Walsh, Shibasaki & Nawaqanitawase start for Australia

In the opening Rugby League Ashes Test against England on Saturday at Wembley, Reece Walsh, Gehamat Shibasaki, and Mark Nawaqanitawase will make their Australia debuts.

Walsh, 23, defeats Dylan Edwards at full-back after giving the Brisbane Broncos a man-of-the-match performance against Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final at the start of the month.

In that final, Shibasaki, 27, scored two tries for the Broncos. Since he only started the season on trial with the Broncos, his selection for Saturday marks a remarkable personal comeback.

The former home of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys had only ever played three NRL games before that.

Fourth-year starting forward Keaon Koloamatangi will start on the bench. He has resisted Tonga, who he once played for at the previous World Cup three years ago. In their three-game series against England in 2023, he also played for them.

For the first time in a Test match at such an iconic venue, the four of them will be a huge thrill, according to Australia head coach Kevin Walters.

“I’m looking forward to them and to all of our players,” I said. This Saturday at Wembley, every member of our squad will experience something incredibly special, regardless of whether they take the field or not.

We’re going on this Ashes journey together because it will require a lot of effort from everyone involved, I’ve said from day one of our preparations here in England.

Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, and Isaah Yeo (captain) are the Australian team.

Tom Dearden, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, and Keaon Koloamatangi make the changes.