Jake Connor has suffered another major England disappointment after being left out of Brian McDermott’s 23-man squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The Leeds Rhinos playmaker was considered one of the leading contenders for selection after another excellent domestic campaign, but the 31-year-old missed the final cut by what McDermott described as a “small margin”.
The decision is likely to generate plenty of discussion, particularly because Connor was the 2025 Super League Man of Steel and had continued to produce outstanding numbers for Leeds. According to England Rugby League, he had registered 42 try assists late in the Super League season, while Sky Sports reported that his final tally reached 43.
Yet McDermott has made it clear that individual statistics were not going to be the only factor behind his World Cup selections.
The England head coach believes his squad has to be built around a specific style of rugby league capable of competing against the world’s leading nations. That philosophy ultimately pushed Connor just outside the 23-man group, with Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis selected alongside George Williams and Harry Smith as England’s main half-back options.
McDermott’s explanation is particularly important because Connor’s omission was not presented as a judgment that he had a poor season. Quite the opposite.
“Jake Connor missed out on selection by a small margin,” McDermott said, explaining that the final decision came down to which players he believed could best follow England’s gameplan and attack plan.
That distinction could be crucial when looking at England’s World Cup ambitions.
Connor’s creativity has never really been in question. His ability to see opportunities, create tries and influence games helped him win the Man of Steel award in 2025. He was also one of the players McDermott had previously spoken positively about during the build-up to the World Cup.
However, international rugby league is a different challenge from a long Super League season. England will face Tonga, France and Papua New Guinea in the group stage, with little room for tactical experimentation.
McDermott therefore appears to have prioritised players he believes can execute a clearly defined system under pressure.
That is where Mikey Lewis has won the argument.
Lewis endured an inconsistent period towards the end of the season and also served bans, but McDermott pointed towards his experience in major matches. The Hull KR playmaker helped his side win the World Club Challenge earlier this year and also guided them to a Challenge Cup final.
For the England coach, those experiences matter.
McDermott has repeatedly stressed that he wants players who can perform when the pressure is at its highest. His decision suggests that international selection is being judged not simply on individual talent but on whether a player fits the precise role England wants from him.
That approach also explains some of the other interesting choices in the squad.
The 23-man group contains a mixture of established England internationals, NRL experience and several players who could make their international debuts. Sydney Roosters pair Victor Radley and Hugo Savala are included following the Roosters’ NRL premiership triumph, while Bulldogs prop Max King and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Talty have also earned selection.
Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young return after being among England’s standout performers at the 2022 World Cup. Farnworth was also named Dally M Centre of the Year, underlining the quality available to McDermott from the NRL.
England will have plenty of experience in the spine as well.
George Williams will captain the team, while Jack Welsby, Harry Smith and Mikey Lewis provide further attacking options. Williams is also preparing to join the Dolphins after the World Cup, making the tournament an important final chapter of his Warrington Wolves career.
For Connor, however, the latest omission is particularly painful.
He was previously left out of England’s squad for last autumn’s home series against Australia, despite his impressive domestic form. His return to the wider England setup during the build-up to the World Cup had therefore appeared to offer him another opportunity to establish himself internationally.
Instead, he has once again fallen short.
There is an element of timing to the decision too. Earlier in the World Cup preparation process, Connor had been included in England’s 38-man performance programme. He was one of the Leeds players identified as a potential option for the tournament, and England’s official World Cup build-up had highlighted his creative contribution.
But the final squad has proved much harder to make.
McDermott has described the 23-man limit as a difficult selection challenge, with every player in the wider group contributing to England’s preparation. The coach has also used a decentralised preparation model, meaning players have worked on their roles and England’s game model before coming together for the tournament.
That could ultimately be the biggest reason Connor missed out.
McDermott is not simply trying to select England’s 23 most talented players on paper. He is attempting to build a team with a particular identity.
“We can’t do the usual things,” McDermott has said, stressing that England need a “point of difference” if they are going to compete with the leading nations.
It is a bold approach, but it also creates pressure on the coach. If England struggle creatively during the tournament, Connor’s omission will inevitably come under the spotlight. His ability to create something from nothing is exactly the kind of quality teams sometimes need when carefully designed attacking structures stop working.
On the other hand, if England’s attacking plan clicks and Lewis performs well alongside Williams and Smith, McDermott’s decision will look considerably easier to justify.
The World Cup will provide the final answer.
England begin their campaign against Tonga at HBF Park in Perth on 17 October, before facing France at the same venue on 24 October. They then travel to Wollongong for a potentially decisive meeting with Papua New Guinea on 30 October.
Tonga will provide an immediate test of England’s new approach. There will be no comfortable opening phase in which the team can slowly discover its identity. England’s coaching staff know that a strong start could be crucial in building momentum towards the knockout stages.
For Connor, the tournament will instead be watched from the outside.
His omission does not mean his season was unsuccessful. In fact, his numbers demonstrate the opposite. Winning the Man of Steel award in 2025 and producing another hugely creative campaign for Leeds shows that he remains one of Super League’s most influential attacking players.
But international selection is ultimately about what a coach believes a team needs at a particular moment.
McDermott has made his choice.
Now the pressure moves from the selection room to the field.
If Mikey Lewis delivers in the biggest moments, England’s decision to overlook Connor will be viewed as a calculated move that paid off. If England lack creativity or fail to execute their attacking plan, questions about the Leeds star will return quickly.
For now, the message from McDermott is clear: Connor was not far away, but fitting the England game model mattered more than individual reputation or statistics.
The Rugby League World Cup is almost here, and England’s new identity is about to be tested for real.
Stay tuned with ROKOCRICKET for more rugby league, cricket and sports updates, and subscribe for the latest major stories.
The ROKO CRICKET author is a passionate cricket enthusiast and sports writer dedicated to bringing readers closer to the game they love. With a keen interest in cricket history, match analysis, player stories, records, rankings, and the latest developments, the author focuses on delivering informative and engaging content in a simple, reader-friendly style. From iconic moments of the past to breaking cricket updates, every story aims to offer useful insights while keeping fans connected to the sport. At ROKO CRICKET, the author believes cricket is more than just numbers and scores—it is about the stories, emotions, rivalries, and unforgettable moments that make the game special.
