Manly Sea Eagles centre Josh Feledy is set to make his Rugby League World Cup debut just weeks after his first-ever visit to Papua New Guinea.
Feledy is yet to take the field at the tournament but has been named in the starting side for Friday night’s clash with England at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
Josh will have plenty of family and friends in the crowd, while one of his biggest fans, his 91-year-old grandfather Bob, will be watching from home or his local pub.
Bob, who now lives in Mosman, was born on Samurai Island, off the eastern tip of mainland Papua New Guinea.
He’s stoked that I’m playing, and it really means a lot to me and the family that I can represent our heritage.
Josh Feledy
“Grandad will be watching for sure. He’ll have his Kumuls jersey on, and he’ll probably be sitting in his very own chair at his local pub.”
Feledy’s mother, Jackie, was also born in PNG, in Goroka in the Eastern Highlands.
Until recently, however, Josh had never visited his family’s ancestral homeland. That opportunity came just weeks ago, with his selection to represent PNG at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
“It was amazing for me to see it firsthand. It was just such an eye-opening experience,” Feledy said.
“To see what our game means to the people of PNG, to see the joy it brings, the passion, it is so fulfilling.”
I’m thrilled to be making my international debut. It will be a very proud moment.
Josh Feledy
The Kumuls head into Friday night’s clash after a heavy defeat to Samoa in Port Moresby, which followed an opening-round victory over Lebanon.
There are several other Sea Eagles to watch this weekend as the race for the semi-finals heats up.
On Saturday, Fiji must overcome New Zealand to secure a place in the last four. Brandon Wakeham has done a terrific job in the No.7 jersey for the Bati, while Manly teammate Caleb Navale has been one of Fiji’s standout forwards through the opening two rounds.
Tom Trbojevic will again line up on the wing for Australia after scoring a hat-trick against Fiji last Sunday, adding to his long-range intercept try against New Zealand in the opening round.
The Kangaroos have already secured their place in the semi-finals and will face the Cook Islands in Townsville on Saturday night.
Attention then turns to CommBank Stadium on Sunday for a World Cup triple-header, which opens with the Jillaroos taking on Wales.
Jason Saab will again line up on the wing for Lebanon as the Cedars and France look to secure their first win of the tournament.
The final match of the triple-header sees two unbeaten Pacific Island heavyweights, Tonga and Samoa, go head-to-head.
Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Lehi Hopoate have been among Tonga’s standout performers in victories over England and Lebanon, while Taniela Paseka made a strong contribution off the bench against the Cedars last weekend.
Samoa head into this match after emphatic victories over France and PNG. Manly utility back Clayton Faulalo has not as yet been used off the bench this tournament and is again named on the extended interchange.
Toa Samoa will be looking to repeat last year’s result against Tonga, when they inflicted a 34-6 defeat on their Pacific rivals in the 2025 Pac Champs in Brisbane.
A win on Sunday would secure Tonga a place in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2017.
