Kevin Walters has resisted calls from the likes of Corey Parker and Andrew Voss to make changes to the Kangaroos side to play England in the final Ashes Test with some of the players defending the decision. NRL commentator Voss led the calls for three players to be dropped for the final Ashes clash with Australia underperforming, despite two commanding victories.
Voss initially called for Gehamat Shibasaki to be dropped from the backline having also claimed forwards Lindsay Collins and Lindsay Smith should make way. Broncos great Corey Parker also suggested Shibasaki shouldn’t hold onto his place in the centres after a very quiet display. Voss even suggested Moses should come in for Nathan Cleary to rejuvenate the side.
Mitchell Moses (pictured right) and Dylan Edwards have defended coach Kevin Walters’ decision to make minimal changes to the Kangaroos side to play England in the third and final Ashes Test. (Images: Getty Images/AAP)
But Walters only made the one change to the side who sealed the series victory having brought back injured captain Isaah Yeo for Smith. The coach has rewarded the core players that lead the series 2-0 with another Test appearance in a bid to clean sweep England.
And two of the players who will not wear the Kangaroos jersey on the Ashes Tour have responded. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald about the decision, Moses said all the players understood the situation and the Parramatta Eels halfback didn’t want to be handed a jersey without earning it.
“I completely understand it,” he told the publication. “I feel like if I was in that position I wouldn’t want to give up my spot either. You have to put the team first and the country first. I think that’s what we’ve done well as emus. We’ve prepared the boys as well as we could. Hopefully the boys can finish them off 3-0.”
Dylan Edwards wants to earn Aussie recall
Panthers and NSW fullback Dylan Edwards lost his place in the Kangaroos side to Broncos star Reece Walsh after the 23-year-old’s stellar club form in 2025. There was no doubting Walsh was the form fullback of the competition and his last few months have seen Walsh rise to the best player in the game.
While Edwards would have been disappointed to have lost the No.1 jersey ahead of the tour, he wanted to earn a recall to the side through his footy. “You obviously want to wear the jersey, but you want to earn it as well,” Edwards said.
“The boys that are in the jersey at the moment have definitely earned the right to continue playing. For me personally, you want to earn it, you don’t just want to be given it.”
There were calls for the likes of Bradman Best to take over from Shibasaki with a number of players having quiet games in the dire 14-4 win in Game 2. However, not everyone feels handing a few players an opportunity to wear the green and gold would have ‘cheapened’ the jersey. Former Kangaroos forward Parker felt the competition to get into the starting XIII would have done the squad some good heading into the World Cup.
Corey Parker disappointed at Kangaroos side
NRL fans have been divided on whether Walters should stick with his strongest team, or reward some of his reserve players on tour. While many wanted to see their favourite club players pull on the jersey, Walters opted to stick strong with the one change. But many felt like this was a missed opportunity for some of the rising stars of the game.
“He’s changing nothing,” said Parker, who played 13 Tests for the Kangaroos. “I thought it was a great opportunity – not because they were banging the door down – but because they’ve been over there on tour. You don’t just give away an Australian jersey, but there are some individuals who I believe should be under pressure (to retain their spots). These guys like Brailey, Best and Strange have been over there in England for nothing.”
Kevin Walters has resisted calls to make mass changes to the Kangaroos side.
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But the Broncos legend doubled down and claimed some players didn’t warrant selection on their current form in the green and gold. “If you can tell me that Gehamat Shibasaki deserves to hold his spot, I’ll deadset give it away. He had six runs for the whole of game two. He had seven tackles and four missed tackles. Kevin Walters has Bradman Best sitting in the wings. Why did you take a specialised centre on tour?
“If someone doesn’t perform or there’s an injury, he then comes in. Guess what? Shibasaki didn’t do his role. He’s not on his own. That’s just one example. You are playing for Australia. Anytime I’ve played for Australia and didn’t play to your potential, you are automatically thinking someone might make a change. That’s how you hold the standard of the Australian jersey.”
The Kangaroos only made one change to the side that played England in the second Ashes Test.