Overview

• NRL officials are set to reject Kevin Walters’ bid to add former Test captain Gorden Tallis as a cultural figurehead for the Ashes tour.
• Walters’ request to bring Broncos assistants Trent Barrett and Ben Te’o is also likely to be vetoed as the league resists club-affiliated staff in national roles.
• With NRL club coaches off-limits, attention has shifted to UK-based options, with Willie Peters, Adrian Lam, Brad Arthur and John Cartwright linked as potential assistants.
• Squad planning faces further strain as Payne Haas commits to Samoa and Stefano Utoikamanu signals he will represent Tonga later this year.
• The three-Test Ashes series starts on October 25 at Wembley before fixtures at Everton’s new ground in Liverpool and Headingley in Leeds.