Double blow for Roos as Addo-Carr handed Ashes recall

The Kangaroos have received a double dose of bad news with wingers Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax ruled out of the Ashes series with injury.

Coates underwent scans for an ankle injury in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, while Lomax also failed a medical because of a suspected hip injury. Lomax has been playing through the pain of a hip complaint over the back half of the season.

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Lomax’s Parramatta teammate, Josh Addo-Carr, has earned a recall, while there were also discussions being held about Newcastle’s Bradman Best.

This masthead revealed on Monday that Coates was no certainty to be on the plane to England after he finished Sunday’s grand final in pain, and exited Accor Stadium with his left foot in a moon boot.

Addo-Carr has not represented Australia since the 2022 World Cup, but set himself the goal this year of trying to represent the national team again.

“I sat down at the start of the year and wrote down some goals, which was losing weight – I’ve done that – another one was to make Origin, and the third one was to make the Kangaroos squad,” Addo-Carr told this masthead in August.

“You want to represent your family, and when you play for the Kangaroos, it’s the pinnacle. It means you’re one of the best players in the world in your position, and you’re playing with the best in the world. It’s such a great honour.”

Seven debutants were named in the 24-man squad on Monday, including winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, whose hopes of becoming a dual international will receive a huge boost with confirmation Coates and Lomax are out.

Fullback Dylan Edwards is also capable of playing on the wing, and has already done so in the green and gold.

Coach Kevin Walters said on Monday he was more than happy to pick Nawaqanitawase, despite declaring he would finish up with the Roosters next season and return to rugby for the chance to represent the Wallabies at the 2027 World Cup.

“I like [Nawaqanitawase’s] athletic ability – he’s new to our game, he’s a very exciting player, good in the air, good defensively,” Walters said.

“He’s a highly skilled player who has earned the right to play and be selected.”

Speaking at the team announcement, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys was not stressed about R360 and the threat it poses to the NRL despite Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax and South Sydney’s Jye Gray being among the targets.

“Any competition that comes out of a Corn Flakes box, I’m not really concerned about it,” V’landys said.

Walsh has been the standout player in the NRL the past two months, but Walters stopped short of declaring the Clive Churchill Medallist would automatically replace fullback incumbent Edwards.

“Reece is in good touch, and it’s good to have him on tour, that’s for sure,” he said.

“But you also have to be respectful of Dylan’s performances the last four or five years. It’s a tough one. Reece has forced his way into the side, but that [final call] will be one to be settled overseas.”

Walsh, who was fined $3000 but not suspended for a high shot on Coates in the grand final, will be joined on tour by Broncos teammates Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs and Gehamat Shibasaki, who was on a train-and-trial deal with Brisbane last November.

Shibasaki’s form for Queensland and through the finals series was a reason he leapfrogged Best for one of the centre spots.

“He’s virtually forced his way into the squad,” Walters said.

The Ashes series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on October 25, followed by the second Test in Liverpool and the finale on November 8 in Leeds.

Meanwhile, Keaon Koloamatangi will captain the PM’s XIII team to play Papua New Guinea on Sunday in Port Moresby, with fellow Rabbitohs – Anthony Albanese’s favourite team – Jye Gray and Tallis Duncan also in the squad.