Should reputation and past performance play a role in the selection of the Kangaroos side, or should current form be the deciding factor?
That question will be answered on Sunday night when selectors name the first Australia squad since the embarrassing
Rugby League World Cup final loss to New Zealand last November.
It's time for redemption - but will selectors go with the incumbents who failed so miserably under pressure or ring the changes and introduce some fresh blood?
The team at Fox Sports Stats have put together a Kangaroos side based solely form, and form alone - those who have shone from rounds one to seven in the NRL
And there are quite a few changes. Just nine players from the original 24-man World Cup squad would have berths.
Foxsports.com.au readers had their turn earlier this week and their final team was dominated by Queenslanders.
But the Fox Sports Stats team debunks that theory, advocating eight NSW players to Queensland’s nine in the final 17.
The Fox Sports Stats Kangaroos managed to put a few high-profile incumbents on the outer, with the biggest shock seeing Darren Lockyer ommitted completely. He is replaced at five-eighth by Canberra’s Terry Campese and South Sydney’s John Sutton (the duo couldn’t be split).
Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater was also overlooked for his preferred position by Brisbane Broncos rival Karmichael Hunt.
The hooker battle between Robbie Farah and Michael Ennis has so far centered on the New South Wales State of Origin team, but the Fox Sports Stats Kangaroos form guide has left Cameron Smith out, with Farah clinching the starting position and Ennis securing a bench spot.
Fox Sports Stats Kangaroos Team
1. Karmichael Hunt, Brisbane Broncos
Hunt's stats reinforce why he gets the nod over Slater - six tries, five line-breaks, six try assists, and six linebreak assists over the first seven rounds.
2. Michael Jennings, Penrith *
The Stats team have the Penrith bolter moved out of his preferred centre position to the wing. He secured his spot on the team with four tries, seven linebreaks and three try assists.
Bryson Goodwin, Bulldogs
They couldn’t split the figures between Jennings and Goodwin. His selection on Sunday night would see him make his debut for Australia and Fox Sports Stats have him in their side after six tries, nine line-breaks and nine offloads.
3. Greg Inglis, Melbourne Storm
Despite his team underperforming so far this season, the 22-year-old has still shown his class and holds down his Kangaroo position, according to Fox Sports Stats. He made the cut with two tries, five line-breaks and seven offloads.
4. Justin Hodges, Brisbane Broncos
After missing the World Cup with a shoulder injury, Hodges secured his spot in the Fox Sports Stats lineup with three tries, five line-breaks and 21 tackle busts.
5. Israel Folau, Brisbane Broncos
The move north in the off-season has done nothing to diminish Folau’s talent, cementing his wing position with five tries and five line-breaks in the opening seven rounds of competition.
6. Terry Campese, Canberra
After making his Kangaroos debut in the 2008 World Cup, the Raiders star holds down his spot following nine try assists, eight linebreaks and 95 kicks for a total gainage of 2588 metres.
John Sutton, South Sydney Rabbitohs
Another position that couldn’t be split. The Rabbitohs playmaker earned his berth with eight try assists, 22 offloads and 10.3 runs for 79 metres.
7. Johnathan Thurston, North Queensland Cowboys
Scott Prince will again be watching the match on TV if the Fox Sports Stats team is anything to go by. From seven rounds, Thurston has had eight try assists, six linebreaks and 63 kicks for a total of 1601 metres.
8. Petero Civoniceva, Penrith Panthers
The veteran prop that just keeps on keeping on. He holds his place in the statistics-based Kangaroos team with an average of 57 minutes per game, 17.1 runs for 149 metres gained per game and 26.4 tackles.
9. Robbie Farah, Wests Tigers
Farah’s 2009 form would see World Cup captain Cameron Smith nudged out of the Kangaroo team altogether. The Tigers hooker has six linebreaks, six try assists and 34.4 tackles per game.
10. Ben Hannant, Bulldogs
His early form for his new club has rubbed off, with the Stats side saying the 24-year-old should be making his Australia debut. He averages 57 minutes per game, has made 14.7 runs for 121 metres per game and pulled off 33.3 tackles per game.
11. Anthony Watmough, Manly Sea Eagles
Despite a poor start to the season by his side, the 2008 premiership star holds down his place in the Stats side after four linebreaks, 12.7 runs for 102 metres per game and 37 tackle busts.
12. Trent Waterhouse, Penrith Panthers
His selection in the Kangaroos side would see Waterhouse return to top representative honours for the first time since 2005. Fox Sports Stats have him in their side after he achieved four linebreaks, 12 runs for 88 metres per game and 28.6 tackles per game.
13. David Stagg, Bulldogs
The former Broncos and Queensland representative has demanded inclusion in the Stats Kangaroos team by averaging 47 tackles per game and 13.3 runs for 85 metres.
Interchange:
14. Michael Ennis, Bulldogs
Ennis joins his former Broncos and now Bulldogs teammates Hannant and Stagg in the Stats team thanks to an average of 25.6 tackles per game, eight try assists and three line breaks.
15. Kurt Gidley, Newcastle Knights
The versatile utility should make his Kangaroos return after missing the World Cup through injury. Stats have him included following two try assists and 20.4 runs for 171 metres per game from the first seven rounds.
16. Paul Gallen, Cronulla
The Sharks captain escaped suspension this week and finds himself in favour here after 17.4 runs for 125 metres per game, 15 offloads and 28.2 tackles per game.
17. Steve Price, Warriors
The Queensland veteran holds down his Kangaroos position with 60 minutes per game, 18.4 runs for 175 metres per game, three linebreak assists and 22.2 tackles per game.
*In the case of Michael Jennings, Fox Sports Stats have him playing out of position on the wing to accommodate for the centre pairing of Inglis and Hodges. They also have Sutton playing at five-eighth but he could be moved to lock. If this was the case, Stagg would then move back to the bench, with either Ennis or Price dropping out of the 17.
