Moses wins No.7 race as new-look Aussie team confirmed

Mitchell Moses has won the race for the Kangaroos′ halfback jersey, with coach Kevin Walters unveiling his side for the World Cup opener.

With incumbent playmaker Nathan Cleary sidelined due to a horror leg injury, Moses was in a battle with Sam Walker and Tom Dearden for the No.7 jumper.

Walters has now confirmed it will be the Eels captain partnering Cameron Munster in the halves for Thursday night’s clash against New Zealand.

James Tedesco, fresh off a Clive Churchill Medal win, won’t play for the Kangaroos this week, with Walters opting for Reece Walsh at fullback.

On the other side of the field, Kalyn Ponga has been locked in for his Kiwis debut and will play fullback, despite suggestions he could line up in the halves.

Jahrome Hughes and Kodi Nikorima will be the playmakers in what promises to be an absolute blockbuster to kick off the tournament.

Elsewhere, some star-studded Samoa and Tonga lineups have been locked in, with some of the game’s best lining up, while two premiership winners from the Sydney Roosters have been named to start for England.

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Cleary puts contract talks on hold again as Yeo deal stalls

Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner has named her first team in the post-Ali Brigginshaw era, after the retiring champion was omitted from the squad.

Nine.com.au has all the RLWC team news below.

Thursday

Australia Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis, Allianz Stadium (8.05pm)

Kangaroos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jack Bostock 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Cameron Munster 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Jacob Preston 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo (c) 14. Tom Dearden 15. Cameron Murray 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. David Fifita 19. Bradman Best 20. Blayke Brailey 21. James Tedesco 22. Sam Walker

Kiwis team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Dane Gagai 4. Casey McLean 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris (c) 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Moses Leota 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Erin Clark 17. Xavier Willison 18. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 19. Keano Kini 20. Scott Sorensen 21. Leo Thompson 22. Jacob Laban

Friday

Toa Samoa vs France, CommBank Stadium (5.45pm)

Samoa team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Brian To’o 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Deine Mariner 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Jarome Luai 8. Francis Molo 9. Benaiah Ioleu 10. Junior Paulo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Francis Manuleleua 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Shawn Blore 17. Sua Faalogo 18. Ata Mariota 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Enari Tuala 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

France team: 1. Arthur Mourgue 2. Benjamin Laguerre 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 5. Leo Darrelatour 6. Cesar Rouge 7. Theo Fages 8. Romain Navarrete 9. Benjamin Garcia 10. Lambert Belmas 11. Arthur Romano 12. Mathieu Jussaume 13. Julian Bousquet 14. Amir Bourouh 15. Tiaki Chan 16. Jordan Dezaria 17. Mathieu Cozza 18. Thomas Lacans 19. Louis Grossemy 20. Jowasa Drodrolagi 21. Roméo Tropis 22. Fouad Yaha

Australia Jillaroos vs Fetu Samoa, CommBank Stadium (8.05pm)

Jillaroos team: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jess Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly (c) 5. Julia Robinson 6. Jocelyn Kelleher 7. Tarryn Aiken 8. Millie Elliott 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Simaima Taufa 11. Kezie Apps 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Olivia Kernick 14. Keeley Nizza 15. Keilee Joseph 16. Tiana Penitani 17. Ellie Johnston 18. Makenzie Weale 19. Abbi Church 20. Jesse Southwell 21. Sariah Paki 22. Quincy Dodd

Samoa team: 1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati 2. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala 3. Monica Tagoai 4. Sarina Masaga 5. Freedom Crichton Ropati 6. Taliah Fuimaono 7. Pauline Piliae-rasabale 8. Annetta Nuuausala 9. Mary-Jane Taito 10. Laikha Clarke 11. Evania Isaako 12. Ivana Lolesio 13. Leilani Wilson 14. Evelyn Roberts 15. Fanua Rimoni 16. Amber Hall 17. Jasmine Solia 18. Jaydika Tafua 19. Jetaya Faifua 20. Christabelle Onesemo 21. Christian Pio 22. Tavarna Papalii

Saturday

PNG Orchids vs France Women, Santos National Football Stadium (1.15pm)

PNG team: 1. Anika Butler 2. Ivania Wong 3. Relna Wuruki-Hosea 4. Tia Molo 5. Naomi Kelly 6. Fleur Ginn 7. Cynthiah Peters 8. Elsie Albert (c) 9. Ua Ravu 10. Jafinda Sap 11. Belinda Gwasamun 12. Shellie Long 13. Emily Veivers 14. Therese Aiton 15. Essay Banu 16. Jenny David 17. India Seeto 18. Venesa Nakas 19. Mala Mark 20. Mya Muller 21. Josephine Howard 22. Gemma Walker

France team: 1. Manon Samarra 2. Perle Ramazeilles 3. Melissa Medina 4. Amael Vilanove 5. Haoua Kessely 6. Camille Boudaud 7. Lisa Diraison 8. Elisa Akpa 9. Cristina Song Puche 10. Elodie Pacull 11. Perrine Monsarrat 12. Stacy Bessiere 13. Leila Bessahli 14. Fanny Ramos 15. Tallis Eranossian 16. Salome Segala 17. Louisa Tooman 18. Margot Canal 19. Noemie Samuel 20. Sarah Louise Vernay 21. Tessa Benmalek 22. Justine Roses

