Sydney Roosters second-rower Aiden Guerra is set to be rewarded for a standout season with selection in the Australian squad for the end-of-season Four Nations tournament – and he may be joined by teammate Daniel Tupou.
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With Paul Gallen, Nate Myles and Darius Boyd unavailable for the Kangaroos, Guerra and Tupou are in line for a call-up after playing in last year's World Cup for Italy and Tonga respectively.
Both went on to make their State of Origin debuts this season and featured in all three matches, with Guerra playing for Queensland and Tupou playing left wing for the triumphant NSW team.
"There were about a dozen guys in the State of Origin series this year who weren't figuring to a great degree last year," Australian coach Tim Sheens said. "Some of them played well at the World Cup for some of the other nations who are certainly eligible to be picked.
"Guys like Aiden Guerra and Daniel Tupou at the Roosters weren't considered last year but have this year come through the State of Origin series, which is a good guide for the Australian selectors because if you can perform at that level you can generally go on with it in the Test arena."
While the Roosters only hit top form in Sunday's 46-12 demolition of the Warriors, Guerra has been a revelation this season and is one of the leading contenders for the Dally M second-rower of the year award.
He is also able to play in the centres if required and may assume the role previously filled by Luke Lewis for Australian and NSW teams. "Guerra has certainly had a great season so he is well and truly on the radar," Sheens said.
Lewis has recently undergone shoulder surgery but the Cronulla veteran may be selected for the Prime Ministers XIII to play Papua Guinea the week before the NRL grand final.
However, Gallen is out of contention after accepting a backdated one-year ban from ASADA, Boyd is undergoing treatment for depression and Myles will undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday that is expected to rule him out for at least three months.
There are also concerns about the fitness of Canterbury centre Josh Morris, who suffered posterior cruciate damage in Origin I. He returned in the series finale but has appeared troubled by the injury since. All four were members of last year's World Cup winning squad, and with prop Andrew Fifita also out after breaking his arm there are expected to be at least two new backs and three new forwards among the 24 players chosen for the Four Nations.
Brisbane's Justin Hodges, Melbourne's Will Chambers and South Sydney's Dylan Walker are the leading contenders to replace Morris in the centres, while Tupou is favourite for Boyd's spot in the squad.
With Gallen and Myles shifting between back row and front row and Fifita out, Sheens may be forced to pick two specialist props and one back-rower to replace them.
"It is always good to have backrowers who can play front row and Sam Thaiday was doing that, Corey Parker was doing that, Nate Myles was doing that and Gal was doing that," Sheens said. "The ability to handle those sort of things is important so we are going to have to cover the bench.
"Once you pick your best 17 or 18, the other players who make up the squad are going to have versatility. That is why Luke Lewis has always been of value and Daly Cherry-Evans has extended his value by playing at seven, six [and] nine."
