Holroyd, Hanley lead England's late World Cup bolters
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Brian McDermott, named new England head coach, announced a 38-man performance squad in June including 10 uncapped players ahead of the October Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
- Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos, prop, age 25, 1 cap) has hit "incredible form" in the middle-to-late stages of the 2026 season; coach Brad Arthur said Holroyd and Cameron Smith could provide the bench scoring option England need, saying "you're not going to be able to defend your way to victory."
- Umyla Hanley (Leigh Leopards, centre, age 24, 0 caps) has impressed since returning from injury and was key in Leigh's round 23 win over Leeds; coach Adrian Lam said "He's the number one player I've coached in my life that competes better than anyone."
- Oliver Partington (Wigan Warriors, back row, age 27, 0 caps) has been integral to Wigan's 2026 Super League campaign and excels in "effort areas" rather than spectacular moments.
- Matty Nicholson (Canberra Raiders, back row, age 23, 2 caps) has returned off the bench for the Raiders; McDermott has said he will "firmly have eyes on the NRL as well as Super League," giving Nicholson a real chance.
- Jake Connor (Leeds Rhinos, reigning Man of Steel) is back in the England squad after a seven-year international absence; he was previously overlooked by Shaun Wane for the 3-0 Ashes defeat to Australia last autumn.
Why it matters: McDermott publicly keeping tabs on both Super League and the NRL widens the talent pool beyond the 38 names already named — Nicholson is just one example. With the tournament eight weeks away in Australia, the coaches' public lobbying of Arthur and Lam signals that late-season form can still dislodge a place, but a Man of Steel winner in Jake Connor only returning after seven years suggests the door is genuinely open, not just cosmetically.
Ask SkimNews
