Jack de Belin to debut for Kumuls

Parramatta Eels forward, Jack de Belin, is set to make his first World Cup appearance for the PNG Kumuls after a four-year wait.  

Jack made his international debut for PNG during the Pacific Championships in 2023 after the 2022 World Cup, which was held in Port Moresby. He has been the national team’s mainstay since.  

With 8 Test matches under his belt, including two Prime Minister’s XIII fixtures, the lock-forward is eyeing his first World Cup campaign for the Kumuls.

“This is my fourth year now. I joined the Kumuls after the 2022 World Cup. So far, it’s been awesome, and I’ve loved it,” de Belin said. 

“I love the footy team, the culture over here, the country, and everything about it. I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and I love playing footy over here.

"It's pretty special to represent my nan and family to play for the PNG Kumuls in the 2026 World Cup.” 

With 251 NRL games across two clubs, including the St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels, the veteran campaigner was given the co-captaincy role alongside Rhyse Martin.

“I played a lot of NRL games and had experience in what it takes to win games, so it’s all about being positive and keeping the young boys active and ready to go,” he said.

He lauded co-captain Rhyse Martin’s leadership: “He has been a great ambassador for the game not only in PNG but also in Australia and England. He’s a good man, and he deserves all the accolades he gets.”

The 35-year-old mentioned that though the humid conditions and home-ground advantage would help their cause, they would not underestimate the unpredictable Lebanon Cedars.

“I played alongside a few of those boys, and they are really good players. I know they are very passionate about representing their country. Lebanon means a lot to them, so we can not take them lightly," de Belin said. 

“They will come very hard, competitive, and fiercely. We have a tough game on our hands, but I know this is their first time playing in PNG - this heat, humidity, and the wind - I don’t know if they are going to be ready for the conditions. 

“Every game of rugby league is hard. It doesn’t matter who you come up against, but I believe we can win every single game. That’s the attitude we must have going into the games. 

“You can’t go to the field, thinking that you are going to lose. We must go there with a positive mindset, and hopefully, we can win three games and head straight to the finals.”  

While de Belin has yet to visit his grandmother’s home province in Rabaul, East New Britain, the newly appointed Kumuls’ co-skipper has plans to trace his roots after retiring from the game.

“Once my football career is done, I definitely want to go over there (ENB) for a holiday and check it out,” he revealed. 

“The area where my nan was born and raised would be pretty special, and I'd also like to do the Kokoda Track as well.”

Qualifying for PNG through his grandmother, who was born and raised in Rabaul, de Belin said wearing the famous Kumuls' jersey on the world stage carries immense emotional weight.

PNG has been grouped in Pool C alongside Tonga and France, with their inter-pool schedules against Lebanon, Samoa, and Tonga. The ten-team world event will be competitive, with de Belin putting his hand up to lead the PNG Kumuls.