Key Points
Sam Walker named as one of six debutants in Australia's 23-player World Cup squad.
Halfback position open between Walker, Mitchell Moses, Tom Dearden, and Cameron Munster.
Isaah Yeo will captain despite playing with a ruptured pectoral muscle.
Australia faces New Zealand in Sydney on October 15 to start the tournament.
Sam Walker has been named in Australia’s 23-player Kangaroos squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, announced on October 5. The Sydney Roosters halfback is one of six debutants selected by coach Kevin Walters. Walker will compete for the No.7 jersey with Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, and Mitchell Moses, with Nathan Cleary sidelined by a leg injury. Walker’s selection comes after the Roosters claimed the NRL premiership on Sunday.
Walker’s path to the Kangaroos
Walker’s selection marks a rapid rise to international honours. The Roosters halfback was part of Sydney’s premiership-winning side that defeated Newcastle on Sunday. He will now battle three other playmakers for the halfback spot in the World Cup squad. Coach Kevin Walters has left the position open, selecting multiple options to give himself tactical flexibility during the tournament.
Six debutants join the squad
Walker is one of six potential debutants in the squad, alongside Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Blayke Brailey, David Fifita, and Jacob Preston. The inclusion of fresh faces reflects the strength of the 2026 NRL season. Walters said a number of players came into contention with brilliant Finals Series performances.
Isaah Yeo to captain despite injury
Penrith Panthers captain Isaah Yeo will lead the Kangaroos despite playing the back half of the NRL season with a ruptured pectoral muscle. Yeo delayed surgery to make himself available for the World Cup. He told media on October 5 that he would only put his hand up if he felt he could perform at the required level for his country.
Returns of Mitchell and Trbojevic
The squad includes the returns of Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic, both sidelined by injury in recent seasons. Trbojevic’s selection marks a return to the World Cup arena nine years after his 2017 debut. Mitchell’s end to the season was strong for South Sydney, and Walters praised him as a big-game player capable of special things.
Final Thoughts
Walker’s Kangaroos selection rewards his NRL premiership performance and opens a competitive battle for the halfback position. Australia will face New Zealand on October 15 in Sydney to begin their World Cup campaign on home soil.
FAQs
Walker earned selection as one of six debutants after his strong NRL season with the Sydney Roosters, capped by a premiership win on Sunday.
Coach Kevin Walters selected four options: Sam Walker, Mitchell Moses, Tom Dearden, and Cameron Munster, leaving the position open for competition.
The Kangaroos open against New Zealand in Sydney on October 15, 2026.
Yeo has a ruptured pectoral muscle but delayed surgery to captain the Kangaroos. He said he would only play if fit to perform at the required level.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author
Huzaifa Zahoor
Co FounderHuzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.
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