Penrith Panthers’ two-time NRL Premiership-winner Lindsay Smith is in line to make his Test debut this weekend, when Australia meets Tonga in the Pacific Championships final on Sunday 10 November.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has called on the former Australian Schoolboys representative to come off the bench at prop or back row in what looms as a physical showdown at CommBank Stadium.
Smith came off the bench for the Panthers in the last two NRL Grand Final wins (2023-24) and joins club teammates Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo in Kangaroos colours this weekend.
He was starting prop for the Panthers in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup 2022 Grand Final against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, winning 29-22.
In that year – Smith’s fourth in NSW Cup – he was a cornerstone of Penrith’s success by leading the competition in decoy runs, in the top five for tackles and support plays, and in the top 10 for hit-ups.
Smith won 32 of his 39 NSW Cup matches over four years (2020-23).
While the 24-year-old could be on the radar for a spot in the Westpac NSW Blues squad in the near future, on Sunday he joins a band of players who have played for their country before their state.
One of those is North Queensland Cowboys NRLW winger Jakiya Whitfeld, who made her Test debut at the 2023 Pacific Championships and is part of this year’s Jillaroos team as well. She was on the extended bench for NSW in all three Ampol Women’s State of Origin games in 2024.
Another change for Australia is True Blue Hudson Young coming into the starting back row for the injured Cameron Murray (wrist).
It is an all-NSW backrow with Young, Yeo and 2024 Wally Lewis Medal winner, Angus Crichton.
