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I DON'T expect too many changes to the Australian team when it is named tomorrow for Friday night's Anzac Test.
But make no mistake, there are winds of generational change about to sweep the Kangaroos.
Coach Tim Sheens has already spoken of the importance of injecting more youth to revitalise an ageing Australian team in time for their World Cup defence in 2017.
Over the next few years Australian hierarchy must begin succession planning, which will entail grooming a leader for Generation Next.
I believe Australian rugby league's next leader is Daly Cherry-Evans.
Daly Cherry-Evans (left). Source: News Limited
That does not mean it's time to start pensioning off our veteran skipper Cameron Smith. He has just signed a new deal at Melbourne and I believe he has at least another three years left in him.
It's possible Smith could be there for the next World Cup – he will be 34 in 2017 – but if he decides to pass the leadership baton by then, Cherry-Evans is our future leader.
I toured with Cherry-Evans during Australia's Four Nations campaign in 2011. I was the captain embarking on my career swan song. He was the squad's young gun, given his first taste of representative football after steering Manly to that year's premiership.
I took an instant shine to him. What impresses me goes beyond his talent, which is so natural and obvious. It is his temperament, toughness as a player and attitude to just get the job done. As captain of your country, there is more to the job, the honour, than on-field performance.
There are off-field ambassadorial duties which provide ancillary pressures and you need to be a certain type of character to not only handle it, but embrace it.
Smith is a brilliant statesman and spokesman.
Cherry-Evans, at 25, is in the same mould. He presents well, has a team-first ethos which players respect and a maturity that shows he can take on responsibility.
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Before that happens, he must establish himself as a member of the starting side.
While I don't see him unseating Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk in the immediate future, it is only a matter of time before Cherry-Evans is promoted from the bench.
I don't expect to see any bolters tomorrow night but the national selectors need to be mindful of the growing number of 30-somethings in the Kangaroos line-up.
Paul Gallen is 32. Thurston turned 31 yesterday. Justin Hodges and Corey Parker are both 32 next month, while Melbourne's Big Three – Smith, Billy Slater and Cronk – are 31 this year.
It is time to begin identify and cultivating a leadership group for the next World Cup. Cherry-Evans is the standout, and he would be well supported by men like Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis, Josh Papalii and Matt Gillett.
I think Hayne and Gillett will be handed green-and-gold jumpers to face the Kiwis.
Hayne is Australia's incumbent right centre and while Hodges is making a late run, Hayne's performances at Parramatta and his form in that position for the Kangaroos warrants his retention.
Gillett thoroughly deserves his maiden Test jumper. He was 18th man in 2012 but is a better player now. He is ready for the ultimate honour.
LOCKY'S TEST TEAM: Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Bench: Daly Cherry-Evans, Corey Parker, Andrew Fifita, Matt Gillett
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