Holmes and Addo-Carr in Test Squad Amid NRL Investigations

Mal Meninga has named North Queensland centre Valentine Holmes and Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr in his Australia Test squad despite the pair facing investigation by the NRL.

Meninga on Tuesday named his 21 players for the Pacific Championships, with the inclusion of Addo-Carr and Holmes the big talking point.

Holmes is expected to serve a one-match suspension for the Kangaroos’ first game, against Samoa in Townsville on October 14, after posting a photo to Instagram which showed him posing with a bag of white powder.

Addo-Carr remains part of a police probe which is being closely followed by the NRL’s integrity unit following a brawl at last weekend’s Koori Knockout competition on the NSW Central Coast.

Latrell Mitchell, who also played in the Koori Knockout, is not included despite being one of Australia’s most damaging players at last year’s World Cup.

His place is taken by Kotoni Staggs, who has turned down the chance to tour England with Tonga and is one of five Brisbane players selected.

Alongside Staggs, other debutants selected include his club mates Selwyn Cobbo and Thomas Flegler, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow becomes the first Dolphins player to be called up by Australia.

Premiership winners Penrith have Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin in Meninga’s squad, who also face New Zealand in Melbourne on October 28.

Kangaroos squad: Josh Addo-Carr, Patrick Carrigan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Nathan Cleary, Selwyn Cobbo*, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Thomas Flegler*, Harry Grant, Payne Haas, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Liam Martin, Cameron Munster, Cameron Murray, Kotoni Staggs*, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow*, James Tedesco (c), Jake Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo.