Kumuls face significant loss as Alex Johnston set to miss World Cup
Zero Tackle NRL • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 29, 2026, 2:20 AM
Last updated Sep 29, 2026
Alex Johnston will undergo knee and finger surgery, forcing him to miss the upcoming Rugby League World Cup with the Papua New Guinea Kumuls. This development presents a challenge for coach Jason Demetriou in replacing Johnston, who has been a key player for the side. The Kumuls are scheduled to face Lebanon, Samoa, and England in their group stages this October. Potential replacements include Josh Feledy, Robert Derby, Dudley Dotoi, and Phillip Coates, who have all expressed interest in filling the gap left by Johnston's absence.
- •Johnston is the all-time top try scorer in the NRL.
- •He has opted for surgery to prepare for the 2027 NRL season.
- •The Kumuls will begin their World Cup campaign in October.
- •Feledy and Derby are among the players being considered to replace Johnston.
- •The Kumuls face tough competition in their group stages.
- 2:20 AMZero Tackle NRL — Which players will replace Alex Johnston in the Kumuls World Cup push?
"He is set to undergo surgery to be fit for the start for South Sydney’s NRL season next year.
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