England coach Brian McDermott has announced an expanded 38-man performance squad ahead of this year's Rugby League World Cup, featuring 10 uncapped players and the notable recall of Jake Connor, the 31-year-old Man of Steel. Connor's last appearance for England dates back seven years, and his omission from Shaun Wane's squad during the recent Ashes series against Australia, which ended in a 3-0 defeat, stirred controversy.

After Wane's departure in January, McDermott, previously the head coach of Leeds, has taken the reins leading up to the tournament set to take place in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea this October and November.

The squad includes fresh talent such as:

• Jake Trueman and Caleb Hamlin-Uele from Wakefield Trinity
• Sam Walters and Zach Eckersley from Wigan
• Dean Hadley from Hull KR
• Harry Robertson from St Helens

McDermott expressed his enthusiasm for scouting talent across Super League and the NRL, stating, "I've enjoyed the process of looking throughout Super League and the NRL for players who could potentially play for England in the 2026 World Cup. It is clear there is a raft of talent available at our disposal and it's encouraging to see the sort of player who could be lining up for us in a few months' time."

He also emphasized that this selection marks just the beginning, allowing room for more players to prove their worth ahead of the final squad announcement.