LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a surprising turn of events, Penrith forward Lindsay Smith has been selected for the Kangaroos squad, setting the stage for a potential showdown with his Kiwi mentor.
The news came as a shock to Smith, who had been contemplating his future in the Penrith forward pack before this unexpected opportunity arose.
Smith, who credits his premiership teammate James Fisher-Harris as a major influence on his career, will now have the chance to face off against the revered Kiwis leader in the upcoming Pacific Championship.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has assembled a squad of 21 players, including eight new faces, with the goal of avenging last year's loss to New Zealand in the final.
The crushing 30-0 defeat from last year still weighs heavily on Meninga, who is determined to lead his team to victory in the upcoming game against Tonga in Brisbane.
The coach expressed his motivation to bounce back from the previous loss, using it as fuel to drive himself and the team towards success.
"It's been gnawing at me for a while now," Meninga shared at the squad announcement.
"We don't take defeat lightly, and it's something that will push us to work harder and come out on top in the future." With Smith now part of the Kangaroos squad, the stage is set for an intense battle on the rugby league field, filled with sporting cliches and Australian determination.