Australia’s Kangaroos squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup features 23 players, with Isaah Yeo named captain and six players in contention for their first Australian appearances. The Australian Rugby League Commission confirmed the selection on October 5, giving fans a clearer picture of the team ahead of the tournament.
Coach Kevin Walters has several combinations to consider, with established internationals joined by newcomers. The official NRL squad announcement provides the full selection details.
Full Kangaroos World Cup squad
The table below lists all 23 selected players and their clubs. An asterisk identifies a potential Kangaroos debutant.
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Bradman Best* | Newcastle Knights |
| Jack Bostock* | Dolphins |
| Blayke Brailey* | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Patrick Carrigan | Brisbane Broncos |
| Lindsay Collins | Sydney Roosters |
| Reuben Cotter | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Tom Dearden | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | Gold Coast Titans |
| David Fifita* | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Harry Grant | Melbourne Storm |
| Keaon Koloamatangi | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Liam Martin | Penrith Panthers |
| Latrell Mitchell | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Mitchell Moses | Parramatta Eels |
| Cameron Munster | Melbourne Storm |
| Cameron Murray | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Jacob Preston* | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Kotoni Staggs | Brisbane Broncos |
| James Tedesco | Sydney Roosters |
| Tom Trbojevic | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Sam Walker* | Sydney Roosters |
| Reece Walsh | Brisbane Broncos |
| Isaah Yeo — captain | Penrith Panthers |
*Potential Australian debutant. Selection in the tournament squad does not automatically mean a player will make an appearance.
Six players await their Kangaroos debut
Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Blayke Brailey, David Fifita, Jacob Preston and Sam Walker are the six potential debutants.
Their inclusion creates opportunities for new players to establish themselves on the international stage. However, supporters should distinguish between the World Cup squad and the team selected for each match: starting positions and interchange roles remain separate decisions.
Key selection decisions for Kevin Walters
The playmaking combination is one of the main areas to watch. Walker joins Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden and Mitchell Moses among the options competing for places in the halves.
There is also competition at fullback, where James Tedesco and Reece Walsh give Walters different possibilities. These choices will help determine how Australia organises its attack and uses the depth available across the squad.
Who are Australia’s shadow players?
Three additional players have been named outside the main 23:
- Thomas Jenkins: Penrith Panthers
- Hamish Stewart: St George Illawarra Dragons
- Ethan Strange: Canberra Raiders
They are listed as shadow players and should be counted separately from the confirmed tournament squad.
Who will the Kangaroos face?
Australia’s opening opponents include New Zealand in Sydney, Fiji in Brisbane and Cook Islands in Townsville. That gives supporters in three Australian cities an opportunity to watch the Kangaroos during the opening phase.
For match dates, venues and the wider tournament programme, visit the 2026 Rugby League World Cup schedule.
Where to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup
Australian viewers can watch every match live and exclusively on Seven and 7plus. Coverage will be available through Sky Sport in New Zealand and Digicel in Papua New Guinea.
With the squad confirmed, attention now turns to Australia’s matchday selections and how Walters combines experienced players with those awaiting their first Kangaroos appearance.