What’s really at stake for Kevvie after brutal axing; English stars in NRL window — Talking Points

For the first time in 23 years, Australia will be playing a (rugby league) Ashes series on UK soil.

The historic series kicks off at Wembley Stadium this Sunday morning at 12:30am AEDT.

There are so many storylines to delve into, including the Kangaroos’ fullback battle and how this series could shape Kevin Walters’ coaching future.

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Meanwhile, what impact will the raft of English NRL stars have on the series?

Read on for all of the Talking Points ahead of the England v Kangaroos series!

THE HEATED FULLBACK BATTLE

Reece Walsh got the nod in the No.1 jersey, but that doesn’t mean he has a lock on it according to head coach Kevin Walters.

“Dylan’s been a good player for a long time,” Walters said to NRL.com before team lists were named.

“His form last year for the Kangaroos was really good so it’s not an easy decision but one I’m happy to make given the candidates that are involved.

“I’ll speak to some of the senior players. Some of the senior ones are pretty close with Dylan as well. We’ll have a good honest conversation and it is only for game one, whoever does get selected. It’s obviously a three-Test series so …

“I’ll get the opinions of the assistants as well and then basically it will be my final decision, yeah, on what we go with. I’m pretty confident the right people I talk with will come up with the right decision on who plays.

“I said to the players ‘even if you’re not contributing on match day, certainly through the week with our performances during training is really important’. That’s my memories from Kangaroo Tours.”

So could Edwards slot back into the side if the Kangaroos fail to fire?

It’s hard to see a world where Walsh performs so poorly he slips down the pecking order, especially considering the season he has just completed.

The Broncos superstar won a premiership, the Clive Churchill Medal and was widely considered the form player of the NRL as the competition came to a close.

It was an impressive turnaround from Walsh, who struggled to begin the 2025 season and as such lost his Queensland jersey to Kalyn Ponga before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shifted to the back.

If anyone knows Walsh, it’s Walters, who was the gun fullback’s mentor at the Broncos before he was axed at the end of the 2024 season.

And once again, that relationship makes it even more unlikely Walsh will be dropped for Edwards, who struggled for form to close out the season.

Walsh’s return to representative football is definitely a deserved one, but as Walters admitted, he isn’t 100 per cent locked in to play in all three Ashes Tests.

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KICKING ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED

If there’s one thing the Kangaroos will need to adapt to this Ashes series, it’s the size of the in-goals.

With grounds like Wembley Stadium and the Hill Dickinson Stadium built to host soccer games, their length means space for rugby league in-goals becomes limited.

Think back to the 2022 World Cup grand final at Old Trafford or 2013, when Brett Morris flew into advertising boards, but ultimately avoided injury.

That incident occurred in Manchester, so the Kangaroos will be hopeful of having more room to play with than both those games after Old Trafford was not scheduled as an Ashes venue.

But regardless, Nathan Cleary is under no illusions he will have to make changes to his usual kicking game.

“You do have to adjust your kicking,” Cleary said to NRL.com.

“In the World Cup final at Old Trafford, which was a crazy experience in itself to play at Old Trafford, the in-goals were absolutely tiny.

“It’s definitely something to be aware of but from experience being over there sometimes you can overthink it a bit.

“You need to trust your skill and back yourself to get it in the in-goal rather than think too much about it but you do have to assess as the game’s going on.”

The potential depth of the in-goals could mean both teams opt for high kicks, aiming to be contested just ahead of the try line instead of trickling grubbers aimed to secure repeat sets.

That brings Roosters superstar Mark Nawaqanitawase into the equation, and his combination with Cleary could be pivotal in winning this Ashes series.

There’s not many wingers in the world more capable of finishing a chance than Nawaqanitawase, who took out the try-scoring leaderboard in the NRL.

In clubland, Cleary has the likes of Brian To’o, Paul Alamoti and Tom Jenkins at his disposal, and all are excellent wingers but don’t possess the aerial threat of Nawaqanitawase.

So expect to see Cleary target the gun Tricolours flyer across the three-game series.

KEVVIE’S BIG TEST … AND HOW IT COULD SHAPE HIS COACHING FUTURE

The Kangaroos haven’t lost an Ashes series in 55 years.

