BRIAN McDERMOTT has another player to consider for the England scrum-half role at the World Cup after South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Jamie Humphreys declared his eligibility.
Humphreys, 24, has been a regular in the NRL over the past two seasons, either as a starting halfback or from the interchange bench, helping the Rabbitohs finish sixth this year.
While he was born in Sydney, he lived in London as a teenager when his father moved for work, playing amateur rugby league for Elmbridge Eagles and then joining the academy of London Broncos, alongside current England international and Wests Tigers star Kai Pearce-Paul.
The playmaker, who returned to Australia to join Manly Sea Eagles then signed for South Sydney in 2025, has successfully applied to the International Rugby League to be available for England.
Head coach McDermott has already got a big call to make in the halves, with captain George Williams vying for a place alongside in-form halves Jake Connor and Harry Smith.
Connor hasn’t played for England since 2018 and was controversially left out of last autumn’s Ashes squad by McDermott’s predecessor Shaun Wane despite winning the Man of Steel award.
But the Leeds Rhinos man is one of the favourites for that prize again, and McDermott has already stated he is under strong consideration for the World Cup.
Smith started at scrum-half in two of the three matches against Australia and has been in top form for Wigan Warriors.
Mikey Lewis was dropped to the bench after starting the first game at Wembley, and has struggled to match the performances of previous years with Hull KR this season.
That trio are all in McDermott’s performance squad ahead of the World Cup in Australia, which begins for England with a key clash against Tonga on Saturday, October 17 in Perth.
But Humphreys has also stated his case, saying: “If I was lucky enough to get picked, I’d be super-excited to get to represent where I lived for such a long time, especially coming from London.
“If I get to represent all those kids who love league but are living in London, it will show them there’s a pathway to make it in this sport.”
McDermott has declared his willingness to pick players who only qualify for the nation through heritage as he bids to build the strongest possible side for the World Cup.
As well as existing internationals in Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley and Gold Coast Titans livewire AJ Brimson, McDermott has five other fresh players born in the southern hemisphere in his performance squad.
Canberra Raiders hooker Jayden Brailey, Sydney Roosters centre Billy Smith, Brisbane Broncos prop Ben Talty, and Caleb Hamlin-Uele, the front-rower who currently plays in England for Wakefield Trinity, were all selected in June.
Hugo Savala, a versatile Roosters back, was then added to the group last month.