Penrith forward Trent Merrin has admitted his NRL form hasn’t warranted Australian selection, but believes he still deserves his Kangaroos jersey.
Despite a slow start to the season, Merrin will start in Friday night’s Anzac Test in Canberra, with coach Mal Meninga staying loyal to the players who won last year’s Four Nations over New Zealand.
The 27-year-old is grateful runs on the board counted in his favour.
“My form probably hasn’t been up to selection, but in saying that I do wear that jersey proudly and every time I put it on I want to put on my best effort,” Merrin said on Tuesday.
“I feel like my form probably didn’t live up to the standard but I do deserve this jersey and I do hold it up with pride.”
Merrin has only played more than an hour in one of Penrith’s matches in the first nine rounds of the season, while he played 60 minutes or more in 17 of his 25 appearances last season.
His average minutes are down from 66 last year to 57 so far in 2017.
“I would have loved to have started the year off the way I finished it last year but there were a few scenarios there that didn’t go our way,” Merrin said.
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Topic: Merrin on Kangaroo selection: Because I’m worth it
