Ashes watch: GF to double as Roos audition for Walsh after Teddy withdraws

Reece Walsh can lay claim to the Kangaroos No.1 jersey with a starring performance for the Broncos in Sunday's NRL grand final against the Storm after the withdrawal of James Tedesco.

Tedesco, the Sydney Roosters captain, had been set for a stunning Test recall for the upcoming Ashes series and wants to play in next year's World Cup but is no longer available for the Kangaroos tour.

A preliminary Australian squad was pencilled in ahead of Sunday's grand final but ARLC chairman Peter V'landys told reporters that Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters and the selectors would now be looking for other fullback options. 

“On Sunday, the selectors picked the first 23 players for the Kangaroo tour," V'landys said. "Naturally, that’s not going to be the final team because the final team will be selected after the grand final on Monday.

“However, one of the players that was selected was James Tedesco, and James has pulled out because he’s got his brother’s wedding, and he’s the best man.

"I asked him to think about it, but he believes that he wouldn’t be doing the right thing by his family if he wasn’t in the wedding, which is a shame because he played so well this year and deserved his place in the team.

“I’ve let Kevin Walters know, and we’ll now go back to the drawing board."

Penrith's Dylan Edwards is the incumbent Australian fullback after unseating Tedesco the Test and NSW Origin No.1 jersey last year, but Walsh has been in sensational form in Brisbane's charge to the grand final.

The Broncos star also has a close relationship with Walters form his time in charge of the club and would be a huge drawcard in the Ashes.

V'landys said it had been a tough decision for Tedesco, who captained Australia to victory in the last World Cup in England in 2022, to turn down a Kangaroos jersey.  

"James was very professional about it, and he really agonised over it because he really wanted to be there, but he did make a really strong point that he certainly wants to be considered next year for the World Cup," V'landys said.

"He’s not retiring from international rugby league, he’s unfortunately got this family commitment that he can’t get out of.”

Meanwhile, Roosters forward Victor Radley has informed the England management that he will not be available for selection for the upcoming Ashes series against the touring Kangaroos.

The newsTitans star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui announced that he had decided to play for Australia over Samoa in the end of the season international fixtures.

Radley was last week suspended by the Roosters for 10 matches without pay in 2026 for bringing the club into disrepute.

The 27-year-old backrower has played nine Tests for England since the World Cup in 2022 and was considered a key player for the first Ashes series in 22 years. 

However, England coach Shaun Wane said Radley had stood down from the three-Test series against the Kangaroos, beginning at Wembley Stadium on October 25.

“Victor has been an outstanding player for England for the last three years, but we respect his decision," Wane said.

"We need 24 players who are fully focused on the historic opportunity of facing Australia in an Ashes series.”

England will name their 24-man squad for the Ashes series on October 15.

The Kangaroos squad is set to be announced next Monday after the NRL grand final.

The Kangaroos have received a huge boost with Titans prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui declaring he has unfinished business with Australia.

The Titans captain had been considering joining Broncos prop Payne Haas in representing his Samoan heritage in the Pacific Championships against Tonga and New Zealand, but he announced that he would tour England with the Kangaroos.

In a social media post titled, “Decision made. Unfinished business”, Fa’asuamaleaui said Australia’s record 30-0 loss to the Kiwis in the final of the 2023 Pacific Cup still burned and he did not want that to be his last Test for the Kangaroos.

However, he has not ruled out returning to Samoa for next year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“I don’t want to get too emotional but my Samoan side I am very proud of, and hopefully I can create another legacy of just someone that passionately represented my country,” said in the video, posted on Tik Tok.

“Hopefully I can change some kids lives, where kids from Samoa, kids from Australia, Gympie or anywhere look at me and go I want to be a Tino one day.

“To be a part of the Ashes tour over in England, the first time in a long time, it is a bit of history, and it is something that I really want to be a part of.

“Obviously, I have got unfinished business with the green and gold in the fashion that we lost in and I am very, very grateful to be on that tour. I can’t wait for what’s ahead and I can’t wait to put that jersey back on.”

The Kangaroos will play a three-Test Ashes series against England for the first time since 2003, with Kevin Walters appointed coach after Mal Meninga was given charge of the Perth Bears.

The series opens at Wembley Stadium on October 25, followed by sold out Tests at the new Everton Stadium on November 1 and Headingley on November 8.

Fa’asuamaleaui missed last year’s Pacific Championships, won 20-14 by Australia in an epic final against Tonga at CommBank Stadium, due to a knee injury and instead visited Samoa to reconnect with family on his father’s side.