Big guns back for Australia's Rugby League World Cup defence

Penrith playmaker Isaah Yeo was named Australia captain on Monday for the country’s Rugby League World Cup title defence, with Latrell Mitchell returning after a long absence. Coach Kevin Walters selected a 23-man squad for the tournament from October 15 to November 15 across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, adding six debutants. Walters said the team’s mix offers “strike power” and experience, plus size, strength and speed, stressing that the World Cup will be a “huge Test” against a wide pool of talent. Australia start in Group A with New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands. Mitchell is back after a three-and-a-half-month nerve injury. Yeo, who is delaying pectoral surgery, leads in Sydney versus New Zealand on October 16.