Mal Meninga has found no room for Dally M Medal winner Kalyn Ponga or Broncos breakout star Reece Walsh in his 21-man Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships.

Josh Addo-Carr has been picked but is under investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit for his involvement in a brawl at the Koori Knockout on the weekend.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the Kangaroos would await the outcome of that investigation before deciding Addo-Carr’s fate.

Valentine Holmes will not be available for selection for the first Tests after he was also fined $25,000 by the NRL after he posted a photo on Instagram of himself and a bag containing white powder.

Stephen Crichton has opted to remain with Samoa after his impressive Grand Final performance put him on the verge of a Test debut with Australia.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)

Meninga has largely stuck solid with the players who retained the World Cup trophy last year.

James Tedesco remains as captain with Ponga and Walsh snubbed despite their stellar seasons.

The Kangaroos are set to use utility backs like Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as back-ups or even Cameron Munster if the skipper gets injured.

V’landys said it was a unanimous decision of all selectors that Tedesco remained captain and fullback.

Penrith’s Dylan Edwards has also mounted a strong case for representative honours over the past couple of seasons but has again been overlooked.

“We’ve gone with specialists, this is only a short campaign and we’ve only got seven days off the back of what a great Grand Final it was on Sunday,” Meninga said.

“We’ve got to have players playing in their rightful positions and that helps the cohesion and the preparation.”

Brisbane trio Kotoni Staggs, Tom Flegler and Selwyn Cobbo have been given their first call-up for Australia. Tabuai-Fidow is the only other uncapped player in the squad.

The Kangaroos kick off their Pacific Championships campaign against Samoa in Townsville on October 14 before facing New Zealand in Melbourne on October 28. The top two teams will square off in the final at Hamilton on November 3.

Kangaroos squad

James Tedesco (c)
Josh Addo-Carr
Patrick Carrigan
Daly Cherry-Evans
Nathan Cleary
Selwyn Cobbo
Lindsay Collins
Reuben Cotter
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Tom Flegler
Harry Grant
Payne Haas
Valentine Holmes
Ben Hunt
Liam Martin
Cameron Munster
Cameron Murray
Kotoni Staggs
Hamiso Tabuai Fidow
Jake Trbojevic
Isaah Yeo