WHEN the anthems play for the opening matches in the World Cup, everyone will have a story about how they got there.

Few will be as compelling as that of 26-year-old Papua New Guinea centre Alex Max, though.

If the hard-hitting and even-harder-running three-quarter is standing there at Santos National Football Stadium on October 17, he’ll be making a Test debut that should have come at least two years earlier.

“It was the year before (last),” the otherwise smiley and upbeat Max tells us at London Broncos’ Hazelwood training base in south-east London.

“I played for the PM’s XIII. “On Monday we were to travel out to Fiji and on Sunday I broke my wrist and I couldn’t make the team so - very sad.”

“Very sad” may sound like a self-mocking phrase if muttered by a hardened NRL or Super League pro but you can tell by looking at Chimbu Province-born Max that his sadness is real.

But in any case ... worse was to come.

Playing under PNG Test coach Jason Demetriou for London Broncos in the Challenge Cup against Bradford on February 8, Max reeled out of a collision and very quickly felt every one of those 14,500 km he was from home. He started coughing up blood and was rushed to hospital in a semi-conscious state.

“That was scary,” he says now. “My family was scared, even my coach here, my brothers here. Myself, I was really scared too.

“Some people (who helped me), I couldn’t even remember them when I was first injured. They brought me in and they took me to the hospital. Then I remember them. In the morning I woke up and I felt normal but still there was some bleeding inside my chest.”

As Demetriou said, just the mental scars of such an injury can be difficult to overcome for a young man. Having scored eight tries in his first four appearances for his new club. Max was on the sidelines for two months in a strange city on the other side of the world.

His comeback occurred in May and by the end of the month Max was sideline again, with a PCL injury from which he is currently recovering. But after coughing up blood and passing out, a knee injury is OK.

“I’m looking forward to being positive and staying away from negativity,” he says with a smile, looking ahead to an August return and a chance to push for World Cup inclusion.

“I’m getting myself fit, getting my rehab, always keep on smiling and have a positive mindset.”

Photo: PNG star Alex Max in action for the London Broncos. @SWPix

Anyway, that’s left plenty of time to be a tourist and as they say: if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.

“It’s good,” he nods. “Everybody loves London, they want to explore and see more of London, the big city, the big historical buildings and places here.

“I love London. On my off days I do go out and look at new places and, yeah, I love exploring.

“All the (PNG) boys are living together. It’s a really big house with six bedrooms.”

Surprises about living in such a foreign environment? “I guess it’s the weather," he said. "We have four seasons, unlike back down in PNG where we have wet and dry. I love to experience this.”

Broncos lock Connor O’Beirne says: “The PNG boys? They’re incredible people. They’re so nice. To be honest they’re a bit cheeky.

“They’re quite funny around the group and obviously they’re great players as well. To see them come here out of their comfort zone and really become part of a team … yeah, I love those boys.”

Former Australia and Fiji international Reagan Campbell-Gillard says seeing Max and his fellow Papuans experience life in the UK and develop as a footballers has been a privilege.

“They don’t train as well but come game day they flick a switch and you can obviously witness it,” the Broncos captain says.

“During the week they’re not that crash hot. That’s just the way they prepare themselves. Come game day, they’re 100 miles an hour.

“They’re over here experiencing a different world and sightseeing and putting up things on Instagram that are bit strange!

“.. yeah, they’re getting there and once the PNG Chiefs team is up and running I’m sure they’ll be pretty proud to go back there and try and play for that.”

Gairo Voro, Finley Glare, Morea Morea, Robert Mathias and Max are reportedly under serious consideration for Chiefs contracts and much depends on what division the Broncos are in next year.

But Demetriou has shown faith in Max through more bad luck than most footballers have in a career and out of loyalty, the centre shies away from talk of leaving London Town.

Yes, he says, his family back home “worry about me, during my injury and stuff like this.

“Jerome (Luai) was the first signing - everyone was very happy. All the boys are excited about the Chiefs, we’re looking forward to it.”

But ask him his ambition now and it’s not Chiefs contracts or that elusive Test jersey.

It’s “to bring the team to the final and win the Cup.”

Alex Max has learned not to look too far ahead.

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.