Cleary ruled out as Australia name 23-player World Cup squad
Australia’s confirmed 2026 World Cup squad without Nathan Cleary: the full 23, halfback options, Yeo’s availability and Edwards’ omission.
Nathan Cleary will miss the 2026 Rugby League World Cup through injury. Australia announced their 23-player Kangaroos squad on 5 October, with Sam Walker included alongside Mitchell Moses, Tom Dearden and Cameron Munster as the available halves. Isaah Yeo retains the captaincy despite his pectoral injury. The official squad announcement replaces the selection speculation that followed Penrith’s preliminary-final exit.
Why Cleary is out
Cleary suffered a compound fracture of his left ankle during Penrith’s preliminary-final defeat by Newcastle on 27 September. He had entered the match with a broken bone in his right foot and started on the interchange bench to manage that injury. His father and coach, Ivan Cleary, subsequently said both injuries required surgery. ABC’s report on the injuries distinguished the pre-existing right-foot problem from the left-ankle fracture suffered during the game.
On 28 September, Cleary posted from hospital after surgery, thanking supporters and writing, “I’ll be back.” ABC confirmed that the ankle injury ruled him out of Australia’s World Cup campaign.
Who replaces him at halfback?
Walker has made the squad, but the starting halfback role has not been settled by the squad announcement. Coach Kevin Walters has Moses, Dearden and Walker to choose from, with Munster also selected in the halves group. At the announcement press conference, Walters discussed covering the key playmaking positions rather than naming a starting combination. Fox Sports’ report identified the three-way contest for Cleary’s vacant role.
Walker is one of six potential Kangaroos debutants in the touring party. Selection does not itself constitute a Test appearance: he must take the field to earn his first cap.
Australia’s confirmed 23-player squad
The following is the ARLC’s squad published on 5 October. An asterisk marks a player yet to make his Kangaroos debut at the time of selection.
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Bradman Best* | Newcastle Knights |
| Jack Bostock* | Dolphins |
| Blayke Brailey* | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Patrick Carrigan | Brisbane Broncos |
| Lindsay Collins | Sydney Roosters |
| Reuben Cotter | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Tom Dearden | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | Gold Coast Titans |
| David Fifita* | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Harry Grant | Melbourne Storm |
| Keaon Koloamatangi | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Liam Martin | Penrith Panthers |
| Latrell Mitchell | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Mitchell Moses | Parramatta Eels |
| Cameron Munster | Melbourne Storm |
| Cameron Murray | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Jacob Preston* | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Kotoni Staggs | Brisbane Broncos |
| James Tedesco | Sydney Roosters |
| Tom Trbojevic | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Sam Walker* | Sydney Roosters |
| Reece Walsh | Brisbane Broncos |
| Isaah Yeo — captain | Penrith Panthers |
Shadow players: Thomas Jenkins (Penrith Panthers), Hamish Stewart (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Ethan Strange (Canberra Raiders). They are listed separately from the main 23, not as additional members of that squad.
What happened to the other selection doubts?
The late-September NRL report put Yeo and Dylan Edwards in doubt, rather than ruling both out alongside Cleary, and identified Rob Toia as an Australian selection target. The final announcement resolves their selection status differently:
- Yeo is selected as captain. He will delay surgery on his ruptured pectoral, with Penrith’s permission, to play in the tournament. He said he would only make himself available if he believed he could contribute at the required level. NRL’s announcement-day report confirms that decision.
- Edwards is not in the announced squad. His omission follows the PCL injury reported after the preliminary final. Tedesco and Walsh are both selected, so neither should be treated as the confirmed starting fullback merely from inclusion in the 23. Fox Sports reported that Walters had not yet announced that choice.
- Rob Toia is not an Australian selection. NRL reported on 5 October that Toia had elected to play for Tonga.
Australia are scheduled to open against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Thursday 15 October, followed by pool matches against Fiji and the Cook Islands, according to NRL’s announcement-day report.