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October 5, 2026 \u2014 2:57pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n James Tedesco captained the Sydney Roosters to premiership glory and won a second Clive Churchill Medal<\/a> on Sunday night, but remains no certainty to be wearing the Australian No.1 jersey when the World Cup kicks off next Thursday.<\/p>\n Tedesco was named in Kevin Walters\u2019 cup squad on Monday after missing last year\u2019s Ashes series to attend his brother\u2019s wedding.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old starred in the 19-18 win over the Knights on Sunday,<\/a> a performance that included a grand final record 388 run metres, but is now locked in a fullback shootout with incumbent Reece Walsh.<\/p>\n Walsh will not have played in 61 days by the time next week\u2019s Allianz Stadium match against New Zealand starts because of an ankle injury.<\/p>\n Walters refused to confirm any starting positions on Monday, and as much as he enjoyed Tedesco\u2019s premiership performance, he made it known he remained a huge fan of Walsh.<\/p>\n The coach went as far as to declare Walsh the fullback front-runner midway through this year when his club side Brisbane were going through an unhappy defence of their NRL title.<\/p>\n Walters was spared making a three-into-two call once Dylan Edwards required knee surgery, as well as a shoulder reconstruction.<\/p>\n \u201cTeddy was very good on Sunday; he loves to carry the ball, and he brings that high work rate to the team,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n \u201cTeddy has good form on the board.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ll sit down with the senior players, which will probably include Teddy, and we\u2019ll come up with the right team to take on New Zealand.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s put himself in a good slot, hasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed on the loyalty shown to Walsh, Walters said: \u201cHave you not watched him play?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a respect and loyalty [thing] I have with players. I feel like it\u2019s important; I feel like everyone is a chance of playing next Thursday \u2013 I\u2019d be comfortable with any one of those 23 players playing a role.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking with Broncos medical staff and Reece himself, he\u2019s ready to go. He\u2019s quite the player.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s World Cup squad<\/p>\n Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Blayke Brailey, Patrick Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Harry Grant, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster, Cameron Murray, Jacob Preston, Kotoni Staggs, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Sam Walker, Reece Walsh, Isaah Yeo (c). Shadow players: Tom Jenkins, Hamish Stewart, Ethan Strange.<\/p>\n Walters also has Manly\u2019s Tom Trbojevic as a third fullback option, and even Latrell Mitchell, whom Walters met for a coffee at Heffron Park last week.<\/p>\n \u201cHis finish to the season for South Sydney was great; he\u2019s a big-game player who can do special things,\u201d Walters said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy conversations with him [over] the last 16 months have been nothing but positive. He\u2019s looking forward to putting the green and gold back on and having a great tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article![\"Still](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5c12df2ace3e2c957321acb644449e250448d0c4.jpeg\")
Still the No. 1: James Tedesco is swarmed by fans at the SCG on Monday.George Chan<\/p>\n![\"Roosters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/6a36ddfcec80eef0b96580c3cc06bb58b180b529.jpeg\")
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