Knights players prepare for Samoa debuts in Rugby League World Cup
Zero Tackle NRL • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 9, 2026, 1:47 AM
Last updated Oct 9, 2026
Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua of the Newcastle Knights are set to debut for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup against France next week. The duo has had a breakout year, with both playing crucial roles as the Knights reached the NRL final series. McEwen is motivated by family connections, while Manuleleua, who made his first-grade debut earlier in the season, feels a strong cultural connection to Samoa. Their first international match will be against Tonga on November 1.
- •McEwen and Manuleleua are debuting for Samoa next week.
- •Both players had standout seasons in the NRL.
- •They became roommates and developed synergy at the Knights.
- •Samoa faces Tonga in a high-stakes match on November 1.
- 1:47 AMZero Tackle NRL — From sharing a house, to sharing a second-row: Knights duo to continune unbelievable rise for Samoa
"The inside story of how two rising Knights stars have turned a dream into a blue jersey.
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