Reece Walsh in line to start at fullback over Tedesco for Kangaroos' World Cup opener

Kevin Walters is considering starting Reece Walsh at fullback ahead of James Tedesco for Australia's World Cup opener against New Zealand on Thursday. Walsh hasn't played since August after ankle surgery but trained alongside the first-choice spine of Cameron Munster, Mitchell Moses and Harry Grant, with Walters having made incumbency and Origin form key selection factors. Tedesco, fresh off leading the Roosters to the premiership and winning the Clive Churchill Medal, rotated in with the back-up spine. Elsewhere, Kotoni Staggs is set to keep his place at right centre ahead of Bradman Best, who trained on the wing. Jacob Preston looks set to debut in the back row, with David Fifita and Cameron Murray likely to come off the bench. The team will be named on Tuesday.

By Tyson Jackson, CODE Sports — read the full story