‘Deserve to play’: No room for romance as uncapped stars left out of Kangaroos squad

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has resisted the urge to tinker with his squad for the third Ashes Test, with skipper Isaah Yeo the only change to the side after he cleared concussion protocols.

Fans were hoping to see Raiders star Ethan Strange make his debut in Leeds this weekend, but he hasn’t been named in the 21-man squad that includes Mitch Moses and Bradman Best on an extended bench.

Instead, Walters has stuck with the same team that beat England in a scrappy affair last week, with Yeo coming in for Penrith’s Lindsay Smith, who drops out of the 17.

“We’ve had to work exceptionally hard in challenging conditions to win the opening two Tests, and while we’d like to reward the extended squad for their outstanding efforts on tour, we just feel that the players who have got the job done deserve to play in Leeds,” Walters said.

“The playing group has had a few days off to freshen up and now it’s back to work – we’ve trained well today and we’ve still got the captain’s run to get ourselves where we need to be for what is a very important Test match for both sides.”

Meanwhile, Roosters academy graduate Blake Steep has signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2028 season.

Steep, 20, made his debut in 2024 and played 22 matches last season, with the club expected to announce Daly Cherry-Evans’ deal in the coming days.

“I’m really proud to be part of the Roosters. The club means a lot to me; it’s helped me grow as a player and as a person,” Steep said.

“I’ve supported the Roosters since I was a kid in Port Macquarie, and to now be here and part of this team is something I’m really grateful for. I just want to keep improving and contribute to the success of the club.”