Australian coach Tim Sheens won’t rule out a left-field replacement for Billy Slater in the Four Nations tournament as he counts the cost of injuries to his Kangaroos squad.
South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis and Parramatta No.1 Jarryd Hayne are the favourites to step into the injured Slater’s shoes at the back for Australia in the tournament starting in late October.
However, with several outside backs already unavailable for selection, Sheens is wary of moving Inglis and Hayne from the centres and going in with too little experience on the flanks.
Complicating matters further is the fact Inglis is carrying a hip injury, although the Rabbitohs maintain the problem isn’t serious.
If the decision was made to leave World Cup stars Inglis and Hayne in the front line, Penrith’s in-form fullback Matt Moylan could emerge as a bolter for the squad.
Darius Boyd is out of contention due to personal reasons, Brett Morris is injured, Brett Stewart hasn’t played end-of-year representative football for some time and Josh Dugan has been playing centre for St George Illawarra – meaning Moylan has well and truly entered the frame.
The 23-year-old has blossomed at the back for the Panthers in their golden run to the finals and he could make his case even stronger if the mountain men can get past Canterbury in the preliminary final on Saturday and go on to win the premiership.
Sheens refused to speculate on candidates, but admits he’s yet to settle on a fullback in Slater’s absence.
“I’ve obviously lost fullback so the spine has changed,” Sheens told AAP.
“We did manage without Billy for a while in the World Cup series, whether or not we go GI or Jarryd or another option is yet to be decided.
“It depends on who we’ve got to play centre. They’re two excellent centres who are both keen to play fullback as well… but if you’ve got young wingers, you’d want experienced centres to play with them.”
In the frame to play centre for Australia in the Four Nations against New Zealand, England and Samoa are Roosters star Michael Jennings and South Sydney young gun Dylan Walker.
Another contentious position for Australia is front row, with the likes of Nate Myles, Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and possibly James Tamou out of the running.
Sheens says Canterbury’s Josh Jackson could push for a place in the back row should the Bulldogs make the grand final, however the second row is a position of strength.
Finals form will be key according to the coach, with Sheens both excited and worried at the prospect of being forced to field a new-look side due to the injury crisis.
“It’s a concern that we’re going to go in too wet behind the ears,” he said.
First-choice halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk will be on deck and Sheens is confident he’ll have his skipper Cameron Smith available despite him battling an ankle sprain.
“I’ve heard he’s improved so that’s a good sign,” he said.
