Lam, Bai and Johnston out
The PNG Rugby Football League released the PNG Kumuls squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup today with several notable omissions.
Leigh Leopards halfback Lachlan Lam (wrist surgery), Gold Coast Titans Cooper Bai (hamstring) and Alex Johnston (rib) have all been ruled out of the 23-men squad.
Adding to the 23 players, three have been selected as shadow players.
The Kumuls squad will feature several new faces in camp with Josh Feledy from Manly Sea Eagles, Luca Moretti from Parramatta Eels and New Zealand Warriors bound Bailey Biondo Odo.
Earlier this year Feledy made his intentions known about representing the birth place of his grand father and mother, and he will finally tick that box when he runs out with the Kumuls.
Moretti is eligible to play for the Kumuls through his mother, who was born in PNG, while Odo has PNG heritage through his father.
Incumbent Kumuls captain Rhyse who has played 21 Tests for the country has been named, and he is likely to lead the Kumuls possibly for his last World Cup.
Nene Macdonald, who played three games for St Helens this season is also named, adding experience to camp along with Leigh Leopards duo Edwin Ipape and Liam Horne.
Following a successful season in the Hostplus Cup, Central Queensland Capras players; Valentine Richard, Nixon Putt, Zev John, Roderick Tai and Khaiya Waiembi have been rewarded and will join the Kumuls camp.
Cowboys duo Zac Laybutt and Robert Derby are familiar faces in camp, along with Townsville Blackhawks speedster Dudley Dotoi.
The 2026 Betfred Champions London Broncos have six players listed with Epel Kapinias, Gairo Voro, Morea Morea, Finley Glare, Robert Mathias and Alex Max (Shadow player) except for Jeremiah Simbiken (knee).
PNG Hunters Sylvester Namo and Sanny Wabo have also been named, following their recent outing in the Prime Ministers XIII, with Newcastle’s Jacob Taulani (Shadow).
Veteran Kyle Laybutt is still playing third tier football in Queensland and got the call up as a shadow player.
PNG Kumuls Squad
- Bailey Biondi-Odo — New Zealand Warriors
- Jack De Belin — Parramatta Eel
- Robert Derby — North Queensland Cowboys
- Dudley Dotoi — Townsville Blackhawks
- Joshua Feledy — Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
- Finley Glare — London Broncos
- Liam Horne — Leigh Leopards
- Edwin Ipape — Leigh Leopards
- Zev John — Central Queensland Capras
- Epel Kapinias — London Broncos
- Zac Laybutt — North Queensland Cowboys
- Nene Macdonald — St Helens
- Rhyse Martin — Hull Kr
- Robert Mathias — London Broncos
- Morea Morea — London Broncos
- Luca Moretti — Parramatta Eels
- Sylvester Namo — PNG Hunters
- Nixon Putt — Central Queensland Capras
- Rodrick Tai — Central Queensland Capras
- Valentine Richard — Central Queensland Capras
- Gairo Voro — London Broncos
- Sanny Wabo — Png Hunters
- Khaiya Waiembi — Png Hunters
Shadow Players
- Kyle Laybutt
- Alex Max — London Broncos
- Jacob Taulani — Newcastle Knights