National selectors have named a controversy-free Kangaroo team, with all the expected big names in the mix.

Billy Slater won the race to the fullback spot, as expected, with Darren Locker starting at five-eighth, Melbourne pair Greg Inglis and Israel Folau lining up on the wings and Cowboys enforcer Carl Webb named on the bench.

Here is the full team to take on New Zealand on May 9:

1. Billy Slater
2. Greg Inglis
3. Mark Gasnier
4. Justin Hodges
5. Israel Folau
6. Darren Lockyer (c)
7. Johnathan Thurston
8. Brent Kite
9. Cameron Smith
10. Petero Civoniceva
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Paul Gallen
13. Greg Bird

14. Carl Webb
15. Anthony Tupou
16. Willie Mason
17. Kurt Gidley

Issac Luke to make Test debut

Boom South Sydney hooker Issac Luke will make his Test debut for New Zealand in the upcoming Centenary Test against Australia.

Luke, 20, has been named in a fresh-faced squad which includes other debutants Jason Nightingale and Setaimata Sa.

Hawera-born Luke, 20, graduates to the Kiwi squad after making his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs last June while Sydney-born Nightingale (21), whose parents are New Zealanders, first appeared at first-grade level last May.

No stranger to the try-line, Nightingale has scored five tries in seven matches for the Dragons this season and 12 in 23 matches in all.

While Luke, Nightingale and Sa are all new to the squad, several recent Kiwis have been recalled including 16-test fullback Brent Webb (Leeds), who missed all six tests last year. The only other player named from an English Super League club is Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai, used in last year’s series against Great Britain and in the one-off test against France in Paris.

Centre Iosia Soliola, prop Nathan Cayless, loose forward David Fa’alogo and second rower Sonny Bill Williams are all back in the side after last appearing in the Kiwi jersey in the 2007 Anzac Test.

Melbourne prop Adam Blair is back after playing four times in the 2006 Tri Nations campaign but missing much of last season through injury.

Apart from Leuluai, other players retained from last year’s tour to Britain and France are Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs) and Jeremy Smith (Melbourne). Joining them is South Sydney veteran David Kidwell, who left the tour early for personal reasons.

The playing line-up will be confirmed when the team assembles in Sydney next week, with Webb and Leuluai in doubt as their Super League clubs attempt to keep them in the UK.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD:

Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Brent Webb (Leeds), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Issac Luke (South Sydney)

Lockyer ruled out of Test
May 04, 2008

DETERMINED not to be a liability, Australia skipper Darren Lockyer has ruled himself out of Friday night's Centenary Test and most likely the opening game of Origin series due to ongoing complications with his surgically repaired right knee.

Lockyer said he knew just five minutes into Saturday night's NRL win over Wests Tigers that his Test hopes were dashed with the Brisbane ace to undergo another bout of surgery and an extended period on the sidelines.

He was due to fly back to Brisbane where he would meet with doctors on Monday and, while he was keen to get started on his rehabilitation as soon as possible, admitted the Origin opener at ANZ Stadium on May 21 was looking unlikely.

“Origin one's definitely doubtful, but again I want to move on this as quick as I can so going home and arranging a time for the doctor to have a look at it is what's important to me at the moment,” Lockyer said.

“I would have loved to have been a part of the (Test) but with my knee I wouldn't have been able to put any preparation in with the team.

“Then going into the game not knowing if it would hold up, I probably would have been more of a liability.

“I probably could get through the game ... but getting through the game wasn't a guarantee. It's just not worth the risk, it's such a big game.”

Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart confirmed Greg Bird would move from lock to five-eighth, where he played when Australia beat New Zealand 58-0 in Wellington last October.

Melbourne backrower Michael Crocker was surprisingly brought into the squad ahead of 18th man Anthony Laffranchi, Stuart saying he would wait until later in the week before deciding who would start in the back row.

The loss of Lockyer is a bitter blow not only to the Australians but also to the contest, which has already been robbed of New Zealand playmaker Benji Marshall with a knee injury.

With just over 6000 tickets sold for the match, Lockyer's withdrawal was the last thing organisers needed as they mark the 100th anniversary of the first Test between the two countries.

It was a match Lockyer was desperate to be part of, as evidenced by the fact he came back early against South Sydney last week. And he was determined to stay on the field against the Tigers last night despite being in obvious discomfort.

“My knee hasn't pulled up too good from (Saturday) night's game, in fact it was pretty ordinary right through,” Lockyer said.

