Kangaroos squad named to face New Zealand and Tonga ^Featured

Rabbitoh's revelation Damian Cook and Roosters phenom Latrell Mitchell have both been rewarded for their sparkling NRL campaigns, as have Panthers half Tyrone Peachey and NSW State of Origin stand-out, James Tedesco.

Kangaroos veteran Greg Inglis has been awarded the captaincy after the representative retirement of incumbent skipper Cameron Smith.

Coach Mal Meninga said the 19-man squad signalled the dawn of a "new era" for the test side and was eager to put them to the test against two formidable opponents.

"While there are only two Test matches for the Kangaroos this year they are extremely important to me and this squad," said Meninga.

"This will give us a good gauge of who we will be looking at to lead the Kangaroos into the future.

"The Kangaroos have not played the Kiwis in New Zealand for four years, and have not played in Auckland for six years, so the October 13 Test match will be an extremely important one for us.

"The first Test match ever against Tonga will also be a historic occasion not only for the Kangaroos but for the game as well."

Australia play the Kiwis on October 13 and Tonga on October 20, both at Auckland's Mt. Smart Stadium.

Australia: Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Daly Cherry-Evans, Damien Cook, Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Greg Inglis (c), Felise Kaufusi, David Klemmer, Josh McGuire, Jordan McLean, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Tyrone Peachey, James Tedesco, Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic, Aaron Woods.

-Newshub.