Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic overlooked as NRL great names Aussie Ashes team

Yahoo

24-07-2025

NRL great Corey Parker has named his Kangaroos XIII for the first Ashes game against England at Wembley and he has controversially left out centres Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic from his side. Kevin Walters was confirmed as the Australian national coach this week with plenty of work to be done before the Kangaroos play a three-match Ashes series getting underway at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25.
The former Broncos and Queensland coach won the job over Cameron Smith. And Walters said one of his first moves will be trying to persuade Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from switching allegiances to Samoa after reports emerged the trio are tossing up the decision.
And Walters will now need to start looking at the make-up of his squad with State of Origin over and NRL finals not too far away. And former Kangaroos forward Parker feels neither Mitchell or Trbojevic will be in the best XIII against England come game day.
Mitchell played well for the NSW Blues in the State of Origin series, but didn't produce too many moments of magic in the decider with Queensland taking Game 3 in Sydney. Unfortunately for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mitchell injured his hamstring in training and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
While there will be time to get fit before the Kangaroos tour to England, Parker has opted to leave Mitchell out with a lack of match fitness working against him. And he has also left Trbojevic out.
Trbojevic is the incumbent centre for Australia and was part of the team that won the Pacific Championship last year. The Manly Sea Eagles star had a stellar campaign at centre, but has struggled in 2025 with injuries taking a toll on him.
After a couple of unconvincing performances in his preferred position at fullback for the Sea Eagles, coach Anthony Seibold opted to move him into the centres. The Sea Eagles have benefitted from the switch with Lehi Hopoate offering more mobility in the No.1 jersey and Trbojevic simplifying his game in attack.
Although Parker isn't convinced just yet we are seeing the Trbojevic of old and also left the incumbent out of his current Kangaroos squad to take on England. Parker went for Knights centre Bradman Best and Broncos star Kotoni Staggs as his pairing.
There were no other major surprises in the side with Nathan Cleary expected to come back into the side in the No.7 jersey and partner Cameron Munster in the halves. Parker selected Tom Dearden in the No.14 jersey, despite some claiming the Queensland halfback should be paired with Munster after his State of Origin performances.
Parker selected Liam Martin in his side in the back-row, but the Panthers forward has already announced he won't be available for selection due to family commitments. Hudson Young could come into the starting side instead, or Reuben Cotter could fill in.
Corey Parker's Kangaroos XIII for the Ashes
Dylan Edwards
Zac Lomax
Kotoni Staggs
Bradman Best
Xavier Coates
Cam Munster
Nathan Cleary
Lindsay Smith
Harry Grant
Pat Carrigan
Liam Martin
Angus Crichton
Isaah Yeo
Tom Dearden
Hudson Young
Reuben Cotter
Lindsay Collins
Cameron Murray pushing for return ahead of Ashes
One of the big names that could be making a comeback before the end of the year is Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray. The Rabbitohs lock went down with an Achilles injury before the start of the season. Murray started at lock for NSW, over Isaah Yeo, for Michael Maguire in the Blues' 2023 winning Origin series.
His injury this year saw him ruled out with Yeo reverting to the No.13 jersey. Although Murray is lining-up a return for the Rabbitohs before the season's end. This could put him in the frame for selection with a break between the NRL season and the tour.
With Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui's selections up-in-the-air for Australia, Murray's inclusion would be huge. This could also allow Walters to shift Yeo through the middle where they lack elite depth, similar to how Maguire used him for NSW, and allow Murray to play lock. Although his selection depends on if he makes a return in time for the Rabbitohs.
Cameron Murray is training hard & hoping to return to play for the Rabbitohs sometime before the season is over.Murray underwent achilles repair surgery in February after suffering a rupture at training & then required another procedure in April to address a post operative… pic.twitter.com/rrQKVtFsnt
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 22, 2025