LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
New Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has made a surprising decision by dropping the first potential contender from his 22-man Ashes squad as the NRL finals approach. Walters is already assessing his selections for the Australian team, which will face England in the upcoming Ashes tour beginning at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25.
He is also monitoring the situation regarding players like Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who are reportedly considering switching their allegiances to Samoa post NRL season. Walters emphasized that he will not select players unwilling to represent the green and gold, aiming to restore pride in the Kangaroo jersey.
Walters is particularly interested in Canberra's five-eighth Ethan Strange, who has had an impressive season, playing a crucial role in leading the Raiders to the top of the table. Strange has been a key figure on the left side of the field for coach Ricky Stuart's team.
Although there has been much discussion about Strange as a potential future State of Origin star, it now seems he might join the Australian squad for the tour to England sooner than anticipated. However, he lacks playoff experience, as he has yet to participate in finals matches.
The Raiders currently sit atop the ladder for 2025, providing Strange an opportunity to showcase why he is so highly regarded when the finals arrive. Walters has suggested that many of his final roster decisions will hinge on how players like Strange perform under significant pressure.
"Finals football is tough because it's the next level," Walters shared on SEN Radio. "The deeper you go, the more pressure there is on players and coaches. It exposes players to a good environment to test themselves and when we get to Wembley Stadium where there will be 60, 70, or even 80,000 people. We know how vocal English fans can be and how hostile an environment it is."
"The current halves that we have from NSW and Queensland are elite and they are all available. (Strange) is certainly a player that could force themselves into the touring party. A young player like Strange coming through and having a terrific finals series could project him into a 22-man party."