Kangaroos legend ‘shattered’ Australia’s Rugby League World Cup squad not wearing position numbers 

Kangaroos legends continue to express their dismay over jersey number debacle at the Rugby League World Cup. 

Instead of lining up in the traditional 1-17 numbers based on positions, the 11 already-capped Kangaroos in this year’s 24-man squad have been given a number depending on the order in which they made test debuts.

The 13 in the squad who have yet to debut have been handed a number from 12 to 24 in alphabetical order.

Australia’s 1992 World Cup final saviour Steve Renouf, who played 11 Tests, says he is ‘shattered’ the current Kangaroos will not get to wear their positional numbers in this year’s tournament.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga is scathing of the decision to scrap the traditional number system for rugby league jerseys at the World Cup

Renouf wore the No.3 jersey in the final 30 years ago, scoring the winning try on his Test debut in the 10-6 victory over Great Britain.

The numbering system is part of the Rugby League World Cup rules, which were signed off on by the teams that qualified, two years ago.

Even Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, who was also Renouf’s centre partner in the 1992 final, is not in favour of the move and expressed exactly that on SEN Radio.

‘It takes away from the excitement of your debutants in particular, as they will play in numbers that have no significance to them,’ he said.

‘The supporters will be trying to understand who’s in the 24 jersey that’s playing in the middle.’

Latrell Mitchell will not be wearing the customary no. 3 centres jersey – instead he will be wearing no. 8 due to the time he debuted for Australia in comparison with teammates

Renouf told AAP he agreed with his former teammate.

‘When you are a centre, like I was, it is No.3 or No.4,’ he said.

‘Imagine starting in the team and getting 24. People would always think you were a reserve.

‘My Australian jersey is the ultimate jersey for me. It has pride of place. I wore No.3 on debut and it will always be special.

‘That’s why I am shattered the players this year don’t get to play in their positional numbers. I understand it is the rules but I don’t agree with it.’

When Renouf saw the Kangaroos team list for their opening World Cup clash with Fiji – with centre Latrell Mitchell slated to wear the No.8 jersey – he took a photo of his 1992 Test jumper and posted it on social media with the words: ‘Had the privilege to wear this jersey 30 years ago! With my number!’.

Kangaroos legend Steve Renouf is ‘shattered’ at the decision to scrap traditional numbering

Knights legend Matthew Johns, who played nine Tests for the Kangaroos, was also scathing of the flabbergasting decision.

‘I cannot believe it, each game you should earn your jersey one through 17, the couple of sixes (test jerseys) I got, they’re the special ones because they’re the ones you earned,’ he said on SEN.

‘I honestly hate it … the traditional jerseys and numbers are part of the history of the sport, and you shouldn’t tamper with it.’

Nine-time Kangaroos representative Matty Johns was also critical of the system, saying it was a huge part of the proud history of rugby league

The Kangaroos kick off their World Cup campaign at 5.30am on Sunday morning (AEST) against Fiji, and you can follow along with all the action on Daily Mail Australia’s live blog of the match.