Harry Robertson is aiming to secure a place in England’s squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup after being named in the extended performance pool for the second consecutive year. The 20-year-old outside back, who plays for St Helens, made his Super League debut in July 2024 against Wigan Warriors and has since rapidly established himself as a promising talent.
In 2025, Robertson was awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year after scoring 15 tries in 25 appearances. His strong performances earned him a spot in the England performance squad under former head coach Shaun Wane ahead of last year’s Ashes series, although he did not make the final cut for that tournament. This year, he has been included again in the wider squad selected by Brian McDermott, who took over as England coach in April on a short-term contract through the World Cup.
England’s final squad of 23 players will be announced ahead of the tournament, which is set to be held across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea from mid-October. England will open their campaign against Tonga on October 17 in Perth, followed by group stage matches against France on October 24 and Papua New Guinea on October 30.
Robertson described being included in the performance squad as a pleasant surprise and expressed pride in his progress. “I never knew it was coming – I opened my phone and someone sent it to me on Instagram. I was very proud in that moment. It means that I must be doing something right,” he said. However, he acknowledged that final selection will depend on consistent performances: “It’s a nice thing to get picked in, but anything can still happen. It’s the performances you put in that’ll get you in the final squad.”
Brian McDermott, a four-time Grand Final winner and current assistant coach with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL, has indicated his intention to extend his role through to the 2030 World Cup. His coaching team includes former Wigan Warriors and St Helens players Sean O’Loughlin and Paul Wellens.
Robertson has been engaging with the coaching staff to better understand McDermott’s vision for the team. “We’ve been having lots of meetings and I spoke to Brian a few times about how he wants us to play,” he said. “It doesn’t take much to fire you up when you’re talking about England in the World Cup. The coaches know what to say and how to get that extra one per cent out of you.”
Despite St Helens missing the Super League play-offs for the first time in their history during the recent season, Robertson stood out as a key player. Having represented England at academy level, he is eager to make the step up to the senior national team and views selection for the World Cup as a significant personal goal. “It’s a massive goal of mine. I’d love to get picked,” he added.