outstanding player and outstanding person and they are two great qualities we want in an Australian captain,” Meninga said.

“He understands winning and 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 and deserves the chance to captain his country.”

Mitch Moses

Moses endured a horror season for Parramatta as two separate injuries restricted him to making just eight appearances for his club.

In the time he spent off the field, long-term head coach Brad Arthur was axed as the Eels were unable to arrest their poor form, before they narrowly avoided picking up the wooden spoon.

Yet the halfback showcased his pedigree with two stellar showings for the Blues in Origin that went a considerable way to earning him a likely debut for his national side.

If he features in all three games for the Aussies, Moses could end up playing almost as many representative games as club fixtures in 2024.

Tom Trbojevic

After years in the wilderness at international level, Tom Trbojevic will play for the Kangaroos once again. 

The Manly talisman suffered shoulder and knee injuries during the business end of the campaign which hampered him during the finals series. 

However, he has put those concerns behind him to be named in the Aussie side for the first time in six years. 

“He’s chomping at the bit to put that green and gold jersey on which is wonderful news for us,” Meninga said ahead of confirming Turbo’s selection. 

“He loves the environment and putting on his country’s colours and we’re verry happy to have him.”

Tom Dearden

Fresh from being crowned the Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year, Dearden has been named in the squad and looks set to be handed the No.6 jersey in Cameron Munster’s absence. 

The North Queensland co-captain showed maturity beyond his years throughout a rollercoaster season which included a losing Origin campaign with Queensland and an up-and-down year with the Cowboys.

The 23-year-old registered nine tries and 13 assists during his 23 matches for Todd Payten’s side to earn the nod.

Zac Lomax

Lomax started the season unhappy with Shane Flanagan’s decision to move him from out of the centres and onto the wing.

It’s fair to say that the decision has paid off for the 25-year-old, who produced a stellar campaign to rocket himself into the conversation for being one of the best wingers in the game. 

He made his Origin debut under Maguire and now looks set to grab his maiden Test jersey under Meninga with fellow debutant Xavier Coates to join him on the flanks. 

Lindsay Smith

The premiership-winning Panthers prop has continued his impressive season with a surprise call-up. 

The 24-year-old has established himself as a core member of Ivan Cleary’s all-conquering NRL outfit in the past two years.

He was used off the interchange bench in 19 of his 27 appearances in 2024, averaging 104 run metres along with 32 tackles per game.

With Smith set to take over as the starting prop for Penrith next season following James Fisher-Harris’ exit, the forward could now potentially do so as a Kangaroos representative.  

Kalyn Ponga

The Newcastle star got his wish in the end as the Aussie selectors chose not to pick him. 

Ponga caused a stir when he knocked back the initial invitation, citing how he wanted to concentrate on the Knights instead.

After copping a backlash for this, he backflipped on his decision and made himself available.

However, to complete the saga, Meninga has opted not to select the fullback and instead went with Edwards, who will be supported by Tom Trbojevic and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the back. 

“When we looked at the team, we considered Dylan was the best fullback in our game, particularly for the Kangaroos, so we chose Dylan in front of Kalyn,” Meninga explained.

“And then we look at the versatility of players and we consider Matt Burton and Ben Hunt can play a number of positions in the team and we considered Kalyn as a fullback and that’s why he has been left out.”

Losers

James Tedesco

Tedesco has lost his position as both NSW and Australia captain in the space of a year with Edwards taking over as the country’s best fullback.

Meninga admitted the call to the Roosters champion was a tough one to make but outlined how the Panthers’ No.1 deserved the opportunity after playing on the wing for the Aussies last year.

“It was a difficult conversation,” the coach said.

“But with the evolution of the team after last year’s loss to New Zealand, we felt it was necessary.”

It marks the first time Tedesco has been omitted from the national side since making his debut for the Kangaroos in 2018.

Daly Cherry-Evans

The Manly veteran’s international career appears to be over after he was overlooked for the tournament.

At the end of his club season, the halfback expressed his desire to once again pull on the Kangaroos jersey but admitted that it was Nathan Cleary’s to lose.

However, DCE didn’t factor in how Moses had also jumped ahead of him in the pecking order in the eyes of the selectors, with Hunt then selected due to his utility value.

Jake Trbojevic

Despite a host of talent in the casualty ward – Haas, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Tom Flegler – Jake Trbojevic was unable to work his way into the Aussie front row.

The Blues skipper lost his place in the squad with Smith and debutant Mitch Barnett preferred, with the forward unlikely to add to his six Test caps in the future.  

“The two grand final team captains are involved,” Meninga responded when asked why Origin skippers DCE and Trbojevic had been left out. 

“It’s like anything, we sit around a table trying to select our best 21. We look at positions first then flexibility and ability.”

Nathan Cleary

The Panthers halfback has dominated in every arena, but the international stage continues to elude him through no fault of his own. 

Despite orchestrating four consecutive premiership wins and Origin series victories for the Blues over the years, Cleary has played just twice for his country.

“I said to mum that I’ve got to play three games [this year], and that’d be it,” Cleary said in the aftermath of guiding Penrith to their fourth consecutive premiership while nursing a shoulder issue which has ruled him out. 

“I knew if I worked hard that I could get back for those three games and be sweet and it worked out.”