Josh Addo-Carr earns Test recall as double blow rocks Kangaroos
Updated . First published
Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax will not travel to England for the Ashes series as the pair have been ruled out of the Australian Kangaroos squad due to injury.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Josh Addo-Carr will be part of the Australian set-up for the first time since 2022, while Bradman Best is set for his own recall.
Lomax and Coates were under injury clouds when the squad was unveiled 24 hours ago, with Lomax carrying a hip complaint and the Melbourne flyer set for scans on his left ankle.
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Lomax failed to complete his medical tests after playing through his hip pain over the back half of the season.
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Mark Nawaqanitawase's cross-code career has reached a new height after he was named in the Kangaroos squad for the Ashes tour against England.
Zac Lomax and Xavier Coates at Kangaroos training. NRL Imagery
Mitchell Moses has also been named despite expectation he may miss out.
Matt Burton is the biggest name to have missed out, with coach Kevin Walters singling him out as the player he feels most sympathy for.
Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki will also head to England, continuing his incredible rise from a train-and-trial contract at the start of this year and a player who was axed just weeks before starring in Sunday's grand final due to discipline reasons.
"He's had one crack at the NRL and lost his way a bit but he's got a second chance and made the most of it," Walters said.
"We saw him play outstanding football in the State of Origin series and then this run at the Broncos in the last six weeks, he's been one of their go-to players.
"And then last night, picked up two tries in the grand final and had a really strong game. He's virtually forced his way in."
Latrell Mitchell (left) and Josh Addo-Carr celebrate a try in Kangaroos colours. Getty
The squad includes seven debutants in Blayke Brailey, Keaon Koloamatangi, Nawaqanitawase, Jacob Preston, Shibasaki, Ethan Strange and Reece Walsh.
Walters wasn't willing to divulge who's the frontrunner for the fullback position with Walsh and incumbent Test No.1 Dylan Edwards both selected.
Kangaroos squad
Josh Addo-Carr, Blayke Brailey, Patrick Carrigan, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Angus Crichton, Tom Dearden, Dylan Edwards, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant (vc), Keaon Koloamatangi, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jacob Preston, Gehamat Shibasaki, Lindsay Smith, Kotoni Staggs, Ethan Strange, Reece Walsh, Isaah Yeo (c), Hudson Young
