James Tedesco Dropped From Kangaroos Samoa Match Squad: Nov. 8, 2026

Information checked: November 8, 2026, at 12:10 a.m. Sydney time, Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11:00); November 7, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. UTC. This is a pregame team-selection update, not a match result.

James Tedesco is out of Australia's latest 19-man match-day squad for the Rugby League World Cup semifinal against Samoa. In its Saturday, November 7, team update, the NRL confirmed that Sam Walker had replaced Tedesco on the six-player interchange bench. Reece Walsh keeps the starting No. 1 jersey for the Kangaroos, who face Samoa in Sydney on Sunday night.

That does not mean the veteran Sydney Roosters fullback was excluded from Australia's wider World Cup squad. He was originally selected for the tournament and appeared in its group stage. The important distinction is between tournament membership and selection for this particular knockout game, which could change again if team circumstances change before kickoff.

Destaques

• Latest decision: Tedesco was removed from the six-man interchange group; Sam Walker now has a bench place.
• Starting fullback: Reece Walsh is listed at No. 1, with Kevin Walters retaining the same starting 13 used against the Cook Islands.
• Match details: Australia plays Samoa on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. AEDT (UTC+11:00) at Allianz Stadium, Sydney — 9:05 a.m. UTC.
• What remains open: The latest official team list does not identify an injury or disciplinary issue as the reason for Tedesco's omission.

Is James Tedesco in the Kangaroos squad for Australia vs. Samoa?

He is a member of Australia's 2026 World Cup squad, but he is not in the currently selected 19-man game-day group against Samoa. The original tournament selection, published in October, included Tedesco and fellow fullback Walsh. Australia then listed Tedesco as No. 19 when it announced its semifinal squad on November 3, but its subsequent late-mail update removed him from the interchange and named Walker instead.

The decisive source is the official NRL World Cup semifinal late-mail page, which explicitly lists Tedesco among Australia's outs and explains the Walker-for-Tedesco switch. The November 3 Kangaroos team announcement remains useful as the historical announcement, but it predates the Saturday change. Readers comparing two articles with different lists should check their timestamps rather than assume one describes a different competition.

Why was James Tedesco dropped, and who replaced him?

Sam Walker is the confirmed replacement on the interchange. Walker is a halfback and a Sydney Roosters teammate of Tedesco. Coach Kevin Walters has kept Walsh in the fullback position, while the six-player bench includes Walker, Ethan Strange, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray, Reuben Cotter, and Latrell Mitchell. Blayke Brailey is listed separately as a reserve.

The official update reports the selection change but does not explicitly state that Tedesco is injured, suspended, or unavailable for personal reasons. It would therefore be inaccurate to present any of those explanations as fact. Bringing Walker onto the bench gives the coaching staff another specialist halves option; interpreting that as the decisive reason for the move is an assessment, not a directly confirmed explanation from Walters.

The selection also reflects a longstanding competition for the Australian fullback jersey. Tedesco earned a World Cup recall after an outstanding club season and captained the Kangaroos against Fiji during the pool stage. Walsh returned to the No. 1 role against the Cook Islands, when Australia won 66–6. Walters retained that starting group for the semifinal, leaving no opening for Tedesco at fullback in the announced 13.

For the original squad context, see the Queensland Rugby League announcement of Australia's World Cup squad and the NRL's third-round team lists. Neither makes the newer semifinal selection obsolete.

Who is in Australia's team against Samoa?

Australia's announced starting 13 is unchanged from the Cook Islands match. Isaah Yeo captains the side at lock, while Walsh, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, and Harry Grant form the key fullback, five-eighth, halfback, and hooker combination.

The World Cup is operating under NRL interchange rules: six players are named on the bench, but only four of them may be used. A place among the six is therefore not an automatic guarantee of playing minutes. Walters could still adjust his side before kickoff, so the final game-day list should be checked again.

When and where is Australia vs. Samoa?

The men's Rugby League World Cup semifinal is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. AEDT (UTC+11:00) at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales. In UTC, kickoff is 9:05 a.m. on November 8. Sydney is observing daylight saving time on this date; using Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10:00) would give an incorrect conversion.

The International Rugby League match page and the 2026 World Cup semifinal announcement both identify the venue and scheduled kickoff. The competition organizers also say the game is carried in Australia by Seven and 7plus. Check the broadcaster's schedule close to the event for coverage details.

What is at stake for Australia, Samoa, and Tedesco?

The winner advances to the men's Rugby League World Cup final. Australia topped Group A, while Samoa finished second in Group B. It is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final, which Australia won, but the semifinal is a new contest with its own conditions and team selections.

Samoa's attack features Jarome Luai and fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. The latest official team list has Ronald Volkman at five-eighth after Chanel Harris-Tavita sustained a hamstring injury against Tonga. That change, along with the physical challenge of Samoa's forward pack, makes game management and interchange versatility important issues for Australia.

As for Tedesco, the verified conclusion is limited to this game: he has lost his bench place in the Saturday update. It does not establish that he is permanently out of the national team or unavailable for a potential final. If Australia advances, the staff would make a fresh selection decision. Any prediction that he will return—or that Walsh will start in a final—remains conditional until confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Was James Tedesco dropped from the Australian Kangaroos?

Yes, from the latest 19-man match-day selection to face Samoa on November 8. He remains part of the wider World Cup squad, according to the original tournament roster.

Who is Australia's starting fullback against Samoa?

Reece Walsh is named at fullback. James Tedesco is not in the latest interchange group, which now includes Sam Walker.

What time does Australia vs. Samoa start?

Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. in Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11:00), equivalent to 9:05 a.m. UTC.