Nathan Cleary and Tom Dearden were quizzed on the Kangaroos’ halves selection headache when arriving at camp on Tuesday, with one man being tipped to have a “lock” on the No.7

Nathan Cleary and Tom Dearden were quizzed on the Kangaroos’ halves selection headache when arriving at camp on Tuesday, with one man being tipped to have a “lock” on the No.7

Australian coach Kevin Walters included five playmakers in his squad for the upcoming Ashes tour, with Cleary and Dearden joined by Mitchell Moses, Ethan Strange and Cameron Munster

Moses and Dearden are the incumbent pairing and they steered the Kangaroos to victory in the 2024 Pacific Championships.

Cleary, meanwhile, hasn’t featured at international level since the 2022 World Cup final but Dearden was still confident the Panthers superstar will get first crack at halfback.

No, I haven’t been told anything. Got the call to come into camp and be involved in the squad, so we will see what happens,” Dearden said when asked if he’d been told where he would feature.

 

“I think it’s just awesome to be apart of the squad and I think Nath (Cleary) has probably got a good lock on the No.7 jersey.

 

“I think it’s just exciting to be able to come into camp and be alongside some of the best players in the world and hopefully go over to England and take the Ashes.

Dearden was also pressed on whether the fact he steered Queensland to an Origin victory earlier this year could see him leapfrog Cleary in the halfback ranks.

 

The Cowboys gun replaced veteran Daly Cherry-Evans after the series opener, which led to the Maroons winning the final two games in a comeback win for the ages.

 

“I played a lot of footy with those guys, and looking forward to hopefully playing alongside Nathan and some of the other boys that I haven’t either,” Dearden said.

 

“You look at Origin, it’s a team game. It wasn’t halfback against halfback or anything like that.

 

“When you get into this camp and come together it’s all our main goal to bring the Ashes back home.”

 

Cleary was also asked about the “guys trying to get your No.7 jersey” and the star halfback was confident he will benefit from being apart of a strong squad.

I think it’s awesome, I am really looking forward to rubbing shoulders with those guys and getting to learn off each other,” Cleary said.

 

“Ultimately it will make us all better, it’s a great opportunity.”

 

Elsewhere, Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh are also locked in a battle for the fullback position, with the Panthers No.1 the incumbent after strong performances in last year’s Pacific Championships.

 

Walsh, however, had a barnstorming finish to his 2025 NRL campaign, which resulted in a drought-breaking Broncos premiership.

 

The Brisbane superstar played a huge role in all of his side’s comeback finals victories, reeling in deficits against the Raiders, Panthers and ultimately the Storm.