Kangaroos

The iconic trio of Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater have all retired from representative rugby, while Michael Morgan has suffered a season-ending pectoral tear.

As such, Meninga is keeping a close eye on the Origin series, which New South Wales Blues lead 1-0 after game one.

"A lot of weight will be placed on the Origin series this year and who wins it," Meninga said.

"Particularly around the spine, your nine, seven, six and one. Some of our greatest ever players have retired so our spots are wide open."

Manly's Dylan Walker – the Dally M Centre of the Year – was an unfortunate casualty of the Prime Minister's XIII game in Papua New Guinea and would almost certainly have earned selection, but his absence leaves Chambers and Dane Gagai as the only Kangaroos to have played a minimum of five NRL games in the centres this season.

Instead, the proliferation of fullbacks at the representative level continued with Meninga selecting five players who have spent significant time in the No.1 jersey during the course of the season.

Prop Andrew Fifita will now start in the front row on Friday night against New Zealand at GIO Stadium, after Boyd was ruled out due to a lower leg injury.

Jake Trbojevic has been promoted to the interchange bench in place of Fifita.

The updated 2017 AnzacTest Kangaroos squad is: 
 

While the Aussies are the favourties for the game, the Kiwis have a reputation for upsets against the Kangaroos.

Inglis also spoke in support of injured teammates Sam Thaiday and Josh Mansour.

Australia claimed the match 38-16 at the London Stadium, however Thaiday was forced from the field following a heavy collision with England forward James Graham. 

The pair clashed heads, with the Australian coming off second best, and was taken to hospital for scans on the injury. 

“Unfortunately it will probably put [Thaiday] out of the game next week,” Australian coach Mal Meninga said post-match. 

“I think it was accidental.” 

Kangaroos playmaker Cooper Cronk echoed those sentiments after the comprehensive victory. 

It follows news that veteran forward Sam Thaiday has been passed fit after he completed the captain's run at London's Olympic Stadium.

Thaiday had been in doubt all week following the Kangaroos' last-start win over the Kiwis but will play club coach Wayne Bennett's England outfit.

The result in Workington, which saw Scotland become the first second-tier nation to gain a point at a Four Nations tournament, means a draw or win against Australia will now guarantee England of a spot in the November 20 final at Anfield, Liverpool.

With Australia getting up for a 54-12 victory over Scotland in the opening round of tournament play last week and the Kiwis edging past England 17-16, the winner of the trans-Tasman Test on Sunday morning (AEDT) will inch closer to securing a spot in the Four Nations final.

Fullback Matt Moylan (Kangaroo No 812), centre Justin O'Neill (813), five-eighth James Maloney (811), lock Jake Trbojevic (814) and interchange player Jake Friend (815) will all play in the green and gold jersey for the first time.

Cooper Cronk will play his 30th Test match for Australia against the Bravehearts.

Australia will play The Bravehearts in Hull to open the Four Nations in the first of six pool matches. The game will kick-off at 6.00am AEDT on Saturday, October 29 (5.00am in Queensland).

Kangaroos centre Josh Dugan said the squad had already started to acclimatise to the UK time zone and conditions.