Latrell Mitchell will make a blockbuster return to the Kangaroos squad for the Rugby League World Cup while monster battles loom at fullback and in the halves — but Selwyn Cobbo has been overlooked.
Outgoing coach Kevin Walters has named Clive Churchill medallist James Tedesco and Reece Walsh while Tom Dearden, Cameron Munster, Sam Walker and Mitchell Moses will all vie to partner up in Nathan Cleary’s injury-enforced absence.
Australia’s campaign begins next Thursday night against New Zealand, with the entire tournament live, free and exclusive on Seven and 7plus Sport.
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Isaah Yeo will put off pec surgery to captain the Kangaroos, with Liam Martin the only other Panthers player named in the squad.
“I’d only put my hand up if I thought I could contribute to the side and perform at the level that’s needed for our country and I feel like I can do that,” Yeo said.
There was no room in the squad for Cobbo, who scored a hat-trick in State of Origin II and was crucial to the Dolphin’s run to the NRL preliminary finals, with Tom Trbojevic named and seemingly in the mix for a wing spot.
Tedesco, skipper for the 2022 World Cup win, will back up from the Roosters’ NRL grand final success with Walker and Lindsay Collins, while Bradman Best is the only Newcastle player picked for Australia, after Kalyn Ponga switched allegiances to New Zealand.
Walters appeared to forecast Tedesco could get the first crack at the No.1 jumper over Walsh.
“Is Teddy the fullback? That’s to be… but, yeah, obviously he played pretty well last night, I thought,” the coach said.
Walters said there will be no “right or wrong” when they select the halves pairing but said it is about “making sure we’ve got the right people in the right positions”.
“For Sam (Walker) to get back (in the finals from an ankle injury) and play the way he has, we had to find a position for him in the side,” he said.
“We took four away last year, I feel like they’re really important and key positions so we want to pick the best players in those positions to cover everything. I feel like we’ve done that.”
He celebrated Mitchell, who missed the Ashes last year, as “a big-game player”.
“My conversations with him for the last 16 months have been nothing but positive,” Walters said.
“He’s looking forward to putting the green and gold back on and having a great tournament.”
More to come…
Australian squad
Bradman Best (debut), Jack Bostock (debut), Blayke Brailey (debut), Pat Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa’asuamaleuai, David Fifita (debut), Harry Grant, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Moses, Cam Munster, Cam Murray, Jacob Preston (debut), Kotoni Staggs, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Sam Walker (debut), Reece Walsh, Isaah Yeo (captain). Shadow players: Tom Jenkins, Hamish Stewart, Ethan Strange.
