Super League trio among players named in squads for Rugby League World Cup Final

Australia and Samoa have named their squads for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup Final.

Samoa coach Matt Parish makes one change from the squad he named prior to the epic 27-26 golden point victory over England in the semi-finals.

Connelly Lemuelu comes into the squad to replace Fa’manu Brown, with the former Featherstone Rovers hooker injured in last Saturday’s match at the Emirates Stadium.

Chanel Harris-Tavita will start at hooker in his final game of rugby league before he leaves the sport to pursue his passion for travel and writing.

Super League trio Ken Sio, Tim Lafai and Ligi Sao are also part of the Samoa squad, with the latter two expected to make the starting 13 at Old Trafford.

Australia coach Mal Meninga has named an unchanged squad from the one that beat New Zealand 14-12 in an epic semi-final at Elland Road last Friday.

Daly Cherry-Evans is named in the 19 but is expected to miss out with Nathan Cleary set for a mouth-watering halves battle with Penrith Panthers team-mate Jarome Luai.

Australia: 9 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13 Pat Carrigan, 2 Daly Cherry-Evans, 14 Nathan Cleary, 16 Reuben Cotter, 17 Angus Crichton, 18 Tino Fa’asuamaleuai, 20 Harry Grant, 4 Valentine Holmes, 3 Ben Hunt, 21 Liam Martin, 8 Latrell Mitchell, 7 Cameron Munster, 11 Cameron Murray, 1 James Tedesco (captain), 5 Jake Trbojevic, 10 Jack Wighton, 24 Isaah Yeo

Samoa: 4 Stephen Crichton, 20 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15 Royce Hunt, 23 Oregon Kaufusi, 25 Tim Lafai, 27 Connelly Lemuelu, 16 Spencer Leniu , 6 Jarome Luai, 2 Taylan May, 7 Anthony Milford, 8 Josh Papali’i, 10 Junior Paulo (captain), 11 Ligi Sao, 26 Ken Sio, 12 Jaydn Su’a, 1 Joseph Sua’ali’i, 17 Martin Taupau, 5 Brian To’o, 22 Kelma Tuilagi