James Tedesco’s Clive Churchill medal-winning form has not been enough to convince Kevin Walters he deserves the Kangaroos’ fullback jersey, with Reece Walsh earning the nod for Australia’s crunch World Cup opener.
After a differing season for Brisbane, Walsh will don the No.1 jersey at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Thursday as Australia face New Zealand.
It will be the first game for Walsh, who was the star of last year’s Ashes whitewash, in two months after he picked up an ankle injury in Brisbane’s horror premiership defence.
But Tedesco and fellow Sydney Roosters premiership winner Sam Walker will be watching from the sidelines.
Walters has named Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster in the halves ahead of Walker, with North Queensland playmaker Tom Dearden listed on the Kangaroos’ bench as back-up to hooker Harry Grant.
“The World Cup only comes around every four years and to be playing at a home World Cup in front of Australian supporters makes it an even greater occasion and we’re going to make the most of the opportunity,” Walters said.
“We’ve had a great week of preparation in Sydney, and every player has earned their opportunity to pull on the Kangaroos jersey. I know they will make Australia proud with their performance on Thursday night.
“The players who aren’t involved in game one will get their opportunity during the tournament, and I know they’ll be ready for it.”
Grant is expected to be a target for heavy traffic against a monster New Zealand pack that has opted to start star Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte on the bench along with Erin Clark and Broncos man mountain Xavier Willison.
Joe Tapine, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota make up a fearsome starting Kiwis middle.
Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga will start at fullback in his Kiwis debut, while Dane Gagai, who won the last of his seven caps for Australia in 2018, will make his New Zealand debut against Latrell Mitchell at centre.
Gagai, 35, will become the Kiwis oldest debutant since 1910 after gaining clearance to make an eligibility switch weeks out from the tournament.
Meanwhile, breakout Newcastle forward Francis Manuleleua will pack down at lock on Friday as Samoa face France.
Elsewhere, Roosters utility Hugo Savala will debut for England at centre against Tonga in Perth on Saturday.
AJ Brimson has beaten Jack Welsby to England’s fullback spot, while Wests Tigers forward Kai Pearce-Paul has been named to play his first game since sustaining a pec tear in June.
Earlier on Saturday, Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz will wear the No.1 jersey for Lebanon in Port Moresby as the Cedars face a Papua New Guinea side including Parramatta prop Luca Moretti.
In Sunday’s standalone men’s fixture, Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe will play five-eighth against the Cook Islands in Newcastle.
The Kukis have named 37-year-old Brad Takairangi on their interchange bench.