World Cup Squad Omission
England Coach Brian McDermott Omits Man of Steel Winner Jake Connor From World Cup Squad
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Key Points
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McDermott said Connor missed selection “by a small margin,” adding that England needed to play with “a point of difference” and that his choices reflected the game plan he wanted the team to follow.
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McDermott acknowledged Lewis had been out of form late in the season and received bans, but cited his World Club Challenge win and his role in taking Hull KR to a cup final as evidence of his capabilities.
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Five squad members—AJ Brimson, Max King, Victor Radley, Hugo Savala and Ben Talty—qualified through English ancestry; seven players in the squad are from Wigan Warriors.
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Other Australian-based players left out included Billy Smith, Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Brailey.
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England’s later group-stage fixtures are against France and Papua New Guinea. The team has been a World Cup runner-up three times—in 1975, 1995 and 2017—and reached the 2021 semi-finals before losing to Samoa.
England rugby league coach Brian McDermott has named his 23-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, notably leaving out Leeds Rhinos half-back Jake Connor despite his 2025 Man of Steel award and league-leading 43 assists AAP News. McDermott selected Hull KR's Mikey Lewis instead, saying Lewis better fits England's attacking game plan against top nations.
The squad includes 10 current NRL players and five uncapped stars from Australian clubs. Notably absent: any players from newly crowned Super League champions Wakefield Trinity AAP News. England face Tonga in Perth on October 17 to kick off their campaign.
Why Connor Lost Out Despite Record Assists
McDermott said Connor missed selection "by a small margin," explaining that England needed "a point of difference" in attack AAP News. The coach prioritized his overall game plan over pure statistical output. Lewis, though out of form late in the season and suspended, led Hull KR to a cup final and won the World Club Challenge AAP News.
Connor's omission marks his second major England snub in two years—he was also left out of the Ashes squad the previous year AAP News. Despite winning rugby league's top individual award, the half-back could not convince McDermott he fitted the team's preferred style of play.
Ten NRL Stars Join Five Uncapped Hopefuls
Brisbane prop Ben Talty, Canterbury front-rower Max King, and Sydney Roosters utility Hugo Savala have been named as uncapped squad members AAP News. All three qualify through English ancestry. They join returning NRL internationals Victor Radley, Herbie Farnworth, and Dom Young AAP News.
Five squad members qualified through English ancestry: Brimson, King, Radley, Savala, and Talty AAP News. Seven players hail from Wigan Warriors. Left out were other NRL options: Billy Smith, Jamie Humphreys, and Jayden Brailey AAP News.
England Chases First World Cup Title in Decades
England have been World Cup runners-up three times—1975, 1995, and 2017—before reaching the 2021 semi-finals and losing to Samoa AAP News. The team has never won the tournament. Group-stage matches follow the Tonga opener against France and Papua New Guinea AAP News.
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