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St
George Illawarra Dragons lock forward Shaun
Timmins has been a surprise omission from
the upcoming Tri-Nations series.
Panthers
front rower Trent Waterhouse was also overlooked.
Timmins
has a history of chronic knee problems but
was able to play earlier this year in the
Anzac Test against New Zealand. He also starred
for the NSW side which won the State of Origin
series.
But
the news was good for Dragons for prop Jason
Ryles and centre Matt Cooper.
Cooper
has a had a meteoric rise in 2004, making
his representative debut in this year's City-Country
Origin game before playing for NSW.
"It
was a good shock. It means the world to me.
I have been playing football since I was four.
When you're little this is what you dream
of, to play for your country." Cooper
said.
Meanwhile
four Bulldogs have been named in the squad
with Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Mark O'Meley
and Willie Tonga all being included after
playing in Sunday's 16-13 grand final win
over the Sydney Roosters.
The
Roosters side also have four players in the
squad with Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon,
Anthony Minichiello and Craig Wing all getting
the call.
A
surprise selection was Brisbane's Tonie Carroll
who was rewarded after a solid season with
the Broncos. Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen was
also given the nod.
Panthers
winger Luke Rooney is amongst seven debutantes
joining Ryan, O'Meley, Tonga, Bowen, Carroll
and Cooper.
Full
Kangaroos squad:
Shaun Berrigan, Matt Bowen, Danny Buderus
(v-capt), Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva,
Matt Cooper, Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon,
Craig Gower, Scott Hill, Nathan Hindmarsh,
Ben Kennedy, Brett Kimmorley, Darren Lockyer
(capt), Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello,
Mark O'Meley, Luke Rooney, Andrew Ryan, Jason
Ryles, Matt Sing, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga,
Shane Webcke, Craig Wing.
The tournament begins in mid October 2004
in New Zealand. The Australian Kangaroos and
the New Zealand Kiwis will match up first.
They then fly to the UK for all subsequent
matches where the Great Britain & Ireland
Lions await them.
Sat
Oct 16: New Zealand v Australia, in New Zealand
Sat Oct 23: Australia v New Zealand, Loftus
Road, London
Sat Oct 30: Great Britain v Australia, City
of Manchester Stadium
Sat Nov 6: Great Britain v New Zealand, McAlpine
Stadium, Huddersfield
Sat Nov 13: Great Britain v Australia, JJB
Stadium, Wigan
Sat Nov 20: Great Britain v New Zealand, KC
Stadium, Hull
Sat Nov 27: Gillette Tri-Nations Final, Elland
Road, Leeds
.
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