The trio were all given the nod for their first Test caps in the pivotal World Cup opener at AAMI Park, which pits Meninga against old sparring partner and England coach Wayne Bennett.

Graham won a spot on a forward-heavy four-man bench alongside Melbourne premiership winner McLean as Meninga opted for grunt over guile with his substitutes.

Josh McGuire and Tyson Frizell will be Meninga's other alternatives on the bench with Graham looming as the likely man to be used at hooker should captain Cameron Smith not play 80 minutes.

As expected, Michael Morgan won the race to be given first crack at the No.6 alongside Cooper Cronk with James Maloney and Cameron Munster to see game time later in the tournament.

Morgan has only been in the run-on side once in his eight Test appearances.

"All of my games bar one for Australia have been off the bench in a different role. So it's where I prefer to play, so look I'd feel comfortable if given the opportunity," Morgan said.

"I'm under no illusions there's plenty of competition. I haven't [started] with Cooper before, so it would be nice.

"In that Test week, if you had of told me then that I had the opportunity to partner him in the halves in a World Cup, I wouldn't have thought it was true.

"But I'm glad I have the opportunity to possibly do that at some stage throughout the tournament. It'd be pretty special."

It's part of six changes Meninga has rung from Australia's Anzac Test win over the New Zealand in May, which includes the return of Billy Slater at fullback.

Kangaroos: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Dane Gagai, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Jake Trbojevic. Substitutes: 14 Wade Graham, 15 Jordan McLean, 16 Josh McGuire, 17 Tyson Frizell.