Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga’s changing of the guard has continued, with veteran utility Ben Hunt not chosen to take the field against Tonga.
The Queensland Maroons’ hooker was tipped to relieve starting No.9 Harry Grant in Brisbane on Friday night, but his customary bench role will instead be taken by Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton, who won a premiership with Penrith and a State of Origin series at centre.
It means Meninga will demand an 80-minute performance from vice-captain Grant against Tonga, although interchange prop Reuben Cotter also came through the ranks as a young dummy-half before converting to the forwards.
Ben Hunt in action at Kangaroos training.Credit: NRL Photos
But Meninga said on Tuesday the decision to name Hunt as 18th man was less about his own form and more about Tom Trbojevic, who has been selected in the centres – a position he has played once since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in last year’s Origin campaign.
The Manly fullback has been battling an AC joint setback leading into the Pacific Championships, which required him to play with pain-killing injections in the NRL finals, and it was initially expected he would miss the tournament to undergo surgery.
“It was difficult, there’s no doubt. We felt in hindsight Tommy hasn’t played for a bit, he hasn’t played in the centres, so it’s a bit precautionary I guess, around his shoulder,” Meninga said.
Matt Burton pictured at Kangaroos training.Credit: NRL Photos
“He’s having no problems at the moment, but we’re just making sure that if anybody goes down out wide … I just felt we needed an outside back coverage.
“I think we get the best out of Harry when he’s allowed to play long minutes, and as long as he possibly can. We feel that Harry’s got 80 minutes, and being vice-captain, we don’t want to hinder that.”
