World Cup selector: Mitchell, Duncan, Murray backed for Roos call-up

Rabbitohs rookie Tallis Duncan has emerged as a Kangaroos bolter, while Latrell Mitchell would be the first centre picked and Cameron Murray is in line for a move to the secondrow.

According to a poll of fans, Duncan could be one of six new faces in the Australian team for the World Cup opener against the Kiwis on October 15 at Allianz Stadium.

Panthers winger Thomas Jenkins, Knights centre Bradman Best, Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey, Dolphins forward Max Plath and Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange were the others.

Best, Brailey and Strange were members of the Kangaroos touring squad for last year's Ashes series in England last year but did not play, while Plath made his Origin debut this season for Queensland and Jenkins is the NRL's leading tryscorer.

Duncan has represented Indigenous All Stars and the Prime Minister's XIII but the closest he has previously come to World Cup selection was playing for Malta in a warm-up match for Lebanon before the last tournament in 2022.

After making his NRL debut for South Sydney in 2023, Duncan was named to make his 70th appearance for the Rabbitohs in Friday night's match against the Bulldogs at centre - although his preferred position is secondrow.

The 24-year-old's versatility earned him a place on the interchange, according to the World Cup Selector poll on rlwc2026.com and NRL.com, along with Pat Carrigan, Brailey, Plath, Strange and Reece Walsh.

With the incumbent Kangaroos secondrow pairing of Hudson Young (Achilles) and Angus Crichton (rugby union) unavailable for selection, fans opted for Murray to partner Liam Martin in the secondrow.

Murray could play lock if captain Isaah Yeo is ruled out but the Panthers star is confident of overcoming a pectoral muscle injury before the finals. 

Mitchell was the third Rabbitohs players chosen by fans, despite not having played since May due to a back injury.

The Souths superstar polled 37% for one centre spot, with Best receiving 37% of votes for the other.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett indicated Mitchell was closing in on a return. 

"If I can get him out there and we all feel he can play, we'll certainly be using him," Bennett told reporters on Tuesday. "If he's fit to play, we're going to play him. Simple as that. He wants to play. He's missed virtually the whole season.

 "I can't guarantee he will return because we haven't got a definitive date, but the signs showed much improvement.

"If he plays, it may not be until the second-last week of the season and I don't think he'd be able to play a full game straight up, so he'll come off the bench if he plays...

"He's in constant contact with the doctors and they've been in constant contact. I think he ran as good as he's run, so it's on the improve and just whether he can make it back or not, we don't know."

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has declared that finals form will be a huge factor in World Cup selections, boosting the prospects of a recall for Tedesco and Test debuts for the likes of Jenkins and Best.

In the lead up to the most anticipated World Cup since the first tournament in France in 1954, RLWC2026.com will give fans the chance to choose their teams.

Last week fans chose their Kiwis team - Australia's opponent in a mouthwatering opener to Rugby League World Cup 2026 at Allianz Stadium on October 15.

The Kangaroos then play Fiji at Suncorp Stadium on October 25 and Cook Islands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on October 31.

Among the most difficult decisions facing Walters will be which player wears the No.1 jersey for Australia.

Broncos superstar Reece Walsh forced his way into the Australian team for last year’s Ashes series in England after a stunning run of form during the NRL finals to spearhead Brisbane to their first premiership in 20-years.

Walsh was voted by fans on the bench, but with the Broncos out of finals contention he won’t get the chance to push his case.

In contrast, Tedesco – the Roosters fullback - and Penrith’s Dylan Edwards are set to have an influence on the premiership fortunes of the NRL’s ladder leading teams.

Tedesco was the Kangaroos captain at the last World Cup in 2022, lifting the trophy at Old Trafford after Australia beat Samoa, but the Roosters star lost the Australian and NSW Origin No.1 jerseys to Edwards in 2024.

“We should have a strong squad, but a lot can happen between now and the end of the year, of course,” Walters said.

“The team isn’t selected until the Monday after the grand final so we could have all the plans in the world about what the team looks like but my experience in coaching rugby league is that things can change very quickly so we have just got to identify which players are available and want to play for Australia.

“We will put our work into those guys and hopefully a lot of them will be playing at the back end of the year in the finals.

"We have seen so many players in the last 10 years force their way into the Australian side on the back of their form in the finals series.