The Kangaroos squad is in for the upcoming World Cup, with some of the NRL’s biggest names getting a chance to put their name in lights before they negotiate a new contract.
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Elsewhere, there were three players in particular that were unlucky to miss out and some who may have benefit from Kevin Walters’ loyalty after last year’s Ashes tour.
Read on for the biggest winners and losers from the squad announcement.
WINNERS
November 1 stars
While we have officially hit the NRL off-season, we are about to enter the silly season on the transfer market when a host of big names are able to negotiate with rival clubs.
Before then, a number of Kangaroos stars will have a chance to drive up their price tag even more after being named as part of the Australian squad.
There is no bigger name on that list than Storm hooker Harry Grant, whose representatives have reportedly told the Storm he is likely to head to the open market on November 1.
That is according to Code Sports, with the publication reporting a selfless Grant won’t entertain a move to the Perth Bears as it would block good friend Tyran Wishart from a potential starting spot at hooker.
But there will be a long line of other rival clubs desperate to try and sign Grant, who is contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2028 but has a little-known clause in his contract which could see him leave before then.
The clause is in his favour for the 2028 season but needs to be activated before then and at this stage it sounds like Grant won’t be doing that.
It doesn’t mean he will be leaving the Storm though, with the likeliest outcome being that he earns a big payday to return to Melbourne.
It isn’t just Grant who will be playing at the World Cup with his question marks over his future.
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Dolphins gun Jack Bostock may well have the most to gain given he is the least-established of the Kangaroos players who are off-contract at the end of next year.
Despite that, Bostock proved himself to be one of the league’s best all-round centres this season. His future may well be elsewhere though after the Dolphins extended Selwyn Cobbo and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
It left Bostock, Herbie Farnworth, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Flegler as the high-profile Dolphins without a contract beyond next year and in the case of Bostock, a breakout World Cup could only increase interest in his services.
The same goes for Liam Martin, Bradman Best, David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell and Sam Walker — all of which could head to November 1.
The Knights have made Best a “big offer” according to Barry Toohey, so it sounds like the ball is now in his court and a decision could be made before November 1.
Fifita also sounds like he is on the verge of agreeing to an extension with the Rabbitohs, but regardless his Kangaroos call-up represents a big step in the right direction for a player who struggled to find consistency at the Gold Coast.
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Martin, meanwhile, told reporters last month that “money isn’t everything” but after taking less to stay at Penrith he finally has his chance to secure a big payday, whether that is with the Panthers or potentially the new PNG team.
Walker is trending towards staying at the Roosters, but after winning a premiership he now has a chance to make a statement on the international stage while Mitchell potentially has the most to gain — or lose — given South Sydney has reportedly decided to wait until next season to re-open extension talks with him.
David Riccio said on NRL 360 that the Rabbitohs will see how Mitchell gets through the World Cup and pre-season before addressing his contract situation.
Part of that may be seeing if he breaks down due to injury again. But if he doesn’t and is a genuine difference-maker for the Kangaroos, it could only drive his price up by reminding the Rabbitohs what Mitchell can do on the biggest stage when surrounded by talent.
Underperforming Broncos
Walters said earlier this year that the Kangaroos are “traditionally very loyal to their players”.
It may go some way to explaining why three underperforming Broncos in Reece Walsh, Patrick Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs were selected in Monday’s squad.
All three had stretches of poor play in a 2026 season that left a lot to be desired for last year’s premiers, with Carrigan in particular struggling to live up to the lofty expectations he has set himself with his previous standard of play.
Staggs and Walsh, on the other hand, were more hot and cold with glimpses of their brilliant best mixed in with a few moments to forget.
Staggs would have been at risk of missing out on selection had Robert Toia not pledged his allegiance to Tonga.
Reece Walsh celebrates scoring. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The hope for Walters and the Kangaroos is that is more a product of playing in a team that was low on confidence and that all three Broncos players will rediscover their best form playing in a stacked Kangaroos side.
