Hamish Stewart emerges as a candidate for Australian World Cup selection

With the Rugby League World Cup set to begin in six weeks, Dragons second-rower Hamish Stewart has moved into contention for the Australian national side. Stewart played 23 matches for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2026, demonstrating consistent performance in the engine room. Coach Dean Young publicly advocated for the player's inclusion in the Kangaroos tour squad scheduled for the end of the year. The selection committee, led by Kevin Walters, is currently evaluating talent due to a series of injuries affecting players such as Hudson Young, Dylan Lucas, and Angus Crichton. Stewart offers versatility across the forward pack, having maintained a tackle efficiency rate near 95% throughout the season. International squads are expected to finalize their rosters in the coming weeks ahead of the October tournament.

• 9:20 PMZero Tackle NRL — TEN players who have played themselves into World Cup contention