Early Mail, Round 1, teams, ins and outs, Kevin Walters explains decision to pick Reece Walsh over James Tedesco, news, reaction

Read on for all of the Early Mail for the opening week of the Rugby League WC!

THURSDAY OCT 15

Australia vs. New Zealand @ Allianz Stadium, 8:05pm AEST

Australia team list: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jack Bostock 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Cameron Munster 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Jacob Preston 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo (c) 14. Tom Dearden 15. Cameron Murray 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. David Fifita 19. Bradman Best 20. Blayke Brailey 21. James Tedesco 22. Sam Walker 23. Lindsay Smith

Early Mail: Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has explained the decision to start Reece Walsh over James Tedesco against the Kiwis. Tedesco, as well as Roosters teammate Sam Walker and Knights centre Bradman Best will likely sit out the World Cup opener after taxing finals series ended with the grand final just 10 days ago. “I feel it’s best that Reece is the fullback this week. Teddy will get his opportunity next week. He’s (Tedesco) had a good week’s rest but it’s been a big campaign for him the last four or five weeks as well as Sam and Bradman so I feel that in the best interest of the team, they get a spell this week and we’ll play them next week,” Walters said on Wednesday. The Australian coach didn’t specify who will be the first choice fullback going forward, stating “both will get an opportunity”. “Everyone will play next week. Who is not playing this week will play next week. I feel that’s my objective as the coach to give everyone an opportunity,” Walters revealed.

NZ team list: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Dane Gagai 4. Casey McLean 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris (c) 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Moses Leota 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Erin Clark 17. Xavier Willison 18. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 19. Keano Kini 20. Scott Sorensen 21. Leo Thompson 22. Jacob Laban

FRIDAY OCTOBER 16

Samoa vs. France @ CommBank Stadium, 5:45pm AEST

Samoa team list: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Brian To’o 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Deine Mariner 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Jarome Luai (c) 8. Francis Molo 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Junior Paulo (c) 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Francis Manuleleua 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Shawn Blore 17. Sualauvi Faalogo 18. Ata Mariota 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Enari Tuala

France team list: 1. Arthur Mourgue 2. Benjamin Laguerre 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 5. Léo Darrelatour 6. Cesar Rouge 7. Théo Fages 8. Romain Navarrete 9. Benjamin Garcia (c) 10. Lambert Belmas 11. Arthur Romano 12. Mathieu Jussaume 13. Julian Bousquet 14. Amir Bourouh 15. Tiaki Chan 16. Jordan Dezaria 17. Mathieu Cozza 18. Thomas Lacans 19. Louis Grossemy 20. Jowasa Drodrolagi 21. Roméo Tropis 22. Fouad Yaha

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

Papua New Guinea vs. Lebanon @ Santos National Football Stadium, 3:25pm AEST

PNG team list: 1. Morea Morea 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Dudley Dotoi 6. Gairo Voro 7. Bailey Biondi-Odo 8. Valentine Richard 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Luca Moretti 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Nixon Putt 13. Jack de Belin 14. Finley Glare 15. Liam Horne 16. Epel Kapinias 17. Sylvester Namo 18. Rodrick Tai 19. Sanny Wabo 20. Robert Mathias 21. Khaiya Waiembi 22. Zev John

Lebanon team list: 1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Tony Francis 3. Michael Gabrael 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Jason Saab 6. Khaled Rajab 7. Alex Conti 8. Jaxson Rahme 9. Yehya Ayache 10. James Roumanos 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Charbel Tasipale 13. Alex Twal 14. Moustafa Dirani 15. Mikael Ibrahim 16. Jalal Bazzaz 17. Khalil Rahme 18. Joseph Nohra 19. Abbas Miski 20. Tupou Francis 21. Mohamed Alameddine 22. Cameron Kanaan

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England vs. Tonga @ HBF Park, 8:05pm AEST

England team list: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Dominic Young 3. Hugo Savala 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Zach Eckersley 6. George Williams (c) 7. Harry Smith 8. Max King 9. Brad O’Neill 10. Morgan Knowles 11. Junior Nsemba 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Victor Radley 14. Jez Litten 15. Luke Thompson 16. Ethan Havard 17. Sam Walters 18. Jack Welsby 19. Matty Ashton 20. Ben Currie 21. Mikey Lewis 22. Ben Talty

Tonga team list: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Robert Toia 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Latu Fainu 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Soni Luke 10. Jason Taumalolo (c) 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Siua Wong 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Salesi Foketi 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Tuimoala Lolohea 19. Paul Alamoti 20. Taniela Paseka 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Sione Katoa

SUNDAY OCTOBER 18

Fiji vs. Cook Islands @ McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm AEST

Fiji team list: 1. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Waqa Blake 4. Solomone Saukuru 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Mitchell Prest 11. Taane Milne 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Caleb Navale 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Emosi Ravosai 16. Elijah Keung 17. Ronald Philitoga 18. Apenisa Driti 19. Jordin Leiu 20. Joseph Litidamu 21. Zion Johnson 22. Kylan Mafoa

Cook Islands team list: 1. Esom Ioka 2. Paul Ulberg 3. KL Iro 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Cameron Brown 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 7. Esan Marsters 8. Davvy Moale 9. Mason Teague 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Delahia Wigmore 12. Reuben Porter 13. Pride Petterson-Robati 14. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 15. K-Ci Newton-Whare 16. Rhys Dakin 17. Brad Takairangi 18. Glassie Glassie 19. Chaev Kolone 20. Brody Tamarua 21. David Tuariki