The 27 finals stars still fighting for Kangaroos selection
There’s still plenty at stake in the NRL finals for the remaining six teams, with premiership glory hanging in the balance on the first Sunday of October.
But for a plethora of stars, the looming Rugby League World Cup could be in the back of their mind heading into the semis, prelims and grand final.
Isaah Yeo and his Kangaroos teammates celebrate their 2025 Ashes series victory. Getty Images
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will no doubt be casting his eye over the next few weekends, as his squad for the World Cup begins to take shape.
There will be no shortage of changes to the last team Walters’ selected during the 2025 Ashes series, with at least five incumbents set to drop out.
Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton are switching codes, Hudson Young is out injured, Josh Addo-Carr won’t be selected due to a recent off-field scandal and Gehamat Shibasaki struggled to even hold a first grade spot this season.
Panthers co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo are also under injury clouds and while they are expected to see out the finals series, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or both of them were unavailable for the year-end tournament.
Cleary is dealing with a stress-related foot injury, while Yeo is playing through a ruptured pectoral muscle in the hopes of claiming a fifth NRL title.
Those five, or possibly seven, changes alone will see some fresh faces come into the mix for the Australian squad, which Walters will unveil in the days after the grand final.
Historically speaking, whoever is in the Kangaroos coaching hot-seat tends to favour players that are going deep into the post-season and performing well in the finals.
Of course, there will be exceptions to the rule such as Storm hooker Harry Grant and Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray, whose seasons are over.
But the looming changes in the green and gold could open the door for some wholesale changes and the finals is the perfect audition.
James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards met in last week’s qualifying final and are both firmly in the hunt to wear the No.1 jersey, especially given incumbent Australian fullback Reece Walsh has been injured and the Broncos missed the finals.
Edwards got the better of Tedesco in the Panthers’ win over the Roosters, but that’s not to say Walters will lean that way in his World Cup squad.
On the wing, Dolphins duo Jack Bostock and Selwyn Cobbo both played State of Origin this year and are already through to a prelim final, making them the two logical front-runners to replace Addo-Carr and Nawaqanitawase.
The centre position is another interesting one and the most obvious name left in the finals who could step up is Knights star Bradman Best.
Some of his teammates, Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Sharpe, are genuine smokies for a spot in the wider Kangaroos squad after strong campaigns.
Bradman Best celebrates his try in the Origin decider. NRL Photos
Newcastle’s opponents this weekend, the Warriors, finished second on the NRL ladder and the likes of Mitch Barnett, Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell could factor into discussions for Walters and the other Kangaroos selectors.
In the other semi final, NSW Blues hookers Reece Robson and Blayke Brailey will go head-to-head, with a potential spot in the Aussie squad up for grabs.
The likes of Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher and Teig Wilton are also vying for a spot in the Kangaroos’ group during that match and a win will help their cause.
Of the teams already through to the grand final qualifiers, Penrith boast a stack of talent putting their hands up for an Australian jersey including back-rower Liam Martin, try-scoring whiz Tom Jenkins and props Lindsay Smith and Liam Henry.
The exciting Dolphins could have a handful of forwards in the Aussie squad too, with Tom Flegler and Max Plath both representing the Maroons in 2026.
That’s not even mentioning teams already eliminated from the finals, South Sydney and North Queensland, who should both have players in the squad.
Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Keaon Koloamatangi, David Fifita and Tallis Duncan are all either definite, likely or possible Kangaroos selections, while the likes of Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden won’t be far away from calculations either.
Keaon Koloamatangi played for the Kangaroos last year. CameraSport via Getty Images
As far as teams from outside the top eight go, the previously mentioned Grant and Melbourne teammate Cameron Munster will likely be there, while Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston and Titans prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have also done enough to earn selection in the group, which will likely consist of 22-24 players.
Nine.com.au looks at a potential Kangaroos squad below, as well as players who are either vying for a spot in the remaining three weeks of the NRL finals series, or are hoping Walters doesn’t forget about them.
Kangaroos potential World Cup squad
1. James Tedesco 2. Jack Bostock 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Bradman Best 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Cam Munster 7. Nathan Cleary* 8. Keaon Koloamatangi 9. Harry Grant 10. Mitch Barnett 11. Liam Martin 12. David Fifita 13. Isaah Yeo* 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Cam Murray 16. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Max Plath 19. Ethan Strange Reserves: Dylan Edwards, Reuben Cotter, Jacob Preston, Fletcher Sharpe
Players still auditioning for Kangaroos spots
Sydney Roosters: James Tedesco, Reece Robson, Lindsay Collins, Nat Butcher, Connor Watson, Sam Walker*
Cronulla Sharks: Blayke Brailey, Teig Wilton
Blayke Brailey. Getty Images
New Zealand Warriors: Wayde Egan, Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell
Newcastle Knights: Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Fletcher Sharpe, Dylan Lucas
Penrith Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Tom Jenkins, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Smith, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Liam Henry
Dolphins: Jack Bostock, Selwyn Cobbo, Tom Flegler, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath
Kangaroos hopefuls out of NRL contention
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Tallis Duncan, David Fifita, Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi
North Queensland Cowboys: Jaxon Purdue, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter
Manly Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic
Melbourne Storm: Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Trent Loiero
Canberra Raiders: Ethan Strange
Canterbury Bulldogs: Matt Burton, Jacob Preston
Parramatta Eels: Mitchell Moses
Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs, Patrick Carrigan
Gold Coast Titans: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Jojo Fifita
St George Illawarra Dragons: Hamish Stewart
