Australia’s Kangaroos: the named World Cup team and the record behind it
Australia’s Kangaroos team for the Cook Islands match on 31 October 2026, plus their latest World Cup results, captain, coach and key records.
The Kangaroos are Australia’s senior men’s national rugby league team. They represent the country in the thirteen-a-side international game—not rugby union. As of 29 October 2026, Kevin Walters is coach and Isaah Yeo is captain, with Australia pursuing a fourth successive men’s World Cup title. Sources: NRL team announcement and IRL tournament report.
For readers looking for the current team rather than the whole tournament squad, the next selection is the side named to face Cook Islands on Saturday 31 October, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:05pm AEST, according to the NRL selection announcement.
Kangaroos team named to play Cook Islands
The following starting thirteen was announced on 27 October. It is a named pre-match line-up, not a record of who ultimately took the field. Source: official NRL release.
| No. | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fullback | Reece Walsh |
| 2 | Wing | Jack Bostock |
| 3 | Centre | Kotoni Staggs |
| 4 | Centre | Bradman Best |
| 5 | Wing | Tom Trbojevic |
| 6 | Five-eighth | Cameron Munster |
| 7 | Halfback | Tom Dearden |
| 8 | Prop | Patrick Carrigan |
| 9 | Hooker | Harry Grant |
| 10 | Prop | Tino Fa’asuamaleaui |
| 11 | Second row | Jacob Preston |
| 12 | Second row | Liam Martin |
| 13 | Lock | Isaah Yeo — captain |
Named six-man interchange bench: 14 Ethan Strange, 15 Keaon Koloamatangi, 16 Cameron Murray, 17 Reuben Cotter, 18 Lindsay Smith and 19 James Tedesco.
Walters has chosen his third different halves combination of the tournament: Munster returns at five-eighth alongside Dearden at halfback. Walsh returns at fullback after missing the Fiji match, while the starting forward pack is the same one selected against New Zealand in the opener. Strange is in line for his Kangaroos debut; being named on the bench does not itself establish an appearance. Source: NRL selection announcement.
For the wider selection, see Australia’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Australia’s 2026 World Cup results so far
Australia have won their first two Pool A matches:
- 15 October — Australia 24–22 New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Jack Bostock scored three tries on debut, including the late winner. Source: IRL match record.
- 25 October — Australia 36–22 Fiji, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Tom Trbojevic’s second-half hat-trick helped Australia overturn a 16–12 deficit. Sources: IRL results and match report.
Those are group-stage victories, not a completed World Cup campaign. The Cook Islands fixture is Australia’s final Pool A match. For the qualification structure, see how the 2026 World Cup pools decide semifinalists.
The record behind the team
Australia’s international rugby league history begins in 1908. Their first international was an 11–10 loss to New Zealand in Sydney on 9 May. Later that year, the touring Australians played clubs and regional sides as well as the Ashes Tests. Those categories matter: a total of Kangaroo-tour matches is not automatically a total of national-team Tests. Source: Rugby League Project’s Australian match archive.
The Kangaroos entered the 2026 tournament with 12 men’s Rugby League World Cup titles. Their most recent title came with a 30–10 win over Samoa at Old Trafford in 2022, completing a third consecutive tournament victory. This is the men’s record; Australia’s women, the Jillaroos, have a separate competition history. Source: BBC final report.
For the longer historical account, see Australia’s Kangaroos history and World Cup record.