NEWCASTLE and NSW prop Daniel Saifiti has missed out on selection in the Kangaroos' merit team, despite statistics that suggest he was arguably the best-performed front-rower overall during the recent Origin series.
An honorary 17-man national squad was announced on Monday, in lieu of the usual end-of-season Test matches, which were abandoned because of the coronavirus.
The starting front-rowers named were Queenslanders Josh Papalii and Christian Welch, even though Saifiti gained more ground than both of them combined during the three-match interstate series, which the Maroons won 2-1.
Saifiti carried the ball 157 metres, 127m and 140m in the three games, for an overall gain of 424m. Papalii, widely regarded as the world's best prop, racked up a collective tally of 273m during the series, while Welch played only two games, making 143m.
Defensively, Saifiti made 80 tackles across the series, compared to Papalii (78) and Welch (47).
Payne Haas (NSW) and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Queensland) were the middle forwards chosen on the bench.
Again, Saifiti made more attacking yardage than both Haas (261m) and Fa'asuamaleaui (380m) during Origin, but the latter produced six more tackles than his NSW adversary.
Saifiti's outstanding contributions in Origin came after a knee injury restricted him to just 14 games last season for Newcastle.
He was realistically the only Knight in contention for the Kangaroos' merit team, given that the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer did not play in the Origin series.
The national squad features six players from reigning premiers Melbourne: Welch, Fa'asuamaleaui, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi. Roosters warhorse Boyd Cordner was retained as captain, a position he has held since 2018.
Papenhuysen, Fa'asuamaleaui, Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary and Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton were the only uncapped players named in the squad.
South Sydney's Cameron Murray was chosen at lock, despite lasting only seconds of the Origin series after suffering a knee injury taking his first hit-up.
There was no place for Newcastle's new signing Tyson Frizell, who has been a regular in the national and NSW teams for the past five seasons.
The full team is: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Josh Addo-Carr, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Daniel Tupou, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Christian Welch, 11. Boyd Cordner (captain), 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 15. Payne Haas, 16. Angus Crichton, 17. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.
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