MANLY coach Des Hasler believes premiership-winning captain Matt Orford has achieved enough this season to be selected in the Kangaroos' squad for this year's World Cup.
The Dally M player of the year was the glaring omission from the 24-man squad, which included seven debutants and six Manly players, with selectors opting for incumbent Johnathan Thurston and Titans captain Scott Prince.
Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt, Roosters lock Anthony Tupou and Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah were the other notable absentees for the tournament, which officially kicks off with a match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26.
"He certainly puts a good case forward and has done over the last month," Hasler said. "It's not my call. I've made my intentions known on the matter in the past. He's won the Dally M and won the grand final as captain. I feel for him but he's a pretty tough kid."
Despite Orford's omission, Sea Eagles feature heavily in coach Ricky Stuart's squad. Second-rower Anthony Watmough, props Josh Perry and Brent Kite, brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart and rookie winger David Williams are in. They were equally stunned at their skipper being overlooked.
"I don't know what else he's got to do," Glenn Stewart said. "He's the Dally M player of the year."
Watmough added: "He's done enough to definitely warrant a spot. They've got plans and directions they're going to go in. But it's a shame he's not there."
Stuart revealed he had recently spoken to Orford about his form and said at yesterday's announcement he was limited in the number of specialist players he could chose. Under the tournament's rules, no player can be added to the squad after the first match the side plays.
"I think Matt Orford's form in the grand final and towards the end of the season has been some of his best football," Stuart said. "I've personally spoken to Matt and talked to him about his footy game. He's a guy who I saw a huge improvement in … in regards to handling his critics. One of those criticisms was performing under pressure in the big games. He certainly showed us he can do that on Sunday afternoon."
So solid has Orford's form been, Prince was convinced he would be overlooked.
"They'd been talking Matty Orford up and the way he's played this year, I wasn't overly confident I'd make the squad," he told AAP.
As expected, suspended Sharks lock Greg Bird wasn't considered because of assault charges but the other intriguing omission was that of Broncos fullback Hunt, with selectors preferring grand finalists Brett Stewart and the Storm's Billy Slater.
ARL chairman Colin Love denied Hunt was overlooked because of an ongoing investigation into sexual-assault claims made after an incident at a Brisbane nightclub last month. Police are expected to announce their findings this week.
Stuart insisted it had no bearing on his being overlooked.
"He was considered. You need specialists at fullback, your halves and at hooker. Kurt Gidley is a specialist in those but we've looked at him as a reserve hooker and a player who can play in the halves. I'm a big fan of Karmichael Hunt. But realistically, it wouldn't be the right thing to bring three fullbacks in this squad because then we would be short elsewhere."
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