Australian selectors have included 11 uncapped players in a preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the Rugby League World Cup to be held later this year.

While the squad includes experienced campaigners including captain Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith, selectors also included a handful of inexperienced players.

Among the surprise selections were Penrith youngster Michael Jennings and Dragons prop Justin Poore.

Others non-capped players in the squad were Ben Cross (Newcastle), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast), Joel Monaghan (Canberra), Nate Myles (Roosters), Anthony Quinn (Melbourne) and Manly trio Josh Perry, Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough.

Selectors overlooked NSW halfbacks Peter Wallace and Mitchell Pearce, with Melbourne's Cooper Cronk, Gold Coast's Scott Prince and South Sydney's Craig Wing named as back-up halfbacks to Thurston.

Michael Crocker and Danny Buderus were also named despite defecting to play rugby league in England, but French rugby-bound centre Mark Gasnier was not included.

Australian coach Ricky Stuart said on Friday players left out of the squad should not be discouraged with the final 24-man team not named until October 6.

"It (today's squad) is a great purpose of showing the players that we are very happy with in regards to playing in the World Cup and being involved in that Australian team," Stuart said.

"And also for the players that haven't been picked and think they should be there, it's a great opportunity to show over the next six weeks plus semi finals that they have the form to warrant a position in the team."

Australia World Cup campaign begins against New Zealand in Sydney on October 26.

Squad: Braith Anasta, Greg Bird, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Ben Creagh, Michael Crocker, Cooper Cronk, Ben Cross, Robbie Farah, Craig Fitzgibbon, Israel Folau, Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne, Justin Hodges, Ryan Hoffman, Karmichael Hunt, Greg Inglis, Michael Jennings, Dallas Johnson, Brent Kite, Anthony Laffranchi, Darren Lockyer, Willie Mason, Joel Monaghan, Nate Myles, Luke O'Donnell, Josh Perry, Justin Poore, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Anthony Quinn, Steve Simpson, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Anthony Tupou, Anthony Watmough, Carl Webb, Brett White, Craig Wing.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP