{"id":916533,"date":"2026-10-05T03:20:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T03:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/916533\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T03:20:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T03:20:09","slug":"stars-everywhere-but-selwyn-cobbo-absence-headlines-kangaroos-rugby-league-world-cup-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/916533\/","title":{"rendered":"Stars everywhere but Selwyn Cobbo absence headlines Kangaroos\u2019 Rugby League World Cup squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latrell Mitchell will make a blockbuster return to the Kangaroos squad for the Rugby League World Cup<\/a> while monster battles loom at fullback and in the halves \u2014 but Selwyn Cobbo is a surprise absence.<\/p>\n

Outgoing coach Kevin Walters has named Clive Churchill medallist James Tedesco and Reece Walsh to fight for the No.1 jumper while Tom Dearden, Cameron Munster, Sam Walker and Mitchell Moses\u00a0will all vie to partner up in Nathan Cleary\u2019s injury-enforced absence.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s campaign begins next Thursday night against New Zealand, with the entire tournament live, free and exclusive on Seven and 7plus Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Isaah Yeo will put off surgery on his ruptured pec to captain the Kangaroos, with Liam Martin the only other Panthers player named in the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d only put my hand up if I thought I could contribute to the side and perform at the level that\u2019s needed for our country and I feel like I can do that,\u201d Yeo said.<\/p>\n

Cobbo,\u00a0who scored a hat-trick in State of Origin II and was crucial to the Dolphin\u2019s run to the NRL preliminary finals, is out with ankle and lower back injuries, according to the Sydney Morning Herald\u2019s Christian Nicolussi.<\/p>\n

Tom Trbojevic has been named and is in the mix for a wing spot alongside regular centres Bradman Best, Jack Bostock and Kotoni Staggs. Australia lost the Robert Toia tug of war to Tonga<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mitchell looms as a likely selection after missing the Ashes last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a big-game player. My conversations with him for the last 16 months have been nothing but positive,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s looking forward to putting the green and gold back on and having a great tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tedesco, skipper for the 2022 World Cup win, will back up from the Roosters\u2019 NRL grand final success with Walker and Lindsay Collins, while Bradman Best is the only Newcastle player picked for Australia, after Kalyn Ponga switched allegiances to New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Walters appeared to forecast Tedesco could get the first crack at fullback over Walsh.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Teddy the fullback? That\u2019s to be… but, yeah, obviously he played pretty well last night, I thought,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n

On Walsh, he said: \u201cHe\u2019s good, I\u2019ve been speaking to the Broncos medical staff and Reece himself \u2014 he\u2019s ready to go. Good to see him back out on the field, he\u2019s quite a player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walters said there will be no \u201cright or wrong\u201d when they select the halves pairing but said it is about \u201cmaking sure we\u2019ve got the right people in the right positions\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Sam (Walker) to get back (in the finals from an ankle injury) and play the way he has, we had to find a position for him in the side,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took four away last year, I feel like they\u2019re really important and key positions so we want to pick the best players in those positions to cover everything. I feel like we\u2019ve done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blayke Brailey got the nod as the second hooker, over Roosters premiership winner and NSW\u2019s Origin-winning No.9 Reece Robson, behind long-time starter Harry Grant.<\/p>\n

Walters, who will exit the Kangaroos to coach Super League side St Helens next year, picked the squad with selectors Cameron Smith, Boyd Cordner, Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns.<\/p>\n

Australian squad<\/p>\n

Bradman Best (debut), Jack Bostock (debut), Blayke Brailey (debut), Pat Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleuai, David Fifita (debut), Harry Grant, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Moses, Cam Munster, Cam Murray, Jacob Preston (debut), Kotoni Staggs, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Sam Walker (debut), Reece Walsh, Isaah Yeo (captain). Shadow players: Tom Jenkins, Hamish Stewart, Ethan Strange.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fans torch Newcastle legend for sounding like a \u2018scratched record\u2019<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Roosters premiership hero picks allegiance ahead of World Cup<\/p>\n

1 min read<\/p>\n

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