Cowboy Scott included in Australia team

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Matt Scott is the surprise package among the 10 Queenslanders named in Australia's team for the final of the Four Nations on Saturday. The prop from the NRL's bottom club, the North Queensland Cowboys, has been named in the starting line-up against New Zealand in Brisbane in preference to the Kangaroos' most capped forward, Petero Civoniceva.

"I don't think of it as replacing Petero," Scott said yesterday. "The rotation we have going seems to be working pretty well."

Civoniceva is listed among the possible substitutes, but Scott, 25, clearly did enough in a stormy Test debut against the Kiwis last week to earn preference. "It was a passionate type of game and pretty daunting, but I think it was an experience that will help me," he said.

Elsewhere in his selection Australia's coach, Tim Sheens, has surprised no one by recalling Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Luke Lewis and Willie Tonga after resting them in the dry run against the Kiwis.