It is almost impossible to pick a top 13 or top 17 Australian team because there have been so many great players. So I have chosen a 26 man Kangaroo squad to make it easier.

I have chosen some players out of their best positions, though in positions that they did actually play at times (e.g. Inglis, Fulton, O'Connor), in order to fit them in a squad that they deserve to be in.

FB: Billy Slater, Graeme Langlands

WG: Ken Irvine, Eric Grother Snr., Kerry Boustead, Michael O'Connor

CE: Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Greg Inglis, Bobby Fulton

FE: Wally Lewis, Brett Kenny

HB: Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston

LF: Ray Price, Johnny Raper

SR: Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote, Steve Menzies, Noel Cleal

PR: Arthur Beetson, Bob O'Reilly, John Sattler, John O'Neill

HK: Cameron Smith, Steve Walters



Honourable Mention: Ken Thornett, Gene Miles, Jarryd Hayne, Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley, Peter Sterling, Alan Langer, Bradley Clyde, Gordon Tallis, Petero Civinoceva, Paul Gallen, Glen Lazarus.

Great effort, but Lockyer has to be in there somewhere.

And Sailor before Boustead.

Great point and problem for me.

Should Lockyer be there ahead of Brett Kenny? Maybe.

I am sorry but I cannot agree with that.

Boustead was the ultimate evasive "twinkle toes" speedster. Sailor was big, strong and fast, but not agile.

If you want a twinkle toed speedster, and why not, I give you one John Ferguson.

Yes, but John Ferguson, although very good, was never considered good enough to play for Australia, or Origin (?). Boustead was selected for Australia many times, and played memorable Origin performances (I have them on tape), in the Eric Grothe era.

Kenny vs Lockyer is the biggest selection headache for me.

He was ignored by the selectors throughout his career for whatever reason, but after his spell at Wigan in 85 they could ignore him no more and he got a belated 3 caps for Australia and 8 Origin games (too) late in his career.

In fact Fergie is the oldest player to play Origin.

Thanks for that correction. Please pardon my ignorance.

I'd put Gary Jack and Glenn Lazarus in there.

I did see John Ferguson play for Canberra in the late 1980s, including a sensational try in the Grand Final of 1989, which I have on VHS tape.

But I just think that Boustead was slightly better, based on his Origin performances for Queensland (which I also have on VHS tape).

I cannot see any basis for having an admittedly excellent player like Jack ahead of Slater or Langlands.

But Glenn Lazarus is a good call. Perhaps in place of O'Neill? Close call.

Personally I would have Langer and Johns at 6 and 7; surprised nobody mentioned alfie.

Nathan Hindmarsh should also be in the mix.

this could quite possibly be the best signature material EVER

1982 squad
They came here after the 1978 series and blitzed the game in this country.
They had learned lessons from 1978. They had gone away , regrouped and basically have been untouchable ever since.
RL in this country still has to regroup from 1982 and is still trying to figure it out.

Got to have Alfie in there. personally I would have him playing with Wally Lewis with Johns on the bench. Also what about Benny Elias he was a great player.

When your picking the side you start with

7. Johns

1, Lockyer
2 Eric grothe
3 mal meninga
4 gene miles
5 ET
6 Wally Lewis
7 peter sterling
8 Steve roach
9 Danny Buderes
10 Paul harrigan
11 gordan Tallis
12 Steve Menzies
13 Bradley Clyde

14 Brett Kenny
15 andrew johns
16 Paul sironen
17 les Boyd

Surprised no-one has mentioned Wayne Pearce.

Great player. But Bradley Clyde offers a bit more for me.

1. Lockyer
2. Irvine
3. Meninga
4. Miles
5. Anderson
6. Fulton
7. Johns
8. Beetson
9. Walters
10. Civoneciva
11. Sironen
12. Price (slightly out of position)
13. Fittler

May need to give a lttle more thought to wingers and second rows.

The four people who are not negotiable for me are Lockyer (somewhere on the pitch), Meninga, Fulton and Fittler. To me those 4 are head and shoulders above other Kangaroos of recent years.

1.Darren Lockyer
2.Billy Slater (know he's a full back but he would do quite well on the wing)
3.Meninga
4.Reg Gasnier
5.Eric Grothe senior
6.Wally Lewis
7.Allan Langer/Andrew Johns can't make my mind up
8.Arthur Beetson
9.Cameron Smith
10.Petero Civoniceva
11.Bradley Clyde
12.Paul Harragon
13.Brad Fitler/Laurie Daley Hard choice

14.Benny Elias
15.Brad Fitler/Laurie Daley (depends who misses out on starting)
16.Mark Carroll
17.Gordan Tallis

Also I would have in the squad Steve Roach and Peter Sterling

You sir, are correct. And note that Andrew Johns is the only scrum half who is a member of the iconic group known as the Immortals.

Those who are picking teams -- often teams of 17 rather than Kangaroo squads of 26 --- and who omit any of those playing from 1963 on who are among the Australian Immortals -- Arthur Beetson, Reg Gasnier, Bobby Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, Johnny Raper or Andrew Johns -- obviously have never seen the particular omitted Immortal play.