LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
As reported by the Raiders website, Mal Meninga is throwing his support behind young guns Lindsay Smith and Hudson Young in the starting lineup for the Kangaroos.
Despite missing out on some of his key players, Meninga is confident that giving these rising stars a chance will pay off big time for the reigning world champions.
Smith, a former two-time Panthers premiership winner, will be making his Test debut coming off the bench in the intense Pacific Cup final on Sunday.
On the other hand, Young, hailing from Canberra, is getting his first start for the Kangaroos.
Smith will face a tough challenge against the formidable Tonga pack, while Young only got a taste of action against them in the first week.
However, Meninga firmly believes that both players are more than capable of rising to the occasion and making a significant impact on the game.