'I'm English': Caleb Hamlin-Uele's World Cup dream and the family story behind it

Heritage can be a wonderful thing, connecting players to their ancestors and keeping family ties alive. It can also leave some supporters wondering whether a family tree is enough to justify an international jersey.

Caleb Hamlin-Uele has no such doubts.

Born in Auckland and raised in New Zealand, the Wakefield Trinity prop qualifies through his grandparents. More importantly, he considers himself English.

This is not a player who is happy to take any old route into the international game; Hamlin-Uele is fully invested in England's World Cup cause.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," said the 26-year-old, who was included in Brian McDermott's expanded squad in June.

"My brother (Braden) has played internationally for both New Zealand and Samoa so he's represented that side of our family. I'm really proud to have been born in New Zealand and be half Samoan as well but I just wanted to be able to put the other half of our family on the world stage.

"To see both my last names, but especially Hamlin, on the back of an England jersey would be unreal.

"I'm English. No matter what your opinion of me is, I have English blood in me. The outside noise can't change where my grandparents are from.

"It would mean the world to me to represent England. I'm English at the end of the day."

Hamlin-Uele's late grandparents moved to New Zealand from North Petherton in Somerset. It was a decision that would send the family on an entirely different course.

"I can't remember the year," added Hamlin-Uele. "But it was a long time ago.

"One of my granddad's best friends moved out to New Zealand and sent a letter back saying how much they were enjoying it. That's all my granddad needed to uproot his family and move to New Zealand on a boat.

"If you look at it as a sliding-doors moment, we wouldn't be around had he not made that decision. Everything happens for a reason.

"Hopefully they would have been beyond proud. My grandparents had a massive hand in raising me and my siblings. They were just happy for us to be happy. They would have been proud of us regardless of what we did in life.

"But it's really close to home because of how much they were in our lives growing up. I hope they'd be proud."

If Hamlin-Uele's standout form put him on McDermott's radar, Wakefield head coach Daryl Powell has given his England prospects a further push.

Powell has repeatedly talked up the front-rower's international credentials and even acted as the middleman when McDermott planned to reach out to his player.

But his influence on Hamlin-Uele goes far beyond putting in a good word for him.

"He's done a lot more than just cheerlead for me," said the forward.

"He's changed the way I view the game and play the game. He's done so much for me, not just as a player but as a man as well.

"I'm really grateful to Powelly and the rest of the coaching staff at Wakey."

Hamlin-Uele and Trinity have come a long way together. When he first arrived, Wakefield were preparing for life in the Championship. Now he stands on the brink of international recognition as they gear up for another Super League play-off campaign.

Trinity are well placed for a top-four finish heading into the final round, leaving a home tie tantalisingly within reach.

For Hamlin-Uele, there is a real sense that something special is building at Belle Vue.

"This season has been really enjoyable," he said.

"It's mad when you get to work and you're working with your best mates. It makes your job so much easier. I think that shows on the field with what we're willing to do in tough times.

"Only five Super League teams have won the competition. It'd be crazy to become the sixth. I reckon the city wouldn't sleep for a couple of weeks.

"That's definitely a dream as well – to bring the trophy back to Wakefield. We want to be a team that is competing at the top for years to come."

The next couple of months could be significant for Hamlin-Uele and Trinity alike.

Powell's men have the chance to make history by going where no Trinity side has gone before in Super League, while Hamlin-Uele has the opportunity to cement himself in McDermott's World Cup plans.

It is a prospect that would have seemed far-fetched to Hamlin-Uele while he was making the transition from the New South Wales Cup to the Championship.

"Oh man, it would mean everything," he said of representing England on the biggest stage.

"I can't put it into words. If you'd told me this a couple of years ago, I'd think you were having me on.

"If I got the chance to, it's literally what dreams are made of."

Premier Sports will broadcast every match from the 2026 Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Rugby League World Cups, which kick off on October 15