AUSTRALIA coach Mal Meninga will honour the Kangaroos’ greatest players in a pre-Four Nations ceremony to bring greater prestige to the green-and-gold jumper.

Determined to lift the profile of international football, Meninga wants greater recognition of Test milestones to connect Australia’s past and present stars.

Current Kangaroos players will for the first time wear a special insignia on their jerseys relating to how many Tests they have played.

Players with more than 20, 30, 40 or 50 games will have distinct markings on their jerseys during the end of season Four Nations tournament.

Cameron Smith, who has played 44 games, will have a differing insignia to that of teammate Johnathan Thurston, who has played 33 Tests.

media_camera Mal Meninga with the Rugby League World Cup trophy.

Meninga, a 46-Test veteran, will use the Kangaroos reunion on October 9 at the SCG as a platform to formally reward Australian rugby league’s greatest servants.

The reunion has traditionally been held the day before the NRL grand final but Meninga has moved it back a week. That will ensure the squad can be farewelled by Australia’s greats for their Four Nations tour of England.

A centrepiece of the gala event will be an awards ceremony in which Meninga rewards past Kangaroos for achieving milestones.

During his 10-year reign as Maroons coach, Meninga saw the pride Queensland players took in being presented with the Dick “Tosser’’ Turner Medal for their 20th Origin game.

Now Meninga is keen to pay homage to retired players with rewards for reaching milestone Tests.

“The game has been around for 108 years but has never had something like this,” Meninga said.

“This is about celebrating the remarkable personal achievements of our greatest Kangaroos players and acknowledging their service to the game at the highest level.

“This is a tradition we will continue well into the future.

“Every Test match is important, but our current players will all be inspired to reach those milestones and all of the former players who receive their awards should be proud of their immense contributions.

“Our Four Nations squad will also be able to connect with some of the great Kangaroos players of the past who will be honoured on October 9.

“These are the best players in the country and to represent Australia on 20, 30, 40 and 50 occasions is an achievement which should be acknowledged.”

Retired Kangaroos legends set to be honoured include Darren Lockyer (59 Tests), Petero Civoniceva (45), Brad Fittler (40) and Wally Lewis (34).