Max King Realizes World Cup Dream With England — SkimNews
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- Max King qualifies for England through his birthplace in Huddersfield and his English mother, having moved to Australia at age seven where his early rugby memories were of Leeds Rhinos games with his grandfather
- King had a sticky note on his bedroom wall written as a goal to make England's 2022 World Cup squad — a dream that didn't materialize then and one his wife still remembers from when they started dating
- Brian McDermott, England's new head coach, reignited King's ambition with a phone call this year asking how he'd feel about representing England
- King was named in McDermott's 23-player England squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, set to open against Tonga on Saturday October 17
- King's father David, a former Huddersfield Giants player who spent most of his career in Super League, told his son the English culture creates mateships for life — a pattern King says he's already experienced with his new teammates
Why it matters: England's decision to lean on heritage players for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup is vividly illustrated by King, a Canterbury Bulldogs forward whose childhood memories are split between Huddersfield grandstands and Australian rugby. For a squad built around English-based Super League talent, McDermott's call gives King a chance to represent the country his father once played for — and underscores how seriously the new coach is mining dual-identity eligibility.
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