Dane Gagai makes Australia debut in World Cup opener against England
Tuesday 24 October 2017 09:41, UK
Australian coach Mal Meninga will give debuts to three players against England in Friday's World Cup opener at AAMI Park.
Winger Dane Gagai, who is moving from Newcastle to South Sydney for 2018, and interchange forwards Wade Graham and Jordan McLean are the new faces while Meninga has opted to play North Queensland utility man Michael Morgan in place of his injured Cowboys team-mate Johnathan Thurston.
Morgan got the nod ahead of Cameron Munster and James Maloney to partner Cooper Cronk.
Gagai, who made history this year by becoming the first winger to be named man of the match in a State of Origin Series, takes over from Blake Ferguson, who played in the 2016 Four Nations Series and the ANZAC Test in May.
"Dane had a tremendous State of Origin series and deserves to play for the Kangaroos and it will be great to see him in the green and gold," Meninga said.
Gagai said he was told earlier in the week about his call-up but was sworn to secrecy.
"It's obviously a great honour and privilege to get the call-up to represent the green and gold," he said. "It got announced the other day in one of our meetings and it was a pretty surreal moment for myself.
"I called up the family to tell them the news but also to keep their mouths shut. They are obviously proud of me. It was tough keeping it a secret, you want to sing out and let everyone know but it's out there now.
"Obviously you dream of representing your state and your country. I'm just looking to go out there and do everything I can not to let these boys down."
Australia: Billy Slater, Dane Gagai, Will Chambers, Josh Duggan, Valentine Holmes, Michael Morgan, Cooper Cronk; Aaron Woods, Cameron Smith (capt), David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Matt Gillett, Jake Trbojevic.
Interchange (from): Wade Graham, Jordan McLean, Josh McGuire, Tyson Frizell, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ben Hunt, Tom Trbojevic, Felise Kaufusi.
