Australian Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters is facing a pivotal selection decision ahead of the Rugby League World Cup, with incumbent fullback Reece Walsh appearing to have edged out James Tedesco for the No. 1 jersey in the tournament opener against New Zealand.
Walsh, who has been sidelined since August due to ankle surgery following a syndesmosis injury sustained in Brisbane’s Round 24 clash against New Zealand, rejoined the Kangaroos’ camp last week. Reports indicate he has positioned himself ahead of Tedesco for the starting fullback role in Thursday night’s match at Allianz Stadium.
Both players featured in an opposed training session at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday, with Walters rotating the pair to evaluate their readiness and form. Walsh started the session alongside the first-choice spine of five-eighth Cameron Munster, halfback Mitchell Moses, and hooker Harry Grant. Tedesco later took the field with a different combination including five-eighth Tom Dearden and halfback Sam Walker.
Walters has emphasized that his selection process will weigh incumbency, State of Origin performance, and club form. Walsh’s standout performances during Australia’s 3-0 Ashes series win over England last year remain a factor in his favor, despite his recent absence from competitive play following a hip-drop tackle injury.
Conversely, Tedesco’s recent form is compelling; he was instrumental in leading the Sydney Roosters to a premiership victory, earning man-of-the-match honors in their tightly contested 19-18 Grand Final win over Newcastle last week.
Walters highlighted his preference for loyalty in team selection, drawing inspiration from rugby league legend Mal Meninga’s coaching approach. “I like to reward incumbency when I can,” Walters said. He acknowledged that both Walsh and Tedesco bring distinct skill sets to the fullback role and intends to finalize his decision after further consultation within the camp.
Beyond fullback, other positions remain under consideration. The wing and centre roles appear mostly settled, with Tom Trbojevic and Jack Bostock confirmed on the wings, and Latrell Mitchell retaining his centre spot. Kotoni Staggs, who starred for Brisbane Broncos, looks set to hold his place at right centre over Newcastle Knights’ Bradman Best, who has been utilized as a wing replacement during training. Trbojevic’s workload is being monitored ahead of the World Cup opener.
In the halves, Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses has been prominent in training, particularly with his kicking game and synergy alongside Queensland captain Cameron Munster. The forward pack may include newcomers such as Canterbury Bulldogs backrower Jacob Preston, who appears poised for his Kangaroos debut after consistent training performances at Sydney Olympic Park.
David Fifita is expected to play as an impact player off the bench, while Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray is likely to assume a middle forward role. Penrith and Australian captain Isaac Yeo has trained extensively at lock, alongside Patrick Carrigan and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, both projected to start in the front row.
The Kangaroos are scheduled to announce their official 19-man squad on Tuesday afternoon as the Rugby League World Cup, featuring 10 nations, gets underway. The tournament runs for a month, culminating in the final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on November 15. Opposition in pool play includes Tonga, Samoa, England, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Lebanon, and France, along with Australia and New Zealand.