BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The pathways to Kangaroos selection differed wildly for Reece Walsh and Gehamat Shibasaki, two of the seven uncapped players picked for Australia’s three-test Ashes rugby league series in England.

For Walsh, an undisputed star of the National Rugby League, it was only a matter of time. For his Brisbane Broncos teammate Shibasaki, it was a case of seizing every single opportunity in a season that started in the shadows.

Australia coach Kevin Walters announced his 24-man squad for the Ashes tour on Monday, the morning after Walsh’s player-of-the-match performance in Brisbane’s 26-22 comeback win over Melbourne Storm in the NRL final .

Walsh put in a performance for the ages with a momentum-turning solo try, three try assists and a match-saving tackle that elev

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