Australia confirm 23-man Rugby League World Cup squad

The team is in for the tournament on home soil.

EDITOR | October 5, 2026 - 11:12am

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Australia have confirmed their 23-man squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with Isaah Yeo a confirmed starter, and the double surprise selection of Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic headlining.

The squad features four players from Sunday evening's grand final with Bradman Best, Lindsay Collins, James Tedesco and Sam Walker all selected.

Tedesco is joined in the squad by Reece Walsh, who will be fit for the start of the tournament having missed the end of the regular season with injury.

A number of other players were selected from the finals series, with Blayke Brailey, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, David Fifita, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo all playing during the finals series.

Fifita is a first-time selection, while Jack Bostock has also made the cut. Bradman Best, Jacob Preston and Blayke Brailey were on the Ashes tour last year but are a chance to debut, with Sam Walker rounding out the even half dozen players without a Kangaroos game to their name.

Yeo meanwhile, playing through a ruptured pectoral muscle injury, said he was always going to try and play if he felt he could contribute to the team, although it will likely cost him the start of next year.

"There is no higher honour in the game than playing for your country, and I'm fortunate enough to captain it," Yeo said.

"I needed the club to allow me to do it because it [the surgery] will probably push into the start of next year.

"I only put my hand up for selection if I felt I could add to the team."

Maybe the biggest name to miss the squad is Selwyn Cobbo given his incredible season for the Dolphins and Origin series for Queensland, while others who could be considered unlucky include the likes of Campbell Graham, Matt Burton, Mitch Barnett, Tom Flegler, Lindsay Smith, Tallis Duncan and Max Plath.

The Kangaroos have also named three shadow players for the tournanent, with Ethan Strange, who made the Ashes tour last year, named alongside emerging Dragons forward Hamish Stewart and leading try-scorer Thomas Jenkins.