LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy

Kangaroos Face Injury Setbacks Ahead of Ashes Series in England

Australia is facing a significant challenge ahead of the Kangaroos tour, as wingers Zac Lomax and Xavier Coates have been ruled out due to injuries.

As of Tuesday night, officials are preparing to make adjustments to their Ashes squad, with Parramatta winger Josh Addo-Carr expected to be among the replacements.

Additionally, Newcastle centre Bradman Best could be a strong candidate for selection. Best was initially considered for the squad but lost out to Brisbane's Gehamat Shibasaki. He has since been named in the Prime Minister's XIII squad to face Papua New Guinea, indicating that he is on the selectors' radar for future Kangaroo selections.

The injuries to Parramatta's Lomax, who is sidelined with a hip strain, and Melbourne's Coates, who has an Achilles tendon injury, present a tough challenge for coach Kevin Walters. Both players were highly likely to start as wingers.

Coates was seen wearing a moon boot on his left foot after sustaining a minor Achilles tear during the Storm's grand final defeat to Brisbane. He is anticipated to recover in time for Melbourne's pre-season.

On the other hand, Lomax, who finished the season strong with Parramatta, has recently suffered a hip injury.

Currently, Australia's squad includes Mark Nawaqanitawase, who demonstrated impressive performance while playing on the wing for the Sydney Roosters in the latter half of the season.