League: Kangaroos squad announced

3.45pm

SYDNEY - New NRL premiers the Bulldogs have four players, including three debutants, in the 25-man Australian rugby league squad named today for the Tri-Nations series.

Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Mark O'Meley and Willie Tonga were the Bulldogs included after playing in last night's 16-13 grand final win over the Sydney Roosters.

Ryan, O'Meley and Tonga are among seven debutants, along with Matt Bowen, Tonie Carroll, Luke Rooney and Matt Cooper.

The most notable omissions were Penrith forwards Joel Clinton and Trent Waterhouse and St George-Illawarra utility Shaun Timmins.

The Roosters got four players into the squad -- Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Minichiello and Craig Wing.

Brisbane are best represented in coach Wayne Bennett's squad with six players -- captain Darren Lockyer, Carroll, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate and Shane webcke.

Carroll makes the squad for the series against New Zealand and Great Britain after playing for the Kiwis in the 2000 World Cup.

The selectors had planned to name a 23-man squad but expanded it to 25.

Australian squad: Shaun Berrigan, Matt Bowen, Danny Buderus, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon, Craig Gower, Scott Hill, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ben Kennedy, Brett Kimmorley, Darren Lockyer (capt), Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello, Mark O'Meley, Luke Rooney, Andrew Ryan, Jason Ryles, Matt Sing, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Shane webcke, Craig Wing.

- AAP