Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Uncapped NRL trio picked in England World Cup squad
George Clarke, AAP • October 6th, 2026 12:36 pm
Ben Talty has been rewarded for his Broncos form with selection in England's World Cup squad | Photo: AAP
Brisbane prop Ben Talty, Canterbury front-rower Max King and Sydney Roosters utility Hugo Savala have been named in England's Rugby League World Cup squad.
Talty and Savala both qualify through ancestry and join Huddersfield-born King in a side assembled by Brian McDermott which contains 10 NRL players.
Savala's Roosters teammate Victor Radley is included along with Newcastle winger Dominic Young and the Dolphins duo of Morgan Knowles and Herbie Farnworth.
Victor Radley is another of the Roosters' NRL premiership winners in the England squad | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Canberra's Perth-bound prop Morgan Smithies has earned selection along with Wests Tigers backrower Kai Pearce-Paul and Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson, who debuted for England in last year's Ashes whitewash.
McDermott, who is an assistant at the Titans and previously won the Super League title with Leeds, has taken over from Shaun Wane since the 3-0 series defeat.
Leeds halfback Jake Connor - winner of last year's Man of Steel and controversially left out of the 2025 Ashes - has again missed the cut, with McDermott preferring Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis.
McDermott said: "We have selected the squad after a thorough and deliberate process, underpinned by a unique decentralised preparation model that has allowed us to work closely with the players well before they come together in camp.
"Throughout that process, we have challenged players to develop a deeper understanding of themselves – their strengths, their point of difference, the areas they need to improve and the standards required to perform at international level."
England will kick off against Tonga on October 17 before also facing France and Papua New Guinea in the group stage.
England World Cup squad:
Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Ben Currie, Zach Eckersley, Herbie Farnworth, Ethan Havard, Max King, Morgan Knowles, Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Junior Nsemba, Brad O'Neill, Kai Pearce-Paul, Victor Radley, Hugo Savala, Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies, Luke Thompson, Sam Walters, Ben Talty, Jack Welsby, George Williams, Dom Young.
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of Rugby League World Cup 2026 this October and November - download the app today on Google Play and the App Store.
