Mitchell firms for 'Roo Tour as Walters puts focus on Ashes

New Australian coach Kevin Walters has stated that he will not require all players on this year's Kangaroo Tour to be available for the nation's defense of the Paul Barrière Trophy at next year's World Cup.

Walters participated in a UK online media conference on Monday, where he promoted the upcoming Ashes series against England, the first in 22 years. This series will commence at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25, followed by sold-out Tests in Liverpool and Leeds.

Latrell Mitchell, a prominent player, is reportedly interested in traveling to England for the Ashes series. Walters mentioned that the South Sydney star had reached out to him, despite having a season affected by injuries.

The former Queensland Origin coach, who guided the Broncos to the grand final in 2023 during his four-year tenure with the club, aims to finalize his coaching staff by the end of the week.

In contrast, Brisbane's Payne Haas has opted to play for Samoa in the Pacific Championships. Other players with dual eligibility have also been considering switching for the World Cup next year. Walters emphasized that these factors will not influence his selection for the 22-man squad.