Full Breakdown
England’s 2026 Rugby League World Cup Squad: McDermott Picks Mikey Lewis Over Jake Connor
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Squad Announcement and Key Selection Decision
England head coach Brian McDermott released a 23-player roster for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in early October 2026. The most discussed decision was the exclusion of Jake Connor, Leeds Rhinos half-back and 2025 Super League Man of Steel, in favour of Mikey Lewis from Hull KR. The squad will travel to Australia and New Zealand, with the opening group match scheduled for 17 October against Tonga at HBF Park, Perth, followed by a second group game scheduled for 24 October against France.
Background & Context
McDermott succeeded Shaun Wane after the latter’s 3-0 Ashes defeat to Australia in late 2025. Wane had also omitted Connor from the Ashes squad, a move McDermott later described as “unfair” but defended as part of a broader shift in England’s playing philosophy. The new coach has spoken of a “point of difference” and an “England Game Model” that departs from previous approaches.
Data & Statistics
- Jake Connor: recorded 43 assists (Guardian) and 42 try assists, plus 4 tries and 133 goals during the 2026 Super League season.
- Mikey Lewis: scored 17 tries, added 14 assists, and served a one-match ban for a tackle and a three-match ban for an alleged headbutt.
- Wakefield Trinity: four players (Tom Johnstone, Jake Trueman, Mike McMeeken, Caleb Hamlin-Uele) withdrew due to injury and surgery.
- Heritage players: five NRL-based athletes (Victor Radley, Hugo Savala, Max King, Ben Talty, Kai Pearce-Paul) are eligible through ancestry.
Official Statements & Responses
McDermott said the squad was chosen after a “thorough and deliberate process” that emphasized each player’s fit within the game model. He highlighted the need for athletes who can “play under pressure” and “run when in doubt,” noting Lewis’s experience in the World Club Challenge and Challenge Cup finals. The coach also expressed disappointment that the “Wakefield boys aren’t available,” emphasizing that their injuries left the squad without any Wakefield representatives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Brian McDermott
- “Well the guy runs and when he is in doubt he runs,” — Brian McDermott
- “It is a real shame that the Wakefield boys aren't available.” — Brian McDermott
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Connor’s assist tally: the Guardian cites 43 assists, while iNews reports 42 try assists plus additional scoring statistics. Both figures lack league-wide verification, leaving his exact contribution ambiguous. McDermott states the Wakefield withdrawals were due to “off-season surgery,” but the precise medical conditions and timing are not fully disclosed.
Why It Matters / Impact
The selection signals a strategic pivot toward a more dynamic, “run-oriented” style that McDermott believes can challenge Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. Excluding the league’s Man of Steel for a player with recent finals experience may affect England’s attacking cohesion, especially given Lewis’s disciplinary record. The absence of any Wakefield Trinity players reduces the squad’s depth in the forward pack.
What’s Next
England’s campaign begins scheduled for 17 October against Tonga in Perth, followed by a scheduled match on 24 October versus France. Success in these fixtures will determine whether the new “game model” can deliver the “point of difference” McDermott envisions, or whether further squad adjustments will be required as the tournament progresses.