North Queensland foursome Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott, James Tamou and Brent Tate have been added to the Kangaroos train-on squad for the October Test against New Zealand in Townsville.
Thurston and props Scott and Tamou are all considered certainties to face the Kiwis at the Cowboys’ home ground on October 13, while Justin Hodges’ back injury could open the door for Tate to play his first Test since 2010.
Canberra duo Blake Ferguson and David Shillington were also included in the extended squad of players whose teams are no longer involved in the NRL finals.
The Kangaroos side will be named on October 2, two days after the grand final.