Bolters, headaches emerge for Kangaroos squad for Ashes tour as selection gaps open

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will have his work cut out for him over the next couple of months as preparations ramp up for the Ashes series against England.

Walters was named as Mal Meninga's replacement as the national team coach on a short-term basis last month and will imminently need to make some big decisions.

The selection discussions have well and truly started ramping up since Walters got the nod for the green and gold gig - especially surrounding the availability of some stars.

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Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Payne Haas and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are reportedly weighing up representing Samoa this year, which would leave a gaping hole in the squad as all three players would have been near certainties to earn a spot.

Walters will also need to account for the absence of Mitch Barnett and Valentine Holmes, who are both sidelined due to injury and won't be able to make the trip overseas.

While there's no shortage of depth for Walters to pick from, what we have seen over time is that Australian squads are skewed towards teams that are featuring in the finals given the gap between the regular season and international fixtures kicking off.

That could see some potential bolters from Canberra, Melbourne and Canterbury find their way into the squad, while a couple of Roosters young guns may also be in the mix.

Wide World of Sports takes a look at who could be on the plane to the UK.

FULLBACK

Perhaps the most contentious position that Walters will need to make a decision on will be who wears the No.1 jersey for the Kangaroos this year.

Dylan Edwards is the incumbent but has had a mixed season, struggling with fitness and failing to replicate his debut State of Origin series for the Blues.

While the four-time premiership winner is probably still the favourite, the form of James Tedesco this season is going to be incredibly hard to ignore.

The champion Roosters captain is on track for another Dally M Medal and has lifted the inexperienced side into the hunt for a top-eight position.

It's a real toss of the coin scenario that Walters will be weighing up and it could come down to who is fit and firing late into the finals series.

Ryan Papenhuyzen and Reece Walsh are outside chances of featuring, while Tabuai-Fidow would definitely be an option if he commits to playing for Australia.

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OUTSIDE BACKS

Right off the bat, one of the most no-brainer picks is Storm flyer Xavier Coates, who is not only an incumbent but is having perhaps the best season of his NRL career.

The towering winger has scored 16 tries in as many games for Melbourne, while also becoming a genuine force out of the backfield, as pointed out by coach Craig Bellamy following the side's round 23 win over the Broncos.

Zac Lomax is the other incumbent from last year's Pacific Championships success, but the fact Parramatta won't be playing in September could cost him.

While there's a chance Lomax still finds his way into the squad, the two names who will come under consideration on the wings are Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jacob Kiraz.

Canterbury's rise towards the top of the ladder has seen Kiraz catapult himself into rep football contention and he was on the cusp of an Origin debut earlier this year.

Nawaqanitawase has become one of the most talked-about players in rugby league in his first season in the 13-man code and looks destined to become a dual international.

Walters told News Corp last week that he would "certainly" be in the mix for selection.

Latrell Mitchell, if fit, should be an automatic selection in the centres, while Robert Toia and Matt Burton are fantastic options who should be on the flight.

The other name who could be a consideration is Tom Trbojevic, who is an incumbent of the side but has had an ordinary year with the Sea Eagles by his own lofty standards.

The increasingly likely scenario of Manly missing the finals won't help him either.

Stephen Crichton and Brian To'o have only ever played for Samoa and there's no reason to think that will change.

HALVES

Another tough dilemma for Walters and the selectors comes in the playmaking roles - in particular, who wears the No.7 jersey for the Kangaroos.

Cameron Munster will be one of the first players picked and could feasibly captain the side after stepping into the Maroons leadership role seamlessly this year.

Who partners him will be the biggest question though.

Nathan Cleary is the consensus best player in the game and would likely have his nose in front, but his performances at Origin level this year left plenty to be desired.

On the other hand, Tom Dearden starred for Queensland and took out the Wally Lewis Medal and was also part of the Australian side last year.

Dearden's ability to play off the bench and cover hooker if needed could work against him when it comes to the starting spot and give Cleary a slight edge.

From a depth perspective, the aforementioned Burton has had a career-best season at five-eighth and offers great versatility, while Raiders young gun Ethan Strange is putting himself firmly in the frame for a spot in the wider squad based on form.

Ricky Stuart publicly endorsed him after last weekend's win over Manly and believes the 20-year-old has all the makings of a genuine rep football superstar.

"Personally, I think he will play for Australia this year and I think he will play Origin over the next year or two," the Canberra coach said.

