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http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...val/story-e6frf3ou-1226554851001#.UPXiPznm7s0
Michael Jennings club swap from Penrith Panthers to Sydney Roosters leads to NRL All-Stars upheaval
- By Josh Massoud
- The Daily Telegraph
- January 16, 2013 9:20AM
Chain reaction ... Jennings's defection has caused big changes to the NRL All Stars. Source: The Daily Telegraph
When Michael Jennings meets and greets his new Roosters teammates on Wednesday morning, he might want to seek out big Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
In a complex twist, Waerea-Hargreaves lost his place in the NRL All Stars team as a direct result of Jennings' defection to Bondi Junction on Tuesday.
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The omission was one of several selection upheavals for the Indigenous and NRL All Stars teams, who will contest the season opener at Suncorp Stadium on February 9.
Despite polling most votes overall, Jarryd Hayne has been benched in favour of Billy Slater at fullback.
And the Indigenous team are desperately struggling for size, with big boppers Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (hamstring) and Jamal Idris (hip) in extreme doubt last night.
But the true tale of woe belonged to Waerea-Hargreaves, who already had to swallow the bitter pill of being overlooked for New Zealand despite being awarded the Roosters' 2012 Player of the Year.
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When public polling for the team closed at midnight on Monday, the affable Kiwi prop was guaranteed a start as the most popular Roosters player.
And so, too, was Jennings, with the 24-year-old the highest polling Panther despite his rumoured switch across town.
But as the move became official, Jennings surrendered his spot to the second-ranking Penrith player - NSW Origin forward Tim Grant.
Grant's inclusion spelled disaster for Waerea-Hargreaves, because both players occupy spots in the front row and Penrith had to be represented.
NRL officials had no choice but to rule him out, drafting team-mate Shaun Kenny-Dowall into the side as Jennings' replacement in the three-quarter line.
But there was more intrigue when the player who attracted most votes overall - Eels superstar Hayne - couldn't even make it into the starting side.
Hayne was popular in a variety of positions, but his versatility proved harmful because Slater attracted more votes as fullback.
As expected, Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds will partner Benji Marshall at the scrumbase while James Tamou makes his debut in the game.
But when contacted last night, coach Wayne Bennett was unsure about how the rest of his team would shape up ahead of today's official announcement in Brisbane.
"I'm still waiting to hear more from the NRL," Bennett said.
The Indigenous woes up front have given George Rose and Ryan James - both of whom played limited NRL last year - a shot.
Reece Robinson, Dane Neilsen and Aiden Sezer also shape as bolters for Laurie Daley's men.
