How England's Max King turned Rugby League World Cup dream into reality: 'I had it written on a sticky note on my wall'

12.10.2026, 15:36 skysports.com

England have turned to a number of heritage players for this Rugby League World Cup, but for Max King, it is a dream that he has been manifesting for a long time.

King was born in Huddersfield and moved over to Australia at seven years of age, meaning his early memories of rugby league were his grandfather's affiliation with Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield's love for the sport.

The Canterbury Bulldogs prop has had World Cup ambitions for a long time and had a sticky note on his wall to try and make the England side for the World Cup four years ago in 2022.

While that dream did not occur at that particular moment, a phone call from new England head coach Brian McDermott reignited the ambition for King that sees him in the squad for this year's World Cup at which he will represent his own and his mother's English heritage.

From that phone call, the dream that once was physically represented as a sticky note on his bedroom wall was now alive and about to become a reality, if selected for England in their opening match against Tonga on Saturday October 17.

"I was born and raised in Huddersfield. I can still remember being a seven-year-old but I have been back and forth a number of times with my mum's side of the family," King said.

"So I've been a couple of times you know as a teenager, as a sort of young adult.

"I grew up around league, I know obviously it's football mad you know, but I grew up as a league family and yeah I remember going to the Leeds Rhinos games. My grandfather was a Leeds Rhinos tragic.

"It is a special moment for my family being able to represent myself and my heritage.

"My dad was just as ecstatic as everyone else and my mum was quite emotional. My parents have always been supportive and they'd be supportive for me if I was playing for a local third grade side.

"I was sharing a story with a couple of boys last night. I like to write goals on the wall and sort of sticky note them and my wife reminds me when we first started dating. She came over to my house and I had this big sticky note that was across from my bed.

"I would see it every day and the was a goal to make the World Cup for the England side in 2022.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and I kind of thought from there that it just wasn't going to happen you know and I think sometimes you know being on the Australian side it can sometimes be harder just because your loyalty and dedication towards England probably gets questioned.

"It wasn't until Brian McDermott gave me a call this year and asked me how I felt about the opportunity to play and I was buzzing.

"I was just trying to make sure I was doing whatever it took to to be here towards the end of the year and have this opportunity alongside some of the boys.

"Spending time with Brian, the limited time that I have, he is definitely an emotional speaker and he can definitely get the hairs on the back of the neck to stand up at times.

"Obviously, that dream that I had reignited and it didn't take much."

King knows some of the England group but with the majority of them playing in Super League, they are names he has heard and faces he recognises rather than people he knows.

However, King thinks the "English culture" has meant he has been embraced immediately, something he knew would happen thanks to anecdotes from his dad.

King's dad, David, played for Huddersfield Giants and let his son know, once in the English environment, he will come away with friends for life.

"It's definitely a new group and that can be daunting. Sometimes that stuff takes a couple weeks to gel and feel at home but I feel like the boys have really welcomed me with open arms," he added.

"I think that's an English culture to be honest. I remember asking my dad a couple months ago.

"He played a bit in NRL, but he played most of his career in the Super League and I said what was the difference and the biggest thing he said was just the English culture the mateship for having your back.

"He said that he has mates from footy in Australia but the blokes he played with in England they were mates for the rest of his life.

"He still speaks to them to this day and that really inspired me.

"I can't fault the boys. They are so easy and great to get along with.

"We have had some bonding sessions, but the boys are full of laughs and great to be around so I feel right at home."