ALEX Johnston, David Mead and Rhyse Martin are among the likely players to be based in Warrington with the Papua New Guinea squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

They were among the stars of a Kumuls side to pull off a shock 28-10 victory over Great Britain in Port Moresby last November and should be in contention for more caps next year when PNG meet Tonga, Wales and Cook Islands in Group D.

Expect Michael Marum’s squad to be a strong mix of talent from the top-flight clubs and lower divisions in Australia and England, the domestic league in Papua New Guinea and France – a good number having been born in Papua New Guinea, but others representing the country through family heritage.

READ MORE > Why Warrington is a great fit for PNG

READ MORE > PNG to be based in Warrington for 2021 World Cup

Full-back or winger Johnston has made over 120 appearances for South Sydney Rabbitohs since his debut 2014 season, when he won the NRL Grand Final alongside current Wire back-rower Jason Clark and 2021 signing Greg Inglis.

The 6ft 1in 15st noted try scorer has also represented Australia once, in 2015, but gained his first two caps with the Kumuls last year through having a Papua New Guinean grandmother.

He was an elite age-group cricketer who played for Australian Schoolboys rugby league team and had to choose between the two sports to pursue as a career.

Back-rower Martin is the current captain of the Kumuls and their goal-kicker too.

Martin, whose father was born in Papua New Guinea, is already well known on these shores with this being his second season on the books at Leeds Rhinos.

He is something of a late developer, playing at mostly NRL feeder clubs until his first-grade chance came with Canterbury Bulldogs two years ago at the age of 25.

Exciting centre, winger or full-back Mead, meanwhile, has featured against Warrington for his current club Catalans Dragons as well as Brisbane Broncos in the 2017 World Club Series clash at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The Port Moresby-born former Gold Coast Titans flyer already has 14 caps to his name and, with turning 33 during next year’s tournament, it would surely be his World Cup swansong.

Latest Papua New Guinea squad (2019): Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Edene Gebbie (South Sydney Rabbitohs), David Mead (Catalans Dragons), Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Stargroth Amean (Barrow Raiders), Kyle Laybutt (Townsville Blackhawks), Watson Boas (Doncaster),Wellington Albert (Leeds Rhinos - on loan to Featherstone), Wartovo Puara (Barrow Raiders), Luke Page (Burleigh Bears), Nixon Put (Norths Devils), Daniel Russell (North Queensland Cowboys), Rhyse Martin (Leeds Rhinos), Edwin Ipape (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles), Garry Lo (AS Carcassonne), Stanton Albert (PNG Hunters), Moses Meninga (Townsville Blackhawks), Enoch Maki (PNG Hunters), Terry Wapi (PNG Hunters).