It’s a streak they plan on continuing this year.

However, new coach Kevin Walters won’t just be content with a series win. He wants to make a statement.

A clean sweep is in Walters’ sights.

Walters is back in the coaching frame since he was let go by the Broncos at the end of the 2024 season.

As it stands, he’s on a three-game audition with the Kangaroos.

It’s likely Australia will need to win the series – and win it well – for Walters to stay on as the Kangaroos coach for next year’s home World Cup.

Walters has said he harbours an ambition to return to the NRL coaching fraternity.

There’s no doubt if Walters can lead Australia to a clean sweep in England and then guide the Kangaroos to a World Cup win, he’ll be on the radar of NRL clubs this time next year.

If he manages to achieve that, Walters’ coaching CV looks pretty impressive.

As coach of the Maroons, he’s a two-time Origin series winner (2016, 2017).

He also took the Broncos from the wooden spoon in 2020 to being 20 minutes from winning a grand final in the space of three seasons.

A successful Ashes series and World Cup with the Kangaroos, and you’d have to say that Walters becomes a live chance of snaring another NRL gig.

ENGLISH STARS IN SHOP WINDOW

Over the past few years, there have been several English players who have enjoyed success in the NRL after starring in the Super League.

The Raiders have been the big beneficiaries. Given they struggle to land big name free agents, the Raiders have leant on the Super League to improve their roster.

Matty Nicholson, Morgan Smithies, George Williams, John Bateman and Josh Hodgson are a handful of English stars who went to Canberra and made an impact in the NRL.

The Raiders aren’t the only team who have raided the Super League with positive results.

Souths with Sam Burgess and the Bulldogs picking up James Graham have been the main success stories.

The Knights have signed Dom Young and Kai Pearce-Paul in the last few years.

On the other hand, there have been few failures, notably Lewis Dodd and Will Pryce.

Shifting focus to the future, which England stars set to feature in the Ashes who are plying their trade in the Super League could be on the radar on the NRL teams?

Star fullback Jack Welsby has already been linked to the NRL, with several teams reportedly interested in him a couple of years ago before he penned a long-term extension with St Helens until the end of 2027.

There’s no doubt NRL clubs will be knocking on his door again.

Mikey Lewis is another name Australian teams have been monitoring.

Given the huge season he had for the premiership-winning Hull KR side, which included a grand final man-of-the-match, Lewis has established himself as a top-two halfback in the Super League.

Another factor to consider is this. His club coach Willie Peters will be the hottest name in the next NRL coaching cycle next season. Could Lewis follow Peters when he inevitably lands a top job in the NRL?

AND HOW WILL OUR ENGLISH NRL PLAYERS FARE?

This England team is filled with players who ply their trade in the NRL, so can they inspire the hosts to Ashes victory?

The biggest name in this side is Dolphins gun Herbie Farnworth, who has battled with Stephen Crichton over the last two seasons for the title of the game’s best centre.

The 25-year-old has the ability to break a game open from anywhere, and the Kangaroos centres will be plotting their plans on how to stop him.

“Herbie Farnworth is one of the best centres in the world, if not the best, and he will improve England’s chances,” English league legend James Graham said to foxsports.com.au.

“I’m sure every NRL fan would agree with what he has achieved over the past three to four seasons and what he has cemented himself to be at the Broncos and now the Dolphins.

“He is absolutely first class, so he is a real jewel in the crown that lovers of the NRL will know and recognise and one to certainly look out for when it comes to England’s prospects of springing a huge upset in the Ashes.”

Next is AJ Brimson, however it remains to be seen where he will be named.

The Titans star decided to snub a chance of Origin selection in years to come and instead represent his heritage.

Brimson is a livewire in a variety of positions, but it’s highly unlikely he will unseat Jack Welsby in the No.1 jersey.

He’s too talented not to be in the best 17, so expect him to be named in the No. 14 jersey in a super sub role or somewhere in the starting backline.

On the cusp of representative selection for several years, he’ll be hungry to make a statement up against some of the world’s best players.

Kai Pearce-Paul had a quieter season in 2025 than he did in his debut year in the NRL in 2024.

