![\"Latrell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/490090931-1227569106041415-8386353861835516391-n-e1792375547406-1200x785.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Latrell Siegwalt was born in Wagga but is representing France at the Rugby League World Cup. Photo: Wagga Kangaroos RLFC.<\/p>\n
Wagga\u2019s own Latrell Siegwalt made his international debut at the Rugby League World Cup this past weekend, but he did not don the green and gold Kangaroos jersey.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Turvey Park Wanderers product played his first international game in the red and blue jersey of France.<\/p>\n
While the result of the game was less than ideal for the Wagga-born utility, the story of how Siegwalt ended up on the French team links back to his grandfather.<\/p>\n
Siegwalt\u2019s grandfather George was born in France but now lives in Walgett, a small NSW town about an hour south of the NSW\/Queensland border.<\/p>\n
His grandfather moved to Australia at 10 years old following the end of World War II. Thanks to his grandfather, Siegwalt qualified for selection for the French side.<\/p>\n
While only 25 and debuting in the NRL in Round 10 this year, Siegwalt has been a journeyman in several leagues across Australia.<\/p>\n
At 16, Siegwalt represented NSW in the Koori Knockout, winning the tournament against a strong Queensland side in 2017. In 2018, he made the grand final with the Riverina Bulls in the Laurie Daley Cup, losing to the Newcastle Knights before being selected for a Canterbury Bulldogs junior squad in 2019.<\/p>\n
Siegwalt returned to Wagga for several years before joining the Redcliffe Dolphins Queensland Cup side in 2024 after representing Walgett in the 2023 Koori Knockout.<\/p>\n
When speaking to the NRL, Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te\u2019o said Siegwalt\u2019s impressive outing during the knockout was what brought him back under the radar of NRL clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cLatrell\u2019s come a long way. I first saw him playing in an Indigenous carnival, saw the footage of him playing, asked a couple of people about him,\u201d Te\u2019o said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know too much about his journey at the time, but I knew what I saw.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a lot of conversations with his father, some really good conversations about Latrell taking a step to move out of home, move out of Wagga Wagga, take that leap and really back himself to come up here.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, he came up, and there were some tough times for him navigating the move, but he really stuck it out.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019d become a big part of the Redcliffe Dolphins, then he\u2019d become someone who got a train and trial with the Brisbane Broncos, which led on to South Sydney (Rabbitohs).\u201d<\/p>\n
Siegwalt signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs in September 2025. He made his debut as a centre for the club in Round 10, converting five out of six try conversions as well as a penalty goal.<\/p>\n
Siegwalt played 10 games in 2026, before impressing the scouts of the French national team.<\/p>\n
Siegwalt played all 80 minutes of France\u2019s first game against Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Friday (16 October). France lost the game 78 to 4.<\/p>\n
France\u2019s next game will be against cross-channel rivals England on Saturday 24 October at 5:35 pm AEDT in Perth. Siegwalt has been selected to play.<\/p>\n