Brian McDermott will oversee his first game as England head coach next week when his side faces Tonga in their first group game of the Rugby League World Cup.
McDermott is the most successful boss in Super League history, but the international game is a different level, something that he knows well given he now works in the NRL.
With the gap between the two competitions ever-increasing, the ex-Leeds and Toronto coach has needed to think outside the box, both in terms of game plan and squad selection.
Ten NRL players have been named, with four of those available due to heritage rulings. There has been plenty of controversy over whether that is the right call, but McDermott’s job is to win England the World Cup – and he has selected the best players he thinks he needs to fulfil that goal.
England get their campaign underway on October 17 in Perth, where they take on Kristian Woolf’s Tonga side – a squad stacked with NRL stars. Here is how we think McDermott will line up his side for that game.
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Predicted England Rugby League World Cup squad to face Tonga
Full-back: AJ Brimson
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Brian McDermott has ruled out the possibility of Herbie Farnworth playing at full-back in the tournament, which leaves Brimson and Jack Welsby to take the number one shirt.
Whilst Brimson has spent the 2026 season at centre, he was the better of the two in last year’s Ashes series, and is someone that McDermott trusts given they both work at the Gold Coast Titans.
Wingers: Dom Young and Matty Ashton
Young has been an England regular for a number of years now, and is another established NRL name that McDermott will be relying on to try and match the NRL-quality of their opponents.
Perhaps Ashton wouldn’t have been selected if Tom Johnstone wasn’t having surgery, but regardless, the Warrington man is still a quality winger, and with pace to burn, he will be key to England’s points-scoring.
Centres: Herbie Farnworth and Hugo Savala
The world’s best centre slots into his natural position, and huge things are expected of him at this year’s competition. Partnering him on the opposite side is a debutant in Savala, but one that comes into the England camp a Grand Final winner.
Halves: George Williams and Harry Smith
The England captain had a brilliant start to the season, but wasn’t at his best after returning from a neck injury, particularly in the finals series. That being said, he is an experienced international and someone who also has NRL experience.
Partnering him is Wigan’s Smith, who has a lethal kicking game and game management skills that will be imperative, especially in the games against the higher-ranked nations.
Props: Max King and Morgan Knowles
Another debutant, Huddersfield-born King represented New South Wales in 2025, so whilst this would be his international debut, he has experience of representative rugby.
Joining him in the front row is Knowles, who can play huge minutes and is as much mobile as he is powerful. England don’t need the big boppers to defeat the likes of Australia – they need athletic middles who are versatile and can move the ball around.
Hooker: Brad O’Neill
The Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel has one international cap to his name, with that coming in 2024 against France. Whoever starts at hooker for McDermott will depend entirely on the game plan, with O’Neill a more defensive hooker and Hull KR’s Jez Litten the attacking option.
Back Rowers: Junior Nsemba and Kai Pearce-Paul
Two rangy edge players that can fend, offload and carry hard, Nsemba has earned his way back into the England fold following a drop-off towards the end of last season whilst Pearce-Paul continues to show why he is one of the best back-rowers in the NRL.
Loose forward: Victor Radley
‘The inflictor’ comes into the World Cup campaign fresh off a Grand Final win, and has never let anyone down in an England jersey. Like Knowles, he’s aggressive, mobile and can play big minutes, something England need if they are to match their opponents physically.
Interchanges: Jez Litten, Morgan Smithies, Luke Thompson, Sam Walters, Ben Talty, Mikey Lewis
In a change to traditional Super League rulings, the RLWC will see six-man benches implemented – however only four players on the interchange bench can be used.
McDermott has spoken about how valuable versatile players are, so that is why the likes of Smithies and Walters are named among the subs, whilst Litten’s inclusion has already been discussed.
Thompson and Talty will provide pack relief, whilst Mikey Lewis is included having been tipped by his head coach to be the “point of difference”.
