Former Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has named his preferred line-up to face England in the upcoming Ashes Series clash later this year, following the conclusion of the 2025 State of Origin series.
With the Australian national team still without an appointed head coach – despite speculation around names like Cameron Smith and Wayne Bennett – Meninga shared his ideal line-up on SEN, featuring a blend of in-form players and seasoned veterans.
Notably, the ex-Kangaroos coach’s 17-man squad features eight players from the NSW Blues’ losing Origin side.
While 2025 Wally Lewis Medal winner Tom Dearden earns a spot on the interchange bench in Meninga’s line-up, having made his Kangaroos debut under the former coach last year, where he filled in at No. 6 for the injured Cameron Munster.
MORE: Next Kangaroos coach: Wayne Bennett mooted for national team return
"I think his better years are still in front of him and the thing about him is that he's dangerous," Meninga said about Dearden on SEN Radio.
"He's got good rugby league IQ there's no doubt about it but he's got that run first mentality, which I think you need to be a halfback in the modern era."
Five players from last year's Pacific Championships Final appear to have been left out of the former Kangaroos coach’s Ashes Series squad, including Tom Trbojevic, Mitchell Moses, Matt Burton, Mitchell Barnett, and Lindsay Smith.
Current Queensland captain Cameron Munster has been named captain in Meninga’s preferred Kangaroos squad, taking over the role from New South Wales captain Isaah Yeo who held it in 2024.
Mal Meninga’s full Kangaroos team line-up
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Xavier Coates
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Zac Lomax
6. Cameron Munster (c)
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
9. Harry Grant
10. Payne Haas
11. Angus Crichton
12. Hudson Young
13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange
14. Tom Dearden
15. Pat Carrigan
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Lindsay Collins