Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has been forced into two changes to the 23-man squad he named on Monday ahead of the Ashes tour of England.

Code Sports reported on Tuesday that Josh Addo-Carr and Bradman Best will join the squad with Xavier Coates (ankle) and Zac Lomax (hip) withdrawing due to injury.

It means Addo-Carr is in the frame to represent Australia for the first time since the 2022 World Cup while Best is one of eight potential Test debutants.

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Coach Walters wouldn’t confirm if one of the most high-profile debutants, Reece, Walsh will start at fullback in the opening game against England on October 26, after the Brisbane superstar capped off a stellar NRL season with five linebreak assists, three try assists, 12 tackle busts and a try against Melbourne to make quite the final push for selection ahead of incumbent Dylan Edwards.

“That’ll be a discussion I’ll have with the selectors and the senior players. We’ve got two great fullbacks,” Walters said.

The now defending premiers will be well represented in the squad with skipper Patrick Carrigan named along with breakout centre Gehamat Shibasaki, who enjoyed a career-best 2025 season which also included making his Queensland debut in the series decider.

Walters said Shibasaki, who scored a double in Sunday’s grand final, “virtually forced his way into the squad”.

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“He had one crack at it in the NRL and sort of lost his way a little bit, but he’s got a second chance and he’s made the most of it,” the Kangaroos coach added.

“We saw him play outstanding football in the State of Origin series and then this run for the Broncos in the last six weeks, he’s been one of their go-to players.”

The NRL’s leading try-scorer Mark Nawaqanitawase was also rewarded for his strong form with selection despite announcing he will be returning to rugby union ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Walters said there was “no concern” in picking both Nawaqanitawase and Eels flyer Zac Lomax, who has been linked with an exit to the R360 competition, adding he had “full support of the commission”.

Walters revealed he has had “several conversations” with Lomax ahead of the tour.

“I didn’t talk to him about the rugby stuff, it’s more focused on the Kangaroos and making sure that he’s fit and ready to go,” he said.

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While there were plenty of success stories to come out of those selected for their Kangaroos debuts, it also meant there were a few big names to miss out with Walters singling out Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton as particularly unlucky to not be selected.

“A couple of guys I feel for, particularly Matt Burton was playing for Australia certainly in last year’s series, but there was some guys this year that really jumped out of the ground, particularly through the Origin period, and then also in through the finals,” Walters said.

“We want to reward loyalty but also reward form and this team has been picked on that form.”

Walters conceded there are more “tough calls” yet to be made as he trims the 24-player squad down to just 18 ahead of the first game against England at Wembley Stadium.

KANGAROOS SQUAD

Isaah Yeo (c – Panthers), Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Patrick Carrigan (Broncos), Nathan Cleary (Panthers), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys), Angus Crichton (Roosters), Tom Dearden (Cowboys), Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans), Harry Grant (Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs), Bradman Best (Knights), Josh Addo-Carr (Eels), Mitchell Moses (Eels), Cameron Munster (Storm), Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters), Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos), Lindsay Smith (Panthers), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Ethan Strange (Raiders), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Hudson Young (Raiders)