Sydney, Newcastle eye World Cup spots

Toia

Rob Toia's World Cup choice is contested by Australia and Tonga, with the Roosters centre among 24 players with international ambitions in the grand final.

Australian coach Kevin Walters could select as many as eight players from the Roosters and Newcastle, with the Kangaroos squad due Monday, less than 24 hours after the match.

Potential Australian debutants include Roosters halfback Sam Walker and Newcastle five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe, a versatile backline option.

Australia opens against New Zealand in Sydney on October 15, when Kalyn Ponga is expected to make his Kiwis debut.

Newcastle centre Dane Gagai was cleared to represent New Zealand despite winning seven Australian caps, his last in 2018.

Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton, members of last year's Kangaroos tour, will be unavailable as they prepare to switch to rugby union.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf expects Toia, Salesi Foketi and Siua Wong to be available against England in Perth on October 17.

"I'm definitely hopeful of making that Tonga side," said Wong, who played for Fiji at the 2022 World Cup.

Roosters teammates Hugo Savala and Billy Smith could join England's squad, while Victor Radley and Newcastle winger Dominic Young have been regulars for four years.

"I'm obviously wanting to play and hopefully I get the opportunity to do that," said Young.

"I think we're building a pretty strong team and I think we're excited for what we can do."

Newcastle forwards Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua have declared for Samoa, where they could join Roosters prop Spencer Leniu.

"If I'm a part of it, I'm going to give my all for Samoa.

"Playing for Samoa, representing the people, is a different level, I don't know what it is, but like there's no amount of money that can pay for the experience that we experienced in 2022."

Leniu, a member of Samoa's 2022 World Cup squad, said the team faces Tonga at Parramatta's CommBank Stadium on November 1.

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