Australia hand out four debuts including NRL Grand Final star as first Ashes Test team named

Australia head coach Kevin Walters has named his team for the first Test of the rugby league Ashes with four players handed a debut.

One of those is NRL Grand Final star man Reece Walsh with the Clive Churchill medalist starting at full-back for the Kangaroos, in the same team as had been predicted on Monday.

The Brisbane Broncos man lit up the NRL Grand Final, scoring an incredible try but also putting in some huge tackles defensively.

He is one of three debutants in the back line with cross-code sensation Mark Nawaqanitawase named to start on the wing, earning his stripes internationally in rugby league having previously done so in rugby union.

Walsh’s teammate Gehamat Shibasaki, who started the season on the practice squad, is also named having had an incredible year that’s seen him play State of Origin, win a Grand Final, and now earn his Australia debut in the first Test of the Ashes.

Keaon Koloamatangi is the other debutant with the forward named to the bench.

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Kevin Walters names squad for first Ashes Test

There are no real surprises in the Australia side and Walters clearly isn’t afraid of showing his cards either by actually revealing who the starting XIII, interchanges, and reserves are, as is custom in the NRL.

In Super League, and in previous cases where Shaun Wane and England have named a squad, they simply name a 21-man squad with no indication as to who will start but Australia have revealed all, perhaps giving England an advantage.

Either way, the task of beating the Aussies remains just as tough and that’s evident by halves pairing Cameron Munster and Nathan Clearly, with Harry Grant at hooker and Tom Dearden as the utility.

The Australia pack isn’t bad either with Patrick Carrigan and Tino Fa’asuameleaui starting at prop, Angus Crichton and Hudson Young in the second row, and captain Isaah Yeo locking the pack.

Lindsay Collins and Reuben Cotter are also named on the bench whilst Kotoni Staggs and Josh Addo-Carr complete the backline alongside the three debutants.

Reserves Bradman Best, Linday Smith and Mitchell Moses highlight the strength that Australia have.

The first Test comes from Wembley on Saturday, kicking off at 2:30 pm and aired live on the BBC as the rugby league Ashes return for the first time in 22 years.

JUST IN: Kevin Walters has named the team to take on England in the opening Test of the 2025 Ashes series at Wembley Stadium this Saturday, October 25 🦘

A big congratulations to our four debutants (Walsh, Nawaqanitawase, Shibasaki & Koloamatangi) 👏 pic.twitter.com/3yYq1hobAE

— Australian Kangaroos (@Kangaroos) October 21, 2025