St George Illawarra
captain Trent Barrett has been selected at five
eighth for the Australian Test team and will take
on New Zealand in Wellington next Saturday.
In what looks like
a selection bungle, centre Mark Gasnier has been
overlooked with Brisbane's Brent Tate and Newcastle's
Matthew Gidley snaring the centre positions. Gasnier,
along with team mate Jason Ryles toured with the
Kangaroos in 2001.
Gasnier has scored
12 tries in just 14 appearances in 2002 and has
been in tremendous form despite being injured early
in the year.
Its understood that
front rower, Ryles was unable to participate in
the Test train-on squad on the weekend due to an
ongoing foot injury.
The full squad is:
Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
Timana Tahu (Newcastle)
Brent Tate (Brisbane)
Matt Gidley (Newcastle)
Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
Trent Barrett (St George Illawarra)
Brett Kimmorley (Cronulla)
Scott Hill (Melbourne)
Gorden Tallis (Brisbane, capt)
Ben Kennedy (Newcastle)
Jason Stevens (Cronulla)
Danny Buderus (Newcastle)
Shane Webcke (Brisbane).
Interchange:
Craig Wing (Sydney Roosters)
Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters)
Steve Menzies (Northern Eagles)
Willie Mason (Bulldogs).
Travelling reserve:
Dane Carlaw (Brisbane).
