World Cup breakout stars, players set for breakout campaigns, Tupou Francis, Alex Conti, Bulldogs, squads, news, videos

While the World Cup pits rugby league’s best Test teams against each other — it also serves another purpose.

This year’s tournament is set to give a host of rising stars a chance to put their name up in lights, especially with the likes of the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs on the lookout for the next big thing in rugby league.

Here, foxsports.com.au takes a look at the players who could emerge as future stars in the 2026 World Cup!

JUNIOR NSEMBA (ENGLAND)

Anyone who watches the Super League knows how good Junior Nsemba is, and could be. But the 22-year-old back rower is somewhat of an unknown commodity in Australia, having been earmarked for big things from a young age. Playing on an edge for Wigan Warriors, Nsemba has been hard to handle, scoring four tries across his 24 Super League games this season. He has previously made his Test debut, featuring once in England’s 2024 series against Samoa and he also scored in the Warriors’ 2026 Challenge Cup Final victory over Hull KR earlier this year. After enjoying a breakout campaign in England in 2023, Wigan bosses handed him a mammoth six-year contract after their rising star was named in the 2024 Dream Team. Nsemba is currently signed on until at least the end of 2030 but made a curious admission when his fresh contract was signed. “At the end of the contract I’ll only be 25 or 26 so I could have a decision to make,” he said, hinting a move to the NRL could be on the cards. NRL clubs will undoubtedly be eagerly watching Nsemba as he attempts to lock down a spot in the backrow for his country.

LOUIS GROSSEMY (FRANCE)

Louis Grossemy made a big decision earlier this year, departing the Bulldogs to join Tolouse Olympique in the Super League until the end of the 2027 season. His side finished eighth, with the 23-year-old playing seven NSW Cup games in the back row for Canterbury before departing. Through his French father, Grossemy made his France debut last year and he now looks likely to feature in the second row during the 2026 World Cup. He has previously been apart of both the Rabbitohs and Roosters junior systems. While Grossemy started his time at Tolouse on the bench, he ended the season as a starter and his athleticism was on full display during his short stint. With only a little more than a year remaining on his contract, Grossemy will undoubtedly be looking to lock down his future and a strong World Cup campaign could put him in the shop front for an NRL return, potentially on a development deal for a club hopeful of bolstering their edge forward stocks.

ALEX CONTI (LEBANON)

There’s huge wraps on Alex Conti from those within the Bulldogs, and also from experts within the game. The 20-year-old enjoyed a hugely impressive NSW Cup campaign this season, playing 17 games and scoring 10 tries. Conti is on Canterbury’s development list in 2027 and he was named by Phil Gould as a player that could make his NRL debut next season. While Stephen Crichton slotted into five-eighth to close out the year, Cameron Ciraldo could look for a more traditional halves pairing at some point in 2027, with Conti and Mitchell Woods well and truly in the running to partner Lachlan Galvin. With Woods sitting out for much of the season due to lingering injury issues, Conti was the man to make his mark. He will also get a huge chance to put his best foot forward during the World Cup, with the rising star set to be handed Lebanon’s No.7 jersey in the absence of Mitchell Moses — and Bulldogs fans should watch on eagerly to see a player who looks to be a part of the club’s long-term plans.

MICHAEL GABRAEL (LEBANON)

Gabrael has already made his NRL debut, being handed a first grade appearance in the Sharks’ Round 27 loss to the Storm. The 21-year-old will take the field for Lebanon with big wraps in club land, having joined Cronulla in 2023 before winning the under 19s Origin series with the Blues a year later. Across his NSW Cup career, the speedy centre has scored 27 tries in 33 games and is earmarked to play a much larger role under Craig Fitzgibbon next season. Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa have departed for the Cowboys, while Siosifa Talakai and Mawene Hiroti have joined the Bears, leaving a gaping hole in the Sharks’ outside back stocks. Gabrael essentially has an audition to become a regular first grader when his nation face PNG, Tonga and France in their bid to get out of the WC group stage. Notably, Cronulla officials quickly locked their rising star’s services in before November 1, handing him a fresh contract until the end of the 2029 season.

GAIRO VORO (PNG)

Gairo Voro is one of Papua New Guinea’s best emerging talents and the 23-year-old has already had the chance to showcase his skills at the top level. He was snapped up by the London Broncos in the Super League Championship, taking his explosive style of playmaking abroad where he broke a club record by scoring seven tries against Hunslet. Voro also won Championship player of the year and he’s set to start in the halves for PNG. He possesses a similar game in the No.6 to that of Jarome Luai and the pair will become teammates during PNG’s debut NRL season in 2028, with Voro having signed a development deal to join Willie Peters’ squad. Peters will be watching closely during PNG’s World Cup campaign and will be hopeful Voro, among others, can continue to improve before their NRL entry.

TUPOU FRANCIS (LEBANON)

Tupou Francis shapes as one of the most interesting players to take the field in this World Cup. He was eligible to play for a staggering six of the 10 nations playing in this tournament, including Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji, France and Australia alongside his current team. Francis told NRL.com that head coach Michael Cheika reached out to him earlier this year as a player he had an eye on before earning selection when his squad was unveiled. The rising star is related to the Hopoate family and played 11 Queensland Cup games this year, having also featured for Queensland’s Under 19s Origin side earlier this year, scoring in his team’s 28-14 win. Francis has also reportedly been earmarked to make his NRL debut with the Broncos next season, potentially filling the vacant front row slot left by the departure of Payne Haas and he has a chance to put his name up in lights for Lebanon.