Fitness cloud hangs over Slater
There are doubts that the star fullback will make it for Australia's World Cup final against New Zealand
Australia are hopeful star fullback Billy Slater will be fit for Saturday’s rugby league World Cup final against defending champions New Zealand after naming him in their initial 19-man squad.
Slater turned a knee in the quarter-final victory over the United States and missed the semi-final win over Fiji, but has been studiously following a recuperation programme in a bid to get him back on the paddock.
“Billy Slater has been included in the squad, with a final decision on his fitness to be made on game day,” the Kangaroos announced, with Greg Inglis to start in the number one shirt in Slater’s absence.
Billy Slater has been included in the squad, with a final decision on his fitness to be made on game day
Hooker Cameron Smith again skippers the team, with Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston likely to be pulling the strings from halfback.
There was disappointment in the Kiwi camp, however, when second-rower Frank Pritchard missed the cut because of a hamstring injury.
“He’d love to play, and we’d love to have him there, but the stakes are as high as they get this weekend and he’s not 100 per cent,” said New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney.
“It’s naturally very tough for him to be this close and ruled out, but we’re very happy with our cover.”
Kearney named three wingers in his prematch squad of 19, which will be trimmed to 17 just before the kick-off (10.30pm HK time) at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.