League: Aussie pair deny squabble over captain's selection role

Skipper Cameron Smith.

Cameron Smith and Nate Myles were allegedly involved in a blow-up relating to the Australian skipper's influence on World Cup team selections, but both players yesterday denied they ever came close to fisticuffs.

Claims of a heated row between the Queensland and Kangaroo teammates has been the talk among NRL players after reports emerged over the weekend that the two most unlikely sparring partners were involved in an angry war of words last week.

The Daily Telegraph was told Myles' frustrations centred on Smith's influence as captain - but both Smith and Myles yesterday denied they had a problem.

Myles didn't play in the weekend quarter-final win over the United States in Wales.

The two players were in conversation when the team bus arrived in London yesterday and they didn't appear to be ready for round two.

When approached to see if there was any substance to claims Myles had asked Smith "outside", Smith said: "It's a beat-up."

Asked if he had challenged the captain, Myles laughed: "It's 2C outside, why would I ask him outside?"

Smith said: "There was nothing in it. I don't know why it's a story."

The latest allegation follows Billy Slater's fight outside a nightclub in the early hours last week, and Josh Papalii was robbed on his way home after a night out on the very first night of the tour.

Slater's hopes of any further play on the tour appeared over after he limped into London yesterday. The Kangaroos management said they would have to wait for the swelling to go down to get a clear indication of the extent of the damage to his left knee, but there is almost no chance of him playing any part in the tournament from here.

Greg Inglis will take over at fullback which opens the door for Josh Morris or Michael Jennings to play left centre.

Brent Tate is a specialist right centre who hasn't put a foot wrong all tour, but Jarryd Hayne's four-try performance against the US will make it difficult for Tate to come back into the starting team.

- additional reporting: Sydney