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SYDNEY - Four uncapped players were today named in the Australian team to play New Zealand in a rugby league World Cup match in Sydney on Sunday.
Canberra's Joel Monaghan, Gold Coast's Anthony Laffranchi and Manly forwards Glenn Stewart and Josh Perry will all make their international debuts in the opening match of the Kangaroos' title defence.
Stewart and Laffranchi will form an uncapped backrow, Monaghan will play on the wing rather than his customary position at centre and Perry will start on the bench.
Manly's premiership-winning pair Anthony Watmough and David Williams were among the Australian squad members to miss selection.
Kangaroos
Billy Slater, Joel Monaghan, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Brent Tate, Darren Lockyer (captain), Jonathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Steve Price, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen.
Interchange: Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Anthony Tupou, Kurt Gidley.
- AAP
