In reward for his persistence and high level of performance over several seasons, Sharks hooker and 2026 co-captain Blayke Brailey will make his Kangaroos debut after being named in Australia’s starting side for their World Cup match with Fiji.
Brailey, a part of the series-winning NSW Origin team earlier this year and a member of the Kangaroos Ashes touring party at the end of the 2025 season, will become Kangaroo #866 when he takes the field in the round two World Cup clash on Sunday night.
In a match to played at Suncorp Stadium, Brailey and the Kangaroos team will be aiming to build on their win over New Zealand in their first game of the tournament.
A local junior form the Aquinas Colts club, Brailey has played 185 NRL games since his debut back in 2019, along with his two Origin appearances for NSW.
In other team news, Sydney Roosters Premiership-winning skipper and Clive Churchill Medallist James Tedesco has been named to captain Australia for the first time since 2023 in a new-look Kangaroos team.
The Kangaroos’ second fixture at the World Cup will see a number of players in addition to Brailey earn their first opportunity for the tournament, with Walters keen to assess his squad following a dramatic first-up 24-22 victory over New Zealand in Sydney.
Four new Kangaroos debutants have been named for the clash with Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best, Sydney Roosters half Sam Walker, and South Sydney Rabbitohs second rower David Fifita, joining the Sharks number nine in the starting lineup.
Best and Brailey both toured with the Kangaroos to England last year. Fifita didn’t take the field in Sydney last week after being named on the six-man bench for the clash with the Kiwis but is now set to make his Test debut wearing the No.11 jersey.
North Queensland Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter will also make his first start of the tournament in the second row, while Cameron Murray takes over at lock with regular skipper Isaah Yeo being rested. Yeo’s Penrith Panthers teammate Lindsay Smith has been named in the front row alongside St George Illawarra Dragons-bound Keaon Koloamatangi.
“Fiji have shown what they are capable of with a good performance in their opening game and we know they’ll come out hard and fast on Sunday. We’re expecting another physical contest, and we’ll be prepared to meet that challenge,” said Walters.
“We’re very keen to see what some of the new faces in the team can bring. Each of them has earned the opportunity to pull on the Kangaroos jersey and they have a chance to put their best foot forward for the remainder of the tournament with a strong performance on Sunday.”
Tickets for all RLWC 2026 matches are available at rlwc2026.com.
All matches are being broadcast live and exclusive in Australia on Seven and 7plus, on Sky Sport in New Zealand and Digicel in Papua New Guinea.
Kangaroos team to play Fiji Bati
Rugby League World Cup 2026 – Pool A
25 October 2026, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
1 James Tedesco ©
2 Jack Bostock
3 Kotoni Staggs
4 Bradman Best
5 Tom Trbojevic
6 Tom Dearden
7 Sam Walker
8 Keaon Koloamatangi
9 Blayke Brailey
10 Lindsay Smith
11 David Fifita
12 Reuben Cotter
13 Cameron Murray
14 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
15 Jacob Preston
16 Patrick Carrigan
17 Cameron Munster
18 Reece Walsh
19 Latrell Mitchell
20 Liam Martin
21 Harry Grant
22 Isaah Yeo
23 Ethan Strange
