NRL forward Max King has revealed how just one phone call with head coach Brian McDermott encouraged him to commit to play for England, with the Canterbury Bulldogs prop a real chance of making the World Cup squad.
King is one of 11 NRL players that have been selected to Brian McDermott’s 38-man performance squad and whilst debate has raged among some fans about the selection of heritage players, those born outside of England but with English heritage, King was actually born in Huddersfield.
The 29-year-old was born in England whilst his Australian father, David, was playing for Huddersfield Giants, with King’s mother also being English.
He’d live in England for the first seven years of his life before moving to Australia, something that has made him eligible for Australia and New South Wales, the latter of which he represented in all three State of Origin tests in 2025.
At the time, that appeared to end his hopes of playing for England but a change in eligibility rules means King can represent New South Wales and England, and he’s now committed to England on the back of one phone call with Brian McDermott.
“I spoke to coach Brian McDermott and he excited me about England,” King revealed when speaking to the official World Cup website, admitting: “I hung up the phone call and I was all in.”
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NRL prop keen to grasp ‘massive opportunity’ with England
That speaks to both the persuasion of Brian McDermott but also King’s desire to represent his birth nation and his heritage, with the prop forward a dual citizen of both the UK and Australia.
He explained: “I’ve always spoken about being English and an Aussie, being a dual citizen. Hanging up that conversation, it wasn’t [a tough decision] and it would be such a great opportunity for me and my family.”
Having been named to the 38-man performance squad, the pressure is on King, as it is the other players, to push home that claim to be part of the World Cup squad.
“It’s a massive opportunity to hopefully be there at the end of the year. It would be a massive achievement for myself and my family,” King said.
“Those things are bigger than a personal achievement, you’re representing your family as well.
“It would be awesome to be there at the end of the year but there’s a lot of hard work between now and then. I always say if your team’s performing well then you can get picked in those sides so that’s the priority, putting the best foot forward for the team.”
