Tedesco or Walsh? Aussie captain quizzed on World Cup selection mystery

Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo may have dropped a couple of hints on Monday as to who out of James Tedesco or Reece Walsh will wear the No.1 jumper in Australia’s World Cup opener.

Coach Kevin Walters has kept people guessing in the build-up to Australia’s highly anticipated clash with New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

But as Yeo was quizzed by media at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence three sleeps out from the crunch clash, the skipper appeared to suggest the job would be going to Walsh.

The Broncos superstar is the incumbent Kangaroos fullback, and he was colossal in Australia’s 3-0 Ashes whitewash in the UK last year, but Tedesco is coming off a bumper season in which he won an NRL premiership with the Roosters as well as a Clive Churchill Medal.

Asked specifically about his belief in Walsh, Yeo said he was “extremely confident”.

“We’ve seen over a long period of time what type of player he is,” he said.

“I thought he was outstanding in the Ashes last year.

Read more

Knights receive enormous boost after grand final heartbreak

“Obviously he had the hiccup with his ankle at the back end of the year, which limited his game time.

“He’s a tremendous player, and you can see he gives that little bit of confidence to everyone else because he can make something happen from nothing.”

Yeo then hinted that Tedesco might be kept in cotton wool until later in the tournament.

The Roosters champion has been getting around with a bandaged knee in the wake of his heroic performance in the 19-18 grand final win over the Knights.

“He (Walsh) did a fair bit of training there at the back, giving Ted a little bit of a rest off the back of his grand final,” Yeo said.

“I’m not quite sure how the team looks just yet, but we’re very lucky in that department. They’re both Clive Churchill Medal winners and both tremendous talents.

“It’s the one thing about being part of the Australian team – there’s depth everywhere.

“It’s been a big couple of weeks for Ted, so probably just trying to limit a bit of his training for this week.”

Yeo is ploughing ahead with the World Cup despite needing pectoral surgery.

With Penrith’s blessing, he has decided to delay going under the knife until the tournament is done, which will all but certainly rub him out of the start of the Panthers’ 2027 campaign.

“I’m getting through everything,” Yeo said.

“The last game I played was in the prelim, and it felt fine, so no dramas at all.

“I would have kicked myself if I didn’t give myself the opportunity (to play a World Cup). Ivan (Cleary) and the club said I would have regretted it as well. I obviously had the green light from them.

“And like I said, it’s feeling fine and there’s no dramas in that space.

“I’ll get the surgery at the end of the year and there will be a few (other players) like that … I’ll be one of many.”