Pacific Cup Teams: Lindsay Smith to face brutal Test initiation after he was picked to make Kangaroos debut against Tonga
Two-time premiership winner Lindsay Smith will cap an incredible couple of years when he makes his Test debut in Sunday’s Pacific Cup final for Australia against Tonga’s formidable forward pack.
Smith has come off the bench in each of Penrith’s past two grand final wins, and he will again be asked to provide some punch midway through the first half after the Kangaroos were forced to make a key change in the forwards.
South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray will miss the final with a serious wrist injury which sees Hudson Young promoted into the starting side in the back row.
“It’s been a few years in the making,” Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said from the team’s training base in Wyong. “I’ve watched him for a long time now and he’s always been a player of great promise. He’s had a tremendous couple of years playing for the Panthers so he knows how to win.”
Meninga has decided to bring Smith in against a Tongan side that could get Keaon Koloamatangi back after he was named in the reserves.
Camera IconLindsay Smith has been rewarded with a Test debut after winning back-to-back titles with Penrith. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied
They’ve named an unchanged 17 from the side that shocked New Zealand 25-24 last week to book their spot in the final in Sydney, with the Kiwis looking to avoid relegation when they face PNG later that evening.
The Jillaroos are looking to avenge their loss to the Kiwi Ferns in last year’s final and have named a very strong side to tackle New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.
Olivia Higgins has been named at hooker despite dislocating her wrist a fortnight ago, with doctors able to put it back in place immediately.
There is one change on the bench with Keeley Davis brought into the side. Jess Sergis drops out of the 17, while Quincy Dodd was unable to recover from the quad strain that she suffered in the win over PNG last month.
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