Jackson Ford is worthy of a Kangaroos berth, James Tedesco deserves to win his No.1 jersey back from Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo is now a first choice winger, according to RLWC2026.com’s Rolling ‘Roos fan poll.
More than 90,000 votes were received to choose the Australian line-up for Rugby League World Cup 2026 after Origin I and there are just eight survivors from the Kangaroos team that beat England 3-0 in last year’s Ashes series.
They include key spine members Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, along with lock and captain Isaah Yeo, centre Kotoni Staggs, secondrower Hudson Young and prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Pat Carrigan, who played in all three Test wins, makes the six-man interchange, along with Blues five-eighth Ethan Strange and hooker Blayke Brailey, who toured England with the Kangaroos squad but did not play in any of the three Tests.
There was no place for Walsh, wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Mark Nawaqanitawase, centre Gehamat Shibasaki, secondrower Angus Crichton, playmaker Tom Dearden and forward Reuben Cotter.
Cobbo, who has had an up and down representative career, polled No.1 among the wing contenders after carrying his strong form for the Dolphins into Origin I with Queensland.
Ford is the only member of the 19-man Rolling ‘Roos squad yet to play at representative level but he edged Carrigan in overall voting to partner Fa’asuamaleaui in the frontrow after his remarkable coming of age this season.
The 28 year-old Gerringong product was sitting second on the Dally M leaderboard behind Cleary when voting went silent after Round 12 NRL matches and he had another strong performance in last Sunday night’s epic 20-18 loss to the Panthers.
In contrast, Melbourne winger Xavier Coates earned selection as he prepares to return from injury for the Storm, while Penrith secondrower Liam Martin was chosen on the bench after missing the Ashes and having played little this season.
Martin, who made his return from injury against the Warriors, was a member of Australia’s World Cup squad in 2022, along with centre Latrell Mitchell, backrower Murray and Tedesco – the former Kangaroos captain who returned after two years in the representative wilderness to snatch victory for NSW in Origin I.
Tedesco was preferred by voters ahead of Walsh and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, who had worn the No.1 Australian jersey in recent seasons but missed Origin selection for Queensland and NSW respectively.
Injured Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic, who is also nearing a return, polled behind Mitchell and Stagg as the third-choice centre and can cover fullback or wing so is ideal for the six-man bench.
Murray is regarded as one of the best players in the game but after playing limited to just one match last season due to an Achilles injury he has been unable to unseat Yeo – the Kangaroos and Blues captain – for his preferred lock position.
However, fans picked him in the secondrow alongside Canberra’s Hudson Young.
Dolphins and Maroons prop rounds out the squad and caps a remarkable comeback after almost two years out with a place on the six-man interchange alongside Trbojevic, Strange, Brailey, Martin and Carrigan.
Rolling ‘Roos team
- James Tedesco
- Selwyn Cobbo
- Latrell Mitchell
- Kotoni Staggs
- Xavier Coates
- Cameron Munster
- Nathan Cleary
- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
- Harry Grant
- Jackson Ford
- Hudson Young
- Cameron Murray
- Isaah Yeo
- Tom Trbojevic
- Ethan Strange
- Blayke Brailey
- Pat Carrigan
- Liam Martin
- Tom Flegler
The Kangaroos kick off RLWC2026 with a trans-Tasman showdown against Pacific Cup champions New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on October 15, which is likely to determine the top spot in Pool A.
Australia then play Fiji Bati at Suncorp Stadium on October 25 and Cook Islands in Townsville on October 31, with the semi-finals in Sydney and Newcastle and the final in Brisbane on November 15.
Samoa, Tonga, England, Papua New Guinea, France and Lebanon are the other teams in the men's World Cup.
View voting for the Rolling 'Roos team.
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