PNG Kumuls vs Lebanon, Santos National Football Stadium (3.25pm)

PNG team: 1. Morea Morea 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Dudley Dotoi 6. Gairo Voro 7. Bailey Biondi-Odo 8. Valentine Richard 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Luca Moretti 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Nixon Putt 13. Jack de Belin 14. Finley Glare 15. Liam Horne 16. Epel Kapinias 17. Sylvester Namo 18. Rodrick Tai 19. Sanny Wabo 20. Robert Mathias 21. Khaiya Waiembi 22. Zev John

Lebanon team: 1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Tony Francis 3. Michael Gabrael 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Jason Saab 6. Khaled Rajab 7. Alex Conti 8. Jaxson Rahme 9. Yehya Ayache 10. James Roumanos 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Charbel Tasipale 13. Alex Twal 14. Moustafa Dirani 15. Mikael Ibrahim 16. Jalal Bazzaz 17. Khalil Rahme 18. Joseph Nohra 19. Abbas Miski 20. Tupou Francis 21. Mohamed Alameddine 22. Cameron Kanaan

England Women vs Wales Women, HBF Park (5.35pm)

England team: 1. Fran Goldthorp 2. Anna Davies 3. Georgia Wilson 4. Connie Boyd 5. Amelia Brown 6. Isabel Rowe 7. Georgia Roche 8. Mary Coleman 9. Keara Bennett 10. Hollie Dodd 11. Jasmine Strange 12. Eva Hunter 13. Megan Williams 14. Jodie Cunningham (c) 15. Vicky Whitfield 16. Jenna Foubister 17. Hope Millard 19. Ruby Bruce 20. Lucy Murray 18. Liv Wood

Wales team: 1. Leanne Burnell 2. Danielle McGifford 3. Hannah Bluck 4. Zoe Heeley 5. Frances Layton 6. Ffion Lewis 7. Tayla Preston 8. Agnes Wood 9. Jasmine Gibbons 10. Emily Hughes 11. Georgia Cussons 12. Paige Travis 13. Bethan Dainton (c) 14. Carys Marsh 15. Kathryn Salter 16. Katie Carr 17. Erin Williams 19. Gracie Hobbs 20. Amberley Ruck 21. Hollie Brussells 18. Jade Mullen

England Men vs Mate Ma’a Tonga, HBF Park (8.05pm)

England team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Dom Young 3. Hugo Savala 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Zach Eckersley 6. George Williams (c) 7. Harry Smith 8. Max King 9. Brad O’Neill 10. Morgan Knowles 11. Junior Nsemba 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Victor Radley 14. Jez Litten 15. Luke Thompson 16. Ethan Havard 17. Sam Walters 18. Jack Welsby 19. Matty Ashton 20. Ben Currie 21. Mikey Lewis 22. Ben Talty

Tonga team: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Tolu Koula 4. Robert Toia 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Latu Fainu 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Soni Luke 10. Jason Taumalolo (c) 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Siua Wong 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Salesi Foketi 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Tuimoala Lolohea 19. Paul Alamoti 20. Taniela Paseka 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Sione Katoa

Sunday

New Zealand Kiwi Ferns vs Fiji Bulikula, McDonald Jones Stadium (1.50pm)

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Kiwi Ferns team: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Abigail Roache 5. Stacey Waaka 6. Zahara Temara 7. Raecene McGregor (c) 8. Otesa Pule 9. Georgia Hale (c) 10. Shannon Mato 11. Annessa Biddle 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 14. Ash Quinlan 15. Alexis Tauaneai 16. Ivana Lauitiiti 17. Brianna Clark 18. Shaniece Monschau 19. Tenika Willison 20. Shanice Parker 21. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 22. Brooke Anderson

Fiji team: 1. Cassie Staples 2. Maria Paseka 3. Isabella Waterman 4. Taina Naividi 5. Sienna Laing 6. Luisa Yaranamua 7. Losana Lutu 8. Leilani Ahsam 9. Sereana Naitokatoka 10. Latisha Smythe 11. Elizabeth Naleba 12. Tamika Jones 13. Talei Holmes 14. Tahlia Marshall 15. Lorren Ieli 16. Teaghan Hartigan 17. Nanise Vakacavu 18. Aliti Namoce 19. Ema Masi 20. Rory Muller 21. Abigayle Sekitoga 22. Naomi Tegu

Fiji Bati vs Cook Islands Aitu, McDonald Jones Stadium (4.05pm)

Fiji team: 1. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Waqa Blake 4. Solomone Saukuru 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Api Koroisau 10. Mitch Prest 11. Taane Milne 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Caleb Navale 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Emosi Ravosai 16. Elijah Keung 17. Ronald Philitoga 18. Apenisa Driti 19. Jordin Leiu 20. Joseph Litidamu 21. Zion Johnson 22. Kylan Mafoa

Cook Islands team: 1. Esom Ioka 2. Paul Ulberg 3. KL Iro 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Cameron Brown 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 7. Esan Marsters 8. Davvy Moale 9. Mason Teague 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Delahia Wigmore 12. Reuben Porter 13. Pride Petterson-Robati 14. Rua Ngatikaura 15. K-Ci Newton-Whare 16. Rhys Dakin 17. Brad Takairangi 18. Glassie Glassie 19. Chaev Kolone 20. Brody Tamarua 21. David Tuariki