Kangaroos

Cordner's decision comes a little over two months after his Sydney Roosters team mate Jake Friend, who was co-captain with him at the NRL club, cited head injuries as his reason for quitting the sport.

"My heart was telling me I wanted to play on, and I was doing everything I possibly could, but my mind and my head was telling me otherwise, it was dragging me the other way," Cordner said.

"For once in my life and my career I had to put my health and my happiness first. It was an extremely tough decision to make."

The iconic trio of Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater have all retired from representative rugby, while Michael Morgan has suffered a season-ending pectoral tear.

As such, Meninga is keeping a close eye on the Origin series, which New South Wales Blues lead 1-0 after game one.

"A lot of weight will be placed on the Origin series this year and who wins it," Meninga said.

"Particularly around the spine, your nine, seven, six and one. Some of our greatest ever players have retired so our spots are wide open."

His comments come after a Rugby League World Cup that he believes has grown the international game. 

The emergence of Tonga, Fiji and Lebanon as competitive rugby league nations has helped build interest in the international game. 

Smith, the president of the Rugby League Players Association, wants the powers at be to capitalize on this momentum. 

The 34-year-old is passionate about the international game after having played 56 Tests for Australia. This number is set to grow in 2018 after Smith committed to another year of representative football. 

Brad Fittler's men were in the contest at half-time but injuries and a lack of big-game experience came back to haunt them in the final 20 minutes as Australia piled on a couple of late tries to boost their already impressive points differential. 

While they couldn't crack Australia's defence, Lebanon held their own and threatened at times with their left edge causing plenty of headaches for Tom Trbojevic and Dane Gagai. 

Manly's Dylan Walker – the Dally M Centre of the Year – was an unfortunate casualty of the Prime Minister's XIII game in Papua New Guinea and would almost certainly have earned selection, but his absence leaves Chambers and Dane Gagai as the only Kangaroos to have played a minimum of five NRL games in the centres this season.

Instead, the proliferation of fullbacks at the representative level continued with Meninga selecting five players who have spent significant time in the No.1 jersey during the course of the season.

Prop Andrew Fifita will now start in the front row on Friday night against New Zealand at GIO Stadium, after Boyd was ruled out due to a lower leg injury.

Jake Trbojevic has been promoted to the interchange bench in place of Fifita.

The updated 2017 AnzacTest Kangaroos squad is: 
 

Deidenang has taken out a 3rd straight top goal kicking award.

AFL Nauru congratulated Deidenang on this mighty and historic achievement. 

In second place is Jamie Jame Tagamon of the Hawks.

Top 5
1. Bronco Deidenang (Kangaroos) 20
2. Jamie Jame Tagamoun (Hawks) 12
=3. Kenneth Oppenheimer (Magpies) 11
=3. Issel Daniel (Hawks) 11
=3. Khyde Menke (Bombers) 11
=3. Aykers Daniel (Bulldogs) 11

It was a close count with Dagiaro and Jarman Pole Haulangi all tied up after the home and away rounds.

But on countback Dagiaro got the win after polling best on ground in round 3.

Top 5
1. Charles Dagiaro 16 (won on countback)
2. Jarman Pole Haulangi 16
3. Marcus Detenamo 11
=4. Shenko Canon 10
=4. Skaga Dowabobo 10

Australia claimed the match 38-16 at the London Stadium, however Thaiday was forced from the field following a heavy collision with England forward James Graham. 

The pair clashed heads, with the Australian coming off second best, and was taken to hospital for scans on the injury. 

“Unfortunately it will probably put [Thaiday] out of the game next week,” Australian coach Mal Meninga said post-match. 

“I think it was accidental.” 

Kangaroos playmaker Cooper Cronk echoed those sentiments after the comprehensive victory. 

It follows news that veteran forward Sam Thaiday has been passed fit after he completed the captain's run at London's Olympic Stadium.

Thaiday had been in doubt all week following the Kangaroos' last-start win over the Kiwis but will play club coach Wayne Bennett's England outfit.