The 24 man squad, features seven Australian first timers and will assemble on October 18 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Coogee ready to open their World Cup defence at the tournament’s official opening ceremony at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26 against New Zealand.
The VB Kangaroos will also mark 100 years of Tests against England when the two nations meet at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome on November 2. With their other round robin against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on November 9.
The Australian squad is:
Terry Campese* Canberra Raiders
Petero Civoniceva Penrith Panthers
Michael Crocker Melbourne Storm
Craig Fitzgibbon Sydney Roosters
Israel Folau Melbourne Storm
Paul Gallen Cronulla Sharks
Kurt Gidley Newcastle Knights
Justin Hodges Brisbane Broncos
Greg Inglis Melbourne Storm
Brent Kite Manly Sea Eagles
Anthony Laffranchi* Gold Coast Titans
Darren Lockyer (capt) Brisbane Broncos
Joel Monaghan* Canberra Raiders
Josh Perry* Manly Sea Eagles
Steve Price NZ Warriors
Scott Prince Gold Coast Titans
Billy Slater Melbourne Storm
Cameron Smith Melbourne Storm
Brett Stewart Manly Sea Eagles
Glenn Stewart* Manly Sea Eagles
Brent Tate NZ Warriors
Johnathan Thurston Nth QLD Cowboys
Anthony Watmough* Manly Sea Eagles
David Williams* Manly Sea Eagles
(* denotes debutant)