For those who love their rugby league and a punt on the horses, the Kangaroos provided punters with a few more omen bets heading into Saturday's Victoria Derby at Flemington.

In a novel approach to boost public interest in Melbourne ahead of Sunday's Four Nations encounter against England, the Kangaroos took part in the barrier draw for the glamour race.

There on the banks of the Yarra River, 20 of Australian rugby league's finest stood on a stage holding jockey's helmets carrying hidden barrier numbers, with connections picking them off one by one as they nominated where they would start the Derby.

First to go was Rekindled Interest, with stable manager Rodney Douglas nabbing barrier No.8 when he picked the biggest Kangaroo of the them all in David Shillington, while Newcastle local Shannon Perry, son of Kirinata trainer Paul Perry, went for the obvious selection in Knights skipper Kurt Gidley.

Some selections seemed a perfect fit, with Billy Slater the nominee for Absolutelyawesome, while given the way Todd Carney's career has taken off in 2010, Cosmonaut seemed apt.

Darley stable manager Trevor Lobb was under instructions from St George Illawarra tragic Peter Snowden to go for a Dragons player, with Retrieve ending up with barrier two after picking Dean Young.

Last to go was back-up hooker Robbie Farah, who had barrier 16 in his hands.

That went to second emergency Acclaimed Chaos which, like Farah, is still hoping to get a run this weekend.

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