Disappointment for departing One New Zealand Warriors co-captain Mitchell Barnett who has been overlooked for the Kangaroos’ Rugby League World Cup campaign despite another outstanding year.
The 32-year-old Barnett was to the fore for both the Warriors throughout the NRL season and for the winning New South Wales side in this season’s State of Origin series.
After playing all three Tests to help Australia to victory in the Pacific Championships in 2024, his season-ending knee injury ruled him out of contention for the Kangaroos’ Ashes series in England last year.
Today his name was missing from the 23 players coach Kevin Walters will take into the Rugby League World Cup kicking off against the Kiwis at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday week (October 15).
Only three regular front rowers were included in Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans) and Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs).
Barnett, who joins the Broncos next year, finished his fourth season with the Warriors with 17 appearances, averaging 152 metres and 27 tackles a game while he made a total of 1007 post-contact metres and 34 tackle breaks.
Among front rowers Koloamatangi (170) and Kiwi international Naufahu Whyte (170) led the way for most average metres a game with the next best Payne Haas (156), Fa'asuamaleaui (154) and Warriors teammate Jackson Ford (154) only just ahead of Barnett. Former Warrior Addin Fonua-Blake averaged only 142 metres a game this season while Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris averaged 140 metres.
Starting all three Origin matches for the victorious Blues, Barnett he was used in short stints averaging 70 metres and 23 tackles a game missing just one tackle during the entire series.
Australia’s World Cup squad includes former Warriors fullback Reece Walsh.
