"Too good to go without": Scott set for Kangaroos call up

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga would have no hesitation picking Matt Scott for the Rugby League World Cup if the star prop has recovered from knee injury.

AUS

Scott underwent a knee reconstruction after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the second round of the NRL season but was a shock selection in the 21-man North Queensland squad for Saturday night's preliminary final against Sydney Roosters.

Team-mates have revealed Scott had been pressuring Cowboys coach Paul Green to make an early return and even if he doesn't play Meninga believes the veteran forward is close to a comeback.

"If he is fit to play, there is absolutely no risk in putting him on the park," Meninga said.

"Knowing Matt the way I do, I know he would have put in everything to try to get back on the field this year. To be named on an extended bench must mean he is very close."

Writing in his Courier Mail column, Meninga said Test centre Justin O'Neill had demonstrated in North Queensland's 24-16 elimination of Parramatta last weekend that senior players could make an immediate impact after returning from a long lay off with injury.

"If he plays, he will perform like he always does — and I would have no hesitation picking him to play for Australia at the World Cup, Meninga said.

"I know how good Matt Scott is. And I know that he is too good to go without if he is available."

The return of Scott would be a huge boost to Australia's hopes of retaining the World Cup trophy they won at Old Trafford in 2013 and he would have been the first forward chosen by Meninga if fit.

Aaron Woods, David Klemmer, Andrew Fifita and Jake Trbojevic are expected to be in the 24-man squad to be named after the NRL grand final, leaving room for one or two other front rowers.

The quartet will all play in Saturday's match between the Prime Ministers XIII and a Papua New Guinea team made up entirely of domestic players as the Hunters are playing in the Queensland Cup grand final the following day.

Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa, Melbourne's Jordan McClean, Penrith's Campbell Regan-Gillard and St George Illawarra's Paul Vaughan are the other main contenders.

Scott resumed running five weeks ago and is unlikely to play against the Roosters but it will be eight months since he suffered the injury by the time the Kangaroos play the World Cup opener against England in Melbourne on 27 October.

If Australia win, Meninga could afford to use the next two pool games against France in Canberra and Lebanon in Sydney to give Scott match fitness ahead of the finals.

After naming him on Tuesday, Green said: “He’s at seven months [since his injury] and there’s guys that have played AFL and league earlier than that so it’s not out of the realms of possibility that he plays".

By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017