"I firmly believe that - he's got Origin attitude, the way he defends, the way he runs the football. He's got qualities of a representative player already as a young person."

Incumbent halfback Mitchell Moses would consider himself unlucky to miss out, but his lack of game time and Parramatta not playing finals may end up hurting his chances.

HOOKER

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Harry Grant will be the starting hooker for Australia and there's not another player in his position that currently rivals him.

The 27-year-old is one of the best players in the game and has been outstanding this year for Melbourne, while also starring for Queensland in their Origin series triumph.

Walters however will want to carry some back-up given the rigours of the position and that could open the door for Kurt Mann to debut at 32 years of age.

The tough Bulldogs utility didn't look out place when he was called into the Queensland side earlier this year and given the fact his club team could go deep into the finals, it would make perfect sense for Walters to look at Mann as an option.

Ben Hunt was in the Kangaroos squad last year and is a proven performer who can cover a plethora of positions, while Connor Watson played all three Origin games for the Blues this year and has spent the majority of the NRL season at hooker for the Roosters.

Blayke Brailey has been in good form with the Sharks but doesn't offer the same type of utility value as Mann, Hunt or Watson.

Storm utility Tyran Wishart is also worth mentioning as a possible bolter to play the No.14 role and could provide a quality one-two punch with club teammate Grant.

MIDDLE FORWARDS

If we're going under the assumption that Fa'asuamaleaui and Haas will play for Samoa at the end of this year, Australia will have their work cut out for them in the middle.

Both men would be walk-up starts to be part of the front-row rotation and while their potential absence is a significant blow, Walters and the selectors aren't without options.

Patrick Carrigan, Lindsay Collins and Reuben Cotter are all proven commodities at this level of rugby league and it would be hard to see any of them missing out on selection.

Beneath those stars things get interesting.

Stefano Utoikamanu didn't exactly set the world on fire for the Blues, but his form in club land has been top-notch and he could be in line for a call-up, especially with the high likelihood of the Storm making a deep run into September.

Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh missed out on Origin selection - which was very unlucky - but has found a level of consistency that had been missing in his game during the early stages of his career and has become a real force in 2025.

Trent Loiero enjoyed a solid first taste of Origin football with the Maroons and similarly to his club teammate Utoikamanu, could be the beneficiary

The 24-year-old's ability to cover a few different spots will put him on the radar.

Isaah Yeo is the incumbent Kangaroos captain and will be there in his usual lock-forward role unless his shoulder injury dictates otherwise, while Panthers teammate Lindsay Smith made his international debut in 2024 and could be a consideration.

The other interesting possibility is Cameron Murray, who hasn't played a game all year for South Sydney due to an Achilles injury, but is nearing full fitness.

On his day, Murray is arguably the best forward in the game, but it would be a huge ask to go from only a handful of NRL games - if that - to flying overseas and facing England.

Jake Trbojevic was also mentioned by Walters as an option, but the Manly veteran's form this year and latest concussion put him at long odds.

EDGE FORWARDS

If there's one position Australia are truly blessed in, it's the back-row.

Angus Crichton and Hudson Young are the incumbent pairing on the edge and it's hard to see either of them not being part of the Kangaroos team again.

Liam Martin - assuming he is fit - would also be impossible to overlook after starring for Penrith and NSW over the past four years with his tough and aggressive style, which the Aussies will most certainly need against England.

Warriors veteran Kurt Capewell is a quality and experienced player and has enjoyed a strong season that pushed him back into the Origin arena.

From a youth perspective, Jacob Preston continues to go from strength-to-strength for the Bulldogs and his time playing rep football is getting closer by the day.

Preston has crossed for eight tries in 16 games for Canterbury, while also becoming a rock-solid defender on the edge with 38 tackles per game at 96 per cent efficiency.

Loiero and Cotter, who were mentioned previously, have the ability to play on the edge.

Jeremiah Nanai opted to play for Samoa last year and that is unlikely to change.

Kangaroos potential 22-man Ashes squad

1. James Tedesco
2. Xavier Coates
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Matt Burton
5. Zac Lomax
6. Cameron Munster
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Harry Grant
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Angus Crichton
12. Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Tom Dearden
15. Reuben Cotter
16. Hudson Young
17. Corey Horsburgh

Reserves: Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ethan Strange, Stefano Utoikamanu, Jacob Preston, Kurt Mann