The Australian rugby league squad named Monday

Wests Tigers captain Scott Prince, the man of the match in Sunday's championship grand final, was included in the Australian rugby league squad named Monday for the Tri-Nations series against New Zealand and Britain.

Prince won the Clive Churchill medal in the Tigers' 30-16 National Rugby League final win over North Queensland at the former Olympic stadium.

The 25-year-old halfback joined Cowboys second rower Luke O'Donnell as the only players from the grand final to make the 23-man squad. Brisbane five-eighth Darren Lockyer retained the captaincy ahead of Newcastle's Andrew Johns.

St. George Illawarra prop Luke Bailey (ear ailment), Brisbane utility Justin Hodges (leg injury) and Newcastle forward Steve Simpson (personal reasons), were not considered for selection. Australia opens the series against New Zealand at Sydney on Oct. 15.

Australia: Trent Barrett, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Craig Fitzgibbon, Mark Gasnier, Craig Gower, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Matt King, Darren Lockyer (captain), Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello, Luke O'Donnell, Mark O'Meley, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Andrew Ryan, Jason Ryles, Timana Tahu, Brent Tate, Trent Waterhouse, AP reports.