Mal Meninga hits out over Kangaroos' jersey system for World Cup

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has agreed with the critics and blasted a move to change the traditional position-based numbers on the back of jerseys for a new system at the World Cup.

Australia has opted for a new number system at the World Cup in the UK, which will see players wear the number that represents the order in which they made their debut for their country within the team.

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Penrith lock Isaiah Yeo traditionally wears No.13 for his club and will line-up in that position for the Kangaroos.

However, Yeo will wear No.24 for the Kangaroos during the World Cup based on the fact he hasn't debuted yet.

Meninga has now hit out at the organisers that raised the proposal two years ago, but still never informed him of the decision.

“We signed off on it about two years ago, so I have no real comeback on it… We had no idea when it was signed off on,” Meninga said on SEN.

“We have 13 debutants on tour, so the jersey that they get to play in for the very first test is their tour number, Isaiah Yeo is No.24 mainly because of where he sits on the alphabet, he is the premier 13 of our competition.

“It takes away from the excitement of your debutants in particular, having their very first test match jersey and it’s a number that doesn’t resonate with anyone, because it’s not the position he plays in.”

All the players will wear the jersey in order of when they made their debut, other than captain James Tedesco who will wear the No.1.

Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans will wear the No.2 jersey since he is the second-longest serving player and made his debut back in 2011.

Ben Hunt will wear the No.3 jersey.

The remaining players making their debut on the tour will wear the jersey number based on alphabetical order.

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The new system was reportedly introduced by assistant coach Michael Hagan and mirrors what occurs in the UK Super League, with players given a number for the entire season.

And Meninga isn't the only critic of the jersey system.

Former rugby league player Matthew Johns blasted the new system and claimed it 'doesn't make sense'.

“I cannot believe it, each game you should earn your jersey one through 17, the couple of sixes (test jerseys) I got, they’re the special ones because they’re the ones you earned,” he said on SEN radio.

“During the game, I think looking at Latrell (Mitchell) in the No.8 jersey, for the organisers I think they’ve got it wrong, and Australia I think we’ve got it wrong, I honestly hate it.

“The traditional jerseys and numbers are part of the history of the sport, and you shouldn’t tamper with it."

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