That’s not to dim the significance of the impact he can have in this Ashes though. With good ball, he can prove a handful for the Aussies’ right edge defence.

Winger Dominic Young has also been named in the squad and is a chance of starting on the flank despite an ordinary year at clubland by his standards.

His form for England is hard to ignore. In six Test matches, the high-flying winger has scored nine tries.

Another player to watch is lock forward Morgan Knowles, who is being tipped to start for England in the first Test ahead of Raiders star Morgan Smithies.

Knowles will beomce a much more familiar name for NRL fans from next season as he is set to join the Dolphins on a two-year contract.

WHY THIS IS YOUNG’S BEST CHANCE YET TO SHOWCASE HIS SKILLS

Hudson Young was one of the NRL’s best forwards in 2025 — no one can deny that.

He was a consistent wrecking ball on the left edge for the Raiders, scoring tries, breaking tackles and the defensive line, and also showcased a deft kicking game.

But in the past, his form has not translated to the representative arena.

The 27-year-old played Game I and II of the 2023 Origin series in the back row but was dropped before returning to the NSW side off the bench in 2024’s series opener.

One more appearance, and he was dropped before once again earning a re-call in 2025 under Laurie Daley, spending all three games on the pine.

There’s no doubting Young’s quality, but as a bench rotation, the Canberra gun has failed to fire.

Now his Kangaroos appearance shapes as a huge opportunity.

Young has been named to start in the back row, meaning a big performance could edge him forward in the race for a Blues back row spot in 2026.

Liam Martin was unavailable for this Kangaroos series, opting to stay home with his fiancee ahead of the bird of the pair’s first child.

However, he partnered Angus Crichton on the edges for NSW this year.

Young could leapfrog him and Laurie Daley will undoubtedly be watching on as the Aussies take on England.

In what also shapes as a scary prospect for the visitors, is that Young plays his best alongside a running five-eighth.

Ethan Strange was his No.6 in clubland, and Cameron Munster now will play alongside him for the Kangaroos.

Young is able to run hard lines and play ad lib football, potentially resulting in an attacking focal point for Kevin Walters.

HOW OFFICIATING WILL DIFFER

Expect to see several key differences in the way Sunday morning’s Test is officiated compared to how the game is refereed in Australia, with both coaches speaking out on the issue.

England coach Shaun Wane has lashed out at the suggestion the Kangaroos have approached the Rugby Football League to altar how the Ashes series is officiated.

Speaking with NRL.com, Wane says the visiting Kangaroos have to simply adapt to refereeing style in England.

“It’s our competition, it’s over here! I wouldn’t go to Australia and play an Ashes and expect our rules. It’s their rules. That’s the way it should be,” Wane told NRL.com.

“At this late stage … I’d want to be told weeks and weeks ago so I can fix things in training, make sure that we’re on it.

“There’s nothing that’s been mentioned to me. We’ve got an English referee – it’s going to be refereed similar to the grand final.

“We’ve had Super League refs down to train with us at Robin Park.”

The Kangaroos have approached the RFL, but only to clarify several different rule interpretations between the NRL and Super League.

For example, the ruck speed in the NRL is much quicker than the Super League.

Walters outlined on the Big Sports Breakfast radio show what his team wanted to be clarified.

“There’s a couple of rules that the RFL use that we don’t use in our game in the NRL, one of them is the play-the-ball situation,” Walters said.

“Their ruck speed and their rucks, they allow a lot more time for players in tackles to remove themselves from tackles. So we have done a lot of work in that space.

“The other one is the downtown rule, in the NRL if you’re in front of the kicker when he kicks the ball it’s an automatic penalty.

“Whereas over here, as I understand it, you can be in front of the kicker but you just can’t get inside that 10 metre boundary … if you’re in front of him, that’s okay.

“You can get down the ground, but you must give the player that’s catching the ball at least 10 metres to make his decision.”

However, one Super League crinkle that won’t be seen in the Ashes is the controversial ‘green card’.

If handed a green card, a player is sent for a two-minute stint on the sidelines if they fake an injury in order to milk a penalty.

“I think that’s a very strange rule that the RFL use over here, trying to call someone out for faking it … Fortunately, that rule has been removed from the conversations,” Walters said.

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