Sharks half back Nicho Hynes has been called into the Kangaroos squad for the 2023 Pacific Championships to be played from October 14 to November 4 and featuring Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, the Cook Island, Fiji and PNG.
Hynes, who finished third on the 2023 Dally M Medal count after claiming the NRL’s prestigious best player award the previous year, while also making his debut appearance for NSW in 2023 State or Origin series this season, replaces Panther Nathan Cleary who has withdrawn due to injury.
“I’m grateful to have this opportunity to be around the best of the best,” Hynes said. “It’s an experience I’ve dreamt of and there is no better way to close out the year.”
The Sharks star joins a team boasting experienced international campaigners such as James Tedesco, Daly Cheery Evans, Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt, as well as host of debutants, with six players from the Brisbane Broncos included in the 21-man squad.
The Kangaroos, who are in a pool with the Kiwis and Samoa. tackle the Samoans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday, October 14, before taking on New Zealand at AAMI Park on October 28.
A Pacific Championships Final will then be contested between the leading two teams at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, NZ, on November 4.
See below the 21-man Australian squad.
Australia
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos), Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos), Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm), Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos), Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys), Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons), Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks), Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), James Tedesco, capt. (Sydney Roosters), Jake Trbojevic (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers).
