Provisional Australian world cup squad announced for world cup defence.

The big news coming from the Australian provisional squad is that Michael Crocker and Danny Buderus are in it and are likely to participate in the world cup despite Ricky Stuart saying previously that he will not select those players fleeing away from the NRL. This is something I haven’t particularly liked about Australian selection policy of recent years. If a player is playing in Super League, he is automatically not selected and is typical of the Australian attitude towards the international game. While they can claim that it is difficult to monitor player’s progress on the other side of the world, it seems a very excuse to exclude a player who is possibly outplaying other NRL players in the Super League. But as well all know, the Australians don’t like the words ‘super’ and ‘league’ when used next to each other for several reasons that happened thirteen years ago.

However, in 2008 the Super League War is irrelevant and with the build up the world cup fast approaching, here is the squad that is likely to successfully defend the Australian crown, according to Fox Sports.

Braith Anasta, Greg Bird, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Ben Creagh, Michael Crocker, Cooper Cronk, Ben Cross, Robbie Farah, Craig Fitzgibbon, Israel Folau, Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne, Justin Hodges, Ryan Hoffman, Karmichael Hunt, Greg Inglis, Michael Jennings, Dallas Johnson, Brent Kite, Anthony Laffranchi, Darren Lockyer, Willie Mason, Joel Monaghan, Nate Myles, Luke O'Donnell, Josh Perry, Justin Poore, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Anthony Quinn, Steve Simpson, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Anthony Tupou, Anthony Watmough, Carl Webb, Brett White, Craig Wing.

So out of those forty players, Ricky Stuart must pick thirteen to begin their world cup defence against Australia. Providing everyone if fit enough to play, your looking at this starting line up come 26^th October.

Billy Slater

Jarryd Hayne

Brent Tate

Greg Inglis

Israel Folau

Darren Lockyer

Jonathon Thurston

Steve Price

Cameron Smith

Willie Mason

Petero Civoniceva

Craig Fitzgibbon

Dallas Johnson

Karmicheal Hunt

Carl Webb

Danny Buderus

And one other, most likely out of Steve Simpson, Sam Thaiday, Luke O’Donnell and Ben Cross.

So while this was all happening down under, the Irish side named their forty man provisional squad. The big name in the squad is Brett White from Melbourne, who is about as Irish a Fosters. But then again, so is half the squad anyway.

Paddy Barcoe (Carlow), Dave Bates (unattached), Bob Beswick (Widnes), Damien Blanche (Wakefield), Declan Brady (North Dublin), Chris Bridge (Warrington), Mike Brodie (Treaty), Dave Buckley (York), Mick Cassidy (Barrow), Ged Corcoran (Sheffield), Gavin Dodd (Widnes), Lee Doran (Leigh), Liam Finn (Dewsbury), Simon Finnigan (Bradford), Karl Fitzpatrick (Salford), Dean Gaskell (Widnes), Stevie Gibbons (Carlow), Sean Gleeson, Jason Golden, Scott Grix (all Wakefield), Simon Grix (Warrington), Gareth Haggerty (Harlequins), Paul Handforth (Featherstone), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Graham Holroyd (Halifax), Wayne Kerr (Carlow), Stuart Littler (Salford), Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington), Shannon McDonnell (Wests), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Shayne McMenemy (Western Reds), Eamon O'Carrol (Wigan), Kevin O'Rhiordan (Treaty), Michael Platt (Bradford), Paul Prescott, Pat Richards (both Wigan), Tony Stewart (Leigh), Ryan Tandy (Wests), Billy Treacy (Treaty), Brett White (Melbourne)

However, it is nice to see players being selected from the Irish Carnegie League. As this is a selective requirement put in place by the RLIF it comes as no real surprise. From a biased point of view, it is nice to see four Warrington players in there, including the injured Chris Bridge.

Make what you will, of his selection.