England's NRL-heavy World Cup squad

Third Roosters star picked in England squad for Rugby League World Cup: Is Rabbitohs playmaker next?

England will begin its World Cup campaign against Tonga on October 17, then face France and Papua New Guinea in the group stage.

Brian McDermott has picked 10 NRL players, including Brisbane prop Ben Talty, Canterbury front-rower Max King and Sydney Roosters utility Hugo Savala.

Talty and Savala qualify through ancestry, while King was born in Huddersfield.

The other NRL selections are Victor Radley, Dominic Young, Morgan Knowles, Herbie Farnworth, Morgan Smithies, Kai Pearce-Paul and AJ Brimson.

McDermott replaced Shaun Wane after England's 3-0 series defeat.

He chose Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis over Leeds halfback Jake Connor, last year's Man of Steel, who was controversially omitted from the 2025 Ashes.

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."

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