Kevin Walters has denied suggestions that Zac Lomax’s withdrawal from the Kangaroos squad has anything to do with reports he’s set to sign with rebel rugby competition R360. Just 24 hours after announcing his squad for the upcoming Ashes Tests against England, Walters has already been forced to make two changes.
Wingers Lomax and Xavier Coates both withdrew from the squad on Tuesday, with Coates suffering an Achilles injury in Sunday night’s grand final loss for the Melbourne Storm. Lomax has sustained a hip issue and informed Walters he wouldn’t be right on Monday after the squad was announced.
Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax (R) have already withdrawn from Kevin Walters’ (L) Kangaroos squad. Image: Getty
“He’s been struggling with it the last couple of weeks,” Walters told The Daily Telegraph about Lomax’s injury. “He thought he would be right. He gave it a rest but he went for a run on Sunday and it hasn’t come up well. Not good.”
When asked if Lomax’s withdrawal had anything to do with a possible code switch to R360, the coach responded: “I wouldn’t have thought so.” Lomax is among a number of high-profile NRL players being targeted by the cashed-up rugby union competition.
There’s been suggestions the Kangaroos and State of Origin winger might have played his last game for Parramatta and has already agreed to a deal with R360. Eels coach Jason Ryles has suggested the club would be willing to grant him a release if he has his heart set on leaving.
Xavier Coates (L) and Zac Lomax (far right) have withdrawn due to injury, with Josh Addo-Carr (second from right) winning a recall. Image: Getty
Mark Nawaqanitawase set for Kangaroos debut
Lomax and Coates’ withdrawals come as a major blow for Walters, as the NSW and Queensland Origin players were looming as his starting wingers for the Ashes. It means Mark Nawaqanitawase will likely be handed his Kangaroos debut and become a dual international after playing 11 Tests for the Wallabies.
Josh Addo-Carr and Bradman Best have been called into the squad as replacements, with Addo-Carr likely to start on the other wing. Best will likely be a back-up, with Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki expected to start in the centres.
Addo-Carr has played seven Tests for the Kangaroos, and was a star of Australia’s World Cup triumph in 2022. But he probably thought his international days were over when his career was at a crossroads after being shown the door by the Bulldogs last year.
He bounced back with a stellar season for Parramatta in 2025, and has now been rewarded with a Test recall. He said last month: “I still haven’t given up hope of playing for NSW and Australia again, I know I’m still up to that level.
“Playing for Australia is something you always want to achieve and keep doing. I have missed out the last couple of years, so one of my goals at the start of the year that I wrote down was to put the Australian jersey back on.”
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Walters revealed that Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz would likely have been in the squad if not for injury. Best was in contention for the initial squad that was named on Monday, but selectors went with Shibasaki instead after he scored two tries in the Broncos’ grand final triumph.
Shibasaki started the year on a train-and-trial deal at the Broncos, but convinced coach Michael Maguire to pick him in Round 1 with a stellar pre-season. He’s now a State of Origin champion, premiership winner and Kangaroos debutant.
Updated Kangaroos squad for Ashes:
Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters)
Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos)
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)