“I had a couple of weeks rest and came back and played the Rabbits and I reckon for 70 minutes it was good. The last ten it started to get a bit painful.

“It was painful from about the fifth minute onwards.

“There's a couple of things in there that's giving me some grief. The first option last time was to give it a couple of weeks rest to see if it settled down, which it did, but obviously not enough.

“Our next option was always to go in there and have a bit of a scope and then depending on how much damage there is in there will determine how long I'm out.”

Despite the ongoing issues, Lockyer said the injury would not ruin his season, or worse, his career.

“My focus is to get rid of the injury and the last four or five weeks that's been my focus,” he said.

“I'm confident that once I get back to that 100 per cent fitness and my knee's going well, long-term it will be okay.”

Kiwis announce team for centenary test

Three debutants have been named by New Zealand selectors to take on the Kangaroos in Friday night's Centenary Test at the SCG in Sydney, while veteran backrower David Kidwell and Lance Hohaia have missed the cut.

Boom South Sydney hooker Issac Luke, Dragons winger Jason Nightingale and Roosters utility Setaimata Sa will be pulling on the Kiwi jersey for the first time to headline a team conspicuously devoid of Warriors players.

Just one of Ivan Cleary's New Zealand Warriors was selected in coach Stephen Kearney's 17-man squad, that being unheralded back-rower Simon Mannering.

Sydney Roosters players litter the backline (Sa, Iosia Soliola and Sam Perrett) while three of the battling Rabbitohs have been named in the starting forward pack (Roy Asotasi (c), Issac Luke and David Fa'alogo).

The New Zealand Team

1. Brent Webb
2. Jason Nightingale
3. Setaimata Sa
4. Iosia Soliola
5. Sam Perrett
6. Ben Roberts
7. Thomas Leuluai
8. Roy Asotasi (c)
9. Issac Luke
10. Nathan Cayless
11. Sonny Bill Williams
12. Simon Mannering
13. David Fa'alogo

14. Jeremy Smith
15. Dene Halatau
16. Adam Blair
17. Frank Pritchard

Green light for Thurston
May 09, 2008

AUSTRALIA half-back Johnathan Thurston passed a fitness test on his injured ankle this morning and will play in the Centenary Test against New Zealand at the SCG.

A team spokesman said Thurston had performed "better than expected" when he ran in front of team medical staff.

“Unless it swells up dramatically this afternoon he should be right to take his place,” the spokesman said.

Melbourne half-back Cooper Cronk remains on standby for Thurston, who rolled his ankle at training on Thursday and partially tore ligaments.

The news is a major boost for the Kangaroos, who lost skipper and Thurston's halves partner Darren Lockyer on Sunday.

Australia would have gone into the Test without a full training session with Cronk at No.7 after he only arrived in camp on Thursday night.

International Test Matches - INT Australia-N Zealand 80min

Margin Online Betting Closes 20:05 Fri 09 May 2008

Odds updated at: 2:40:32 PM

Result Paid at 80 minutes

Sportsbet No Selection (default) Price
6037 Australia 13+ 1.67
6038 Australia 1-12 3.25
6039 Draw 34.00
6040 New Zealand 1-12 6.75
6046 New Zealand 13+ 17.00

Australia 1-12 good value at $3.25

Inglis freak show leaves crowd gasping

"Freak" was all Australian coach Ricky Stuart needed to describe Greg Inglis after his sixth-minute heroics gave the Kangaroos the perfect start to Friday night's Centenary Test.

His play for Mark Gasnier's try laid the platform for a comfortable 28-12 win, but there was little comfort for the Kiwis in a blow from which they failed to recover.

Inglis juggled a precise Johnathan Thurston kick that went over Sam Perrett's head and then flicked the ball back over his own head as he sailed over the touchline.

The ball landed in the waiting hands of Gasnier who touched down with centimetres to spare, leaving even the Melbourne Storm magician amazed with his feat.

"We didn't know if it was a try or not," Inglis recalled.

"I just thought 'how the hell did I do that.

"It's just one of those things you've got to have a crack at. I should have caught the ball in the first place."

The lucky recipient of the basketball pass said he knew immediately that it was a try, even if the video referee was called to adjudicate.

"I just treated it like a slips catch," Gasnier said.

"I asked Greg if he'd landed and he said he didn't so I knew it was a try.

"It's probably the easiest try I've ever scored."