Walsh in particular is a confidence player who thrives on the biggest stage and Fox League expert Luke Keary backed the Broncos fullback to bounce back if selected.
“You see with those players too when they haven’t had a great year at their club, they tend to enjoy getting away and into rep camp and I reckon he’ll perform,” Keary told foxsports.com.au.
“He’ll get in there with the best players in the world and when he’s on, he’s one of the best players in the world.”
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Jacob Preston
Jacob Preston is about to enter his prime as a player and Kevin Walters had no hesitation in including him after he was part of the touring Ashes squad last year.
Preston didn’t play a Test on that tour but clearly impressed Walters who wanted him to bolster the forward pack which will come up against some fearsome opponents in New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.
Preston has been a model of consistency over the past few seasons and again backed it up in 2026.
In 20 games for the Bulldogs he scored seven tries and made 14 line breaks thanks mainly to running off Lachlan Galvin, with whom he formed a formidable combination with on the right edge as one of the best line-running second rowers in the competition.
His tackle efficiency this season was an impressive 95.8 per cent and the Bulldogs also handed him an upgraded $3 million contract to make him one of the better paid players at the club.
Had the 24-year-old not broken his forearm in May he probably would’ve made his State of Origin debut as a bench forward.
It will be interesting to see how he combines with a new halfback and which halfback it is out of Tom Dearden, Sam Walker and Mitchell Moses.
Liam Martin will likely be one of the starting backrowers so Preston will be battling it out for the other starting spot with the likes of Cameron Murray, David Fifita, Keaon Koloamatangi and Reuben Cotter.
LOSERS
Mitch Barnett
Mitch Barnett’s season-ending knee injury ruled him out of contention for the Kangaroos’ Ashes tour last year.
But the NSW Origin gun has once again been unable to force his way into the squad, with the 32-year-old playing a crucial role in the Warriors’ 2026 campaign.
Barnett also was crucial to NSW’s Origin victory, but couldn’t find a spot in Walters’ middle rotation.
The gun forward played all three Tests in Australia’s 2024 Pacific Championships victory, but has been unable to force his way into this squad.
The Warriors were clearly disappointed that the departing front rower was “overlooked” despite a standout season which saw him average 136 metres and 25 tackles a game, pointing out Barnett’s stellar numbers in an article on the club’s website which also added that only three regular front rowers were included in the squad.
Barnett was overlooked. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Max Plath
The Dolphins gun is desperately unlucky not to be named in this squad, especially given his versatility.
Plath had a huge season for the 17th franchise and proved he was well and truly a representative level player with a successful stint for Queensland in their Origin series loss.
However, there was no room for the 25-year-old who was usurped by the likes of Pat Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter and Keaon Koloamatangi.
There’s also an argument to say Plath could have joined the back row rotation, having spent time there to close out the season under Kristian Woolf.
Plath also could have been named as a shadow player, but instead Hamish Stewart earned that spot after an impressive campaign for the Red V.
His omission is a surprising one, given he spearheaded a forward pack that surged all the way to the preliminary finals – but Plath will now have to wait before he makes his Test debut.
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Tallis Duncan
Like Plath, Duncan is another incredibly versatile player who is very unlucky to miss out on this squad.
There’s an argument to say the Rabbitohs gun is the biggest snub from this squad, having delivered a mammoth campaign for his club side in the back row and centres.
Walters is flush with options on an edge, and also has the likes of Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Kotoni Staggs, Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell who will battle for a centre spot.
Regardless, Duncan has emerged as a genuine weapon in 2026 – and is more than deserving of an international call-up, even if he wasn’t able to go on to make his Test debut.
So much so he was the only player coming off contract Souths powerbrokers made attempts to sign before the November 1 deadline, highlighting his value to his club side.
Having him on the bench would provide the Kangaroos with a ready-made option in the backline, the back row and even in the middle where he started his career.
But for now, Duncan will have to bide his time and he could be in line for an Origin debut next season to further push his credentials for a Kangaroos call-up.