{"id":226591,"date":"2025-10-20T03:58:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/226591\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T03:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T03:58:08","slug":"kangaroos-set-to-run-multiple-debutants-for-first-ashes-test-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/226591\/","title":{"rendered":"Kangaroos set to run multiple debutants for first Ashes Test – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Australian Kangaroos are reportedly closing in on settling the make-up of their side for the first Ashes Test<\/a> at Wembley Stadium this weekend.<\/p>\n

Taking a 24-man squad to England<\/a>, it’s unclear whether all 24 players will get a run throughout the series, as has been the case with previous tournaments where the Kangaroos could afford to have something other than perfection during the group stages.<\/p>\n

The likely big calls are going to be in the halves and backline for the Kangaroos. Still, it’s understood\u00a0Gehamat Shibasaki<\/a>\u00a0will beat out\u00a0Bradman Best<\/a> for a spot in the centres. In contrast,\u00a0Nathan Cleary<\/a> will beat out New South Wales rival Mitchell Moses<\/a> and Queensland Maroons<\/a> star Tom Dearden<\/a> for the number seven jersey.<\/p>\n

News Corp is reporting Shibasaki will partner Kotoni Staggs<\/a> in the centres, with Best a late call-up into the 24-man squad alongside Josh Addo-Carr<\/a> after the double withdrawal of Zac Lomax<\/a> and Xavier Coates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The withdrawals only being replaced by one specialist winger means it’s certain Addo-Carr will partner Sydney Roosters<\/a> rookie Mark Nawaqanitawase<\/a> on the wing, while Reece Walsh<\/a> is expected to win the race for the number one jumper ahead of Dylan Edwards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the forwards, Harry Grant<\/a> is likely to win the number nine jersey ahead of Blayke Brailey<\/a>, while Isaah Yeo<\/a> being captain means he starts at lock, with Patrick Carrigan<\/a> and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui<\/a> likely to complete the middle third.<\/p>\n

That means Reuben Cotter<\/a>, Lindsay Collins<\/a> and Keaon Koloamatangi<\/a> will be relegated to the bench, with Lindsay Smith<\/a> to miss the side.<\/p>\n

Angus Crichton<\/a> and Hudson Young<\/a> are expected to be the second-rowers ahead of Jacob Preston<\/a>, while Tom Dearden<\/a> will play as the utility.<\/p>\n

The first test kicks off at 12:30am (AEDT) on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

Likely Kangaroos team for first Test<\/p>\n

1. Reece Walsh<\/a>
2. Josh Addo-Carr<\/a>
3. Kotoni Staggs<\/a>
4. Gehamat Shibasaki<\/a>
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase<\/a>
6. Cameron Munster<\/a>
7. Nathan Cleary<\/a>
8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui<\/a>
9. Harry Grant<\/a>
10. Pat Carrigan
11. Hudson Young<\/a>
12. Angus Crichton<\/a>
13. Isaah Yeo<\/a>
14. Tom Dearden<\/a>
15. Keaon Kolomatangi
16. Lindsay Collins<\/a>
17. Reuben Cotter<\/a><\/p>\n

* Per News Corp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Australian Kangaroos are reportedly closing in on settling the make-up of their side for the first Ashes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":199186,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-226591","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226591\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/199186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}