Unwanted history for Leeds Rhinos as full men's Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads named

For the first time since 1960, no Leeds players will be involved for any of the 10 competing nations. One of the big selection shocks was the omission of Rhinos number seven Jake Connor from England’s 23, with coach Brian McDermott opting for George Williams of Warrington Wolves’ Wigan Warriors’ Harry Smith and Mike Lewis as his half-backs.

Lewis is one of only two Yorkshire-based players selected by McDermott, alongside Hull KR teammate Jez Litten. Jazz Tevaga, a try scorer for Wakefield Trinity in last weekend’s Grand Final win against Warrington Wolves, is set to represent Tonga and Castleford Tigers’ Semi Valemei is in the Fiji squad.

Mason Teague, who will join Trinity next season from Australian Queensland Cup side Burleigh Bears, has been called up by Cook Islands. The tournament begins in Sydney next Thursday, October 15, when holders Australia take on New Zealand. England’s first match is against Tonga two days later at Perth.

The full squads are:

Pool A

Australia: Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Blayke Brailey (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys), Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans), David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm), Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels), Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jacob Preston (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters), Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos), Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers).

New Zealand: Erin Clark (New Zealand Warriors), James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand Warriors),Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans), Jacob Laban (New Zealand Warriors), Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Te Maire Martin (New Zealand Warriors), Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand Warriors), Briton Nikora (Cronula Sharks), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Isaiah Papali'i (Penrith Panthers), Kayln Ponga (Newcastle Knights), Scott Sorenson (Penrith Panthers), Tanner Stowers-Smith (New Zealand Warriors), Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders), Leo Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters), Xavier Willison (Brisbane Broncos).

Cook Islands: Cameron Brown (Brisbane Tigers), Rhys Dakin (Sydney Roosters), Glassie Glassie (Wests Tigers), Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons), Esom Ioka (Brisbane Tigers), KL Iro (Cronulla Sharks), Chaev Kolone (Canberra Raiders), Makahesi Makatoa (Sydney Roosters), Esan Marsters (Bradford Bulls), Amare Milford (Melbourne Storm), Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm), K-CI Newton-Whare (Melbourne Storm), Rua Ngatikaura (North Sydney Bears), Marata Niukore (New Zealand Warriors), Pride Petterson-Robati (Souths Logan Magpies), Reuben Porter (St George Illawarra Dragons), Reubben Rennie (Toulouse Olympique), Brad Takairangi (Glebe Dirty Reds), Mason Teague (Burleigh Bears), Paul Ulberg (Toulouse Olympique), Delahia Wigmore (Penrith Panthers), Maui Winitana-Patelesio (New Zealand Warriors).

Fiji: Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Waqa Blake (Bradford Bulls), Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins), Apenisa Driti (Northern Pride), Kitione Kautoga (Parramatta Eels), Elijah Keung (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Josese Lanyon (Wests Tigers), Jordan Leiu (Norths Devils), Joseph Litidamu (Melbourne Storm), Kylan Mafoa (Manly Sea Eagles), Taane Milne (Huddersfield Giants), Caleb Navale (Manly Sea Eagles), Jimmy Ngutlik (Mackay Cutters), Ronaldo Philitoga (North Queensland Cowboys), Mitchell Prest (Mackay Cutters), Emosi Ravosai (New Zealand Warriors), Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights), Solomone Saukuru (Wests Tigers), Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers), Semi Valemei (Castleford Tigers), Brandon Wakeham (Manly Sea Eagles), Jordan Miller (Parramatta Eels).

Pool B

England: Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs), Morgan Knowles (Dolphins), Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors), Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Hugo Savala (Sydney Roosters), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Sam Walters (Wigan Warriors), Ben Talty (Brisbane Broncos), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dom Young (Newcastle Knights).

Lebanon: Mohamed Alameddine (Parramatta Eels), Yehya Ayache (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Jalal Bazzaz (Shellharbour Stingrays), Alex Conti (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ibrahim El Labban (Wentworthville Magpies), Tony Francis (Gold Coast Titans), Tupou Francis (Brisbane Broncos), Michael Gabrael (Cronulla Sharks), Mikael Ibrahim (Gold Coast Titans), Moustafa Dirani (St Marys Saints), Jacob Kiraz (Canterbury Bulldogs), Abbas Miski (Wigan Warriors), Brad Morkos (St George Illawarra Dragons), Joseph Nohra (Parramatta Eels), Khaled Rajab (Newtown Jets), Jaxson Rahme (Sydney Roosters), Khalil Rahme (Newtown Jets), James Roumanos (Toulouse Olympique), Jason Saab (Manly Sea Eagles), Jordan Samrani (Parramatta Eels), Tony Sukkar (Wests Tigers), Charbel Tasipale (Newtown Jets), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers).

Samoa: Shawn Blore Anae Ulesese (Melbourne Storm), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Sua Fa’alogo (Melbourne Storm), Clayton Faulalo (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (New Zealand Warriors), Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters), Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers), Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights), Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos), Ata Mariota (Canberra Raiders), Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights), Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Enari Tuala (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman (Parramatta Eels).

Pool C

France: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (Catalans Dragons), Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique), Amir Bourouh (Hull FC), Julian Bousquet (Catalans Dragons), Tiaki Chan (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Cozza (Huddersfield Giants) Alrix Da Costa (Catalans Dragons), Leo Darrelatour (Catalans Dragons), Jordan Dezaria (Hull KR), Joe Drodolagi (AS Carcassonne), Theo Fages (Pia Donkeys), Benjamin Garcia (Catalans Dragons), Louis Grossemy (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Jussaume (Toulouse Olympique), Thomas Lacans (Toulouse Olympique), Benjamin Laguerre (Toulouse Olympique), Arthur Mourgue (Hull KR), Romain Navarette (all Catalans Dragons), Arthur Romano (Hull FC), Cesar Rouge (Toulouse Olympique), Latrell Siegwalt (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Romeo Tropis (Toulouse Olympique), Foud Yaha (Albi).

Papua New Guinea: Jack de Belin (Parramatta Eels), Robert Derby (North Queensland Cowboys), Dudley Dotoi (Townsville Blackhawks), Josh Feledy (Manly Sea Eagles), Finley Glare (London Broncos), Liam Horne (Leigh Leopards), Edwin Ipape (Leigh Leopards), Zev John (Central Queensland Capras), Epel Kapinias (London Broncos), Bailey Biondi-Odo (Townsville Blackhawks), Zac Laybutt (North Queensland Cowboys), Nene Macdonald (St Helens), Rhyse Martin (Hull KR), Robert Mathias (London Broncos), Morea Morea Jnr (London Broncos), Luca Moretti (Parramatta Eels), Sylvester Namo (Brisbane Tigers), Nixon Putt (Central Queensland Capras), Rodrick Tai (Central Queensland Capras), Valentine Richard (PNG Hunters), Gairo Voro (London Broncos), Sanny Wabo (PNG Hunters), Khaiya Waiembi (PNG Hunters).

Tonga: Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand Warriors), Demitric Vaimauga (New Zealand Warriors), Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Sea Eagles), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Jojo Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), Junior Amone (Wynnum Manly Seagulls). Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins), Latu Fainu (Wests Tigers), Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles), Leka Halasima (New Zealand Warriors), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Paul Alamoti (Penrith Panthers), Robert To'ia (Sydney Roosters), Salesi Foketi (Sydney Roosters), Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks), Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters), Soni Luke (North Queensland Cowboys), Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne Storm), Taniela Paseka (Manly Sea Eagles), Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles), Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants), Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights).