'Can't believe that': League greats debate Cameron Murray's looming return ahead of Ashes series

Andrew Johns has cautioned the Rabbitohs against allowing injured skipper Cameron Murray to feature in this year's historic Ashes tour of England.

Murray hasn't played a game this year after rupturing his Achilles during the pre-season, but is reportedly close to being deemed fully fit.

The 27-year-old is South Sydney's best player, but with the club out of contention for the finals, question marks have been raised over whether Murray should be rested.

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The discussion has since turned to whether Murray could also play for the Kangaroos despite being sidelined for the majority of 2025 with the serious injury.

Johns believes it wouldn't be in the best interest of the Bunnies to let him fly overseas.

"I really can't believe that," he said on Nine's Freddy and The Eighth.

"He hasn't played a game this year. If I was South Sydney, I would be saying 'mate, we're paying you over a million dollars'. I'd want him back on October 1 ready to go.

"If they go on tour, they won't be back until late-January."

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While Johns underlined the club's point of view, Brad Fittler questioned how they could stop Murray from representing Australia.

"Souths don't get a say [with] representative football," he said.

"Turbo [Tom Trbojevic] didn't play much football last year and he came back and played.

"How could you stop someone wanting to play for their country? Seriously." 

Fittler did concede that a possible complication could arise due to the collective bargaining agreement between the NRL and RLPA.

Players must have an adequate break over the off-season and if Murray was to travel to the UK and play for the national side, he wouldn't return until mid-November which would in turn delay his preparations for the 2026 season with Souths.

"It will be interesting what happens, the former NSW Blues coach said.

"I don't know with the players' association, because they have to have a certain amount of time - I think it's eight weeks from their last game." 

Murray would be a walk-up start for the Australian squad if available, having already played 10 games in the green and gold jumper, including the 2022 World Cup final.

Making the need for his services more urgent is the potential defection of both Payne Haas and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to Samoa, leaving a gaping hole in the forward pack.

The likes of Isaah Yeo, Hudson Young and Patrick Carrigan are all expected to earn selection in the squad to face England in the three-game Test series.

Kevin Walters was announced as Kangaroos coach on Wednesday morning, taking the reins from Mal Meninga after his appointment as Perth Bears coach for 2027.