The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be here before we know it. For the players, they’re already in camp and preparing for the first week of pool play kicking off on Thursday night when the Kangaroos play the Kiwis.

Every nation has announced their team lists for the tournament and there are massive names scattered throughout. But here, we’re looking into some of the more unknown players lacing them up.

K-Ci Newton-Whare - Storm: Ignore the North Sydney Bears logo on his NSW Rugby League player profile, K-Ci Newton-Whare is part of the Melbourne Storm system and 23 games into his reserve grade career at the club.

The big forward played out a full season in an often-beaten Storm side. It’s hard to get a great idea of how well a middle is developing when they’re only winning six games in a season. Still, when his motor looked to be a possible issue early in the season, he finished off by starting eight of his last nine games - five with over 50 minutes on the field. I’m curious to see how he looks with some experienced forwards around him throughout the tournament.

Delahia Wigmore - Panthers: Delahia Wigmore might not be many will be familiar with, but he will be after the first time he flies out of the line to put a big shot on.

Halves, be warned. If you’re skipping across the field and trying to get into the three-man outside him, Wigmore is coming for you.

Maui Winitana-Patelesio - Warriors: He’s only just made his NSW Cup debut playing six games to finish the season with the Warriors. However, in that time, he’s played halfback, five-eighth, hooker and lock. What Maui Winitana-Patelesio lacks in experience, he brings in versatility and his ability to impact a game in a variety of ways. He will look small if he’s sent out in the middle, but he puts his shoulder into everything and consistently plays above his weight.

Caleb Navale - Sea Eagles: He set himself the goal of being fit for the Rugby League World Cup after rupturing his ACL during the preseason, and following an incredible six-month recovery, Caleb Navale managed to sneak in three NRL appearances before putting the Fiji Bati jersey on.

Navale will be a key piece to the Fiji middle. He’s an excellent ball-carrier who is quick on his feet, often poking his nose through the line to generate a quick play-the-ball. His ball-playing is what will be most important, though. If he can strike up a partnership with Api Koroisau and Brandon Wakeham, Fiji will have plenty of points in them.

Jordan Miller - Eels: You might recognise him as a massive unit who played two first grade games for the Wests Tigers in 2024, but since being sacked by the club, the 192cm and 131kg man-mountain has been floating between the Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg and New South Wales Cup sides.

He featured only twice in reserve grade for just 33 minutes in total, so his motor and mobility are likely still a work-on for the 21-year-old. Still, as plenty of Jersey Flegg defensive lines will tell you, he’s hard to handle close to the line.

Louis Grossemy - Toulouse: I was surprised to see Louis Grossemy made the move to the Super League halfway through the season. Perhaps he didn’t see a path to first grade at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with what they have in the backrow at the moment, but he profiled as a very Cameron Ciraldo-like player. Respectfully, Grossemy is a meat and potatoes back rower. He works hard, runs a good line, and always looked reliable in the games I saw him play.

Yehya Ayache - Rabbitohs: Following 11 starts for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NSW Cup this season, I’m eager to see Yehya Ayache out there for Lebanon.

He’s big for a dummy half. He runs the ball well and has the size to sure-up the middle defence. At a position where the Rabbitohs are lacking reliable depth, he can set himself up for a big 2027 season with a strong performance in the World Cup.

Alex Conti - Bulldogs: The Bulldogs faithful will need no introduction. Alex Conti is the youngster who came into reserve grade for the injured Mitchell Woods and didn’t look out of place at all, playing 17 games and earning a spot on the first grade bench at times.

Conti produced 16 try assists and 18 linebreak assists to display all of the ball-playing you want to see out of a young halfback. But the 20-year-old is a run-threat first and foremost. He scored 10 himself and averaged 87 running metres per game as a halfback.

He has a great right-foot step as part of his running game. If he’s playing on the right side, he will create something on the back of a show-and-go. Regardless, his ability to play short and long if the defence focuses on the run ensures all options are on the table attacking the line.

Edwin Ipape - Leigh Leopards: Long time RLW readers are well-aware of Edwin Ipape. Like me, many are waiting for the announcement of his signing with the PNG Chiefs for the 2028 NRL season.

You have to hold your breath when he has the ball in space as anything is possible anywhere on the field. In defence, he takes the breath out of the ball-carrier with his brutal shots. Ipape embodies everything that is the Kumuls style of play and if it’s coming off for him on the day, they can trouble any team in this tournament.

Morea Morea - London Broncos: Like Ipape, Morea Morea has to be on the PNG Chiefs radar.

He did enough playing in the Queensland Cup for Gus Gould to make the trip to have a look at him in 2024. Since picked up by the London Broncos, he can provide the Kumuls with the speed and ball-playing out wide to make the most of the momentum their strong pack is likely to produce.