Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has strongly rejected claims that his ties to Queensland and the Brisbane Broncos will influence his squad selections for the upcoming Ashes series against England.
The newly appointed coach’s comments on the speculation come as the Australian squad departed on a 6 a.m. Emirates flight to London’s Heathrow on Wednesday.
The Kangaroos are set to clash with England at Wembley on October 25, before heading to Everton Stadium on November 1 and Headingley on November 8.
Before jetting overseas, Walters addressed the media ahead of the squad’s departure, reaffirming his commitment to selecting the best team based on merit rather than state or club allegiances.
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"That's not a problem for me," Walters stated.
"I have actually worked with the Australian team before with Ricky Stuart, so I got a bit of a sniff there with his environment.
"I've been on touring teams as well. We're a great country and we play like a great country."
With the Broncos clinching the NRL grand final and Queensland staging a remarkable comeback to win the State of Origin series, it’s no surprise Queensland players are expected to feature prominently in the Green and Gold.
In particular, Broncos fullback Reece Walsh is expected to don the No. 1 jersey for the Kangaroos, edging out Penrith Panthers’ in-form fullback Dylan Edwards following his standout Clive Churchill Medal performance in the grand final.
Several positions are still up for grabs, pitting NSW and Queensland players against each other.
The battle for the halves spots is especially fierce, with Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster, Raiders’ Ethan Strange, and Penrith’s Nathan Cleary all in contention.