Farah, Moses make Lebanon Squad...

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LEBANON have named a host of NRL players in a 48-man train-on squad ahead of two 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers against South Africa.

Those named include Penrith’s Josh Mansour, Wests Tigers’ Robbie Farah and Mitchell Moses, Canterbury’s Michael Lichaa and Parramatta’s Tim Mannah and Reece Robinson.

Lebanon face South Africa on October 25 and 31 at Bosman Stadium, Brakpan, just outside of Pretoria.

“The squad is coming together in what is shaping up to be a big challenge, playing the South Africans in their own backyard,” said LRLF director Michael Hedwan, who has been closely involved with the coaching staff assembling the squad.

“It has been 15 years since the Cedars last played in a World Cup and the mixture of youth, experience and the strengthening of the local competition indicates Lebanese rugby league has a bright future ahead.”

Coach Darren Maroon will trim the side down to 20 players ahead of the trip.

LEBANON 48-MAN TRAIN-ON SQUAD

Mark Daoud (Asquith Magpies), Danny Barakat, Jamie Clark, Richard Coorey, Abraham El Zakhem, Ead Kassem, Cliff Nye, Elias Sukkar (Auburn Warriors), Ali Allouche, Michael Lichaa, Anthony Semrany (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs),Casey Ellis, Chris Saab (Guildford Owls), James Boustani (Hills), Ghassan Dandash, Ray Sabat (Jounieh RLFC), Travis Robinson (Melbourne Storm), Ben Chahoud (Mount Pritchard), James Elias, Ryan Glanville, George Ndaira (Newcastle Knights), Daniel Abou Sleiman, Ahmed Ellaz, Tarek El Masri, Ray Moujalli (Newtown Jets), Wes Mourad (North Sydney Bears), Tim Mannah, Abbas Miskie, Reece Robinson, Alex Twal (Parramatta Eels), Liam Ayoub, Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers), Nick Kassis, Mitchell Mamary (Wentworthville Magpies), Robbie Farah, Mitchell Moses, Jaleel Seve-Derbas (West Tigers), Ali Abou Arabi, Michael Elias, Kevin Sassin (Tripoli City RLFC), Toufic El Hage, Mike Tawk, Wael Harb (Wolves FC), Adham El Zbaidieh, Adnan El Zbaidieh, Karios Filiga, Jamal Nchouki (Unattached), Jason Wehbe (rugby union)

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/lebanon-train-on-squad-world-cup-qualifier/
 
I think it's a wish list of anyone Lebanese, has a Lebanese relative, has been to Lebanon or purchased a kebab. I'm surprised Ben Elias isn't listed…
 
Is Karios Filiga the sam guy Cronulla paid stupid money to because they thought he was the new Sonny Bill?
 
1\. Daniel Abou Sleiman
2\. Travis Robinson
3\. Reece Robinson
4\. Karl Filiga
5\. Josh Mansour

6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Ray Moujalli

8\. Tim Mannah (Co-Captain)
9\. Robbie Farah (Co-Captain)
10\. Wes Mourad
11\. Abrahim Al Zakhem
12\. Anthony Semarani
13\. James Elias

14\. George Ndaira / Michael Liicha
15\. Ahmad Ellaz
16\. Adham El Zbaidieh
17\. Alex Twal
 
@Demps said:
1\. Daniel Abou Sleiman
2\. Travis Robinson
3\. Reece Robinson
4\. Karl Filiga
5\. Josh Mansour

6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Ray Moujalli

8\. Tim Mannah (Co-Captain)
9\. Robbie Farah (Co-Captain)
10\. Wes Mourad
11\. Abrahim Al Zakhem
12\. Anthony Semarani
13\. James Elias

14\. George Ndaira / Michael Liicha
15\. Ahmad Ellaz
16\. Adham El Zbaidieh
17\. Alex Twal
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I think Lichaa will play hooker with Farah at half
 
@tig_prmz said:
im sure you'd had have to declare availability to be selected in the first place.
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I doubt it. I've seen the same player picked in 3 different Pacific teams.
 
@Yossarian said:
Is Karios Filiga the sam guy Cronulla paid stupid money to because they thought he was the new Sonny Bill?
Click to expand...

I thought he was a Kiwi? Must have a distant rello.

My cousins are half Lebanese, do I get a call up?
 
Robbie is a sook, won't play half.
I thought Liicha was injured that is why I included Ndaira.

Obvs I could be way off, but it looked like a strong team to me.
 
Hopefully the big names play, would be nice to see Lebanon in a sporting tournament hosted in Australia

1\. Daniel Abou Sleiman
2\. Travis Robinson
3\. Reece Robinson
4\. Karl Filiga
5\. Josh Mansour

6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Robbie Farah ©

8\. Tim Mannah (c)
9\. Michael Lichaa
10\. Wes Mourad
11\. Abrahim Al Zakhem
12\. Anthony Semarani
13\. James Elias

14\. George Ndaira
15\. Ahmad Ellaz
16\. Richard Coorey
17\. Alex Twal

Half that line up has NRL experience, so beating South Africa with that team should be a given. Whether that is the line up that takes the field though is another thing entirely..
 
Let's be honest, this team should be called Lebanese Australians, I'd be surprised if any of them were even born in Lebanon.

Good team for a minnow, though.
 
@jirskyr said:
Let's be honest, this team should be called Lebanese Australians, I'd be surprised if any of them were even born in Lebanon.

Good team for a minnow, though.
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There are actually a few players from the Lebanese domestic competition in the squad that was named.

However you can make the same argument for all of the Pacific Islander teams. How many of them are born in the Islands, and how many domestic players do they have in their sides?

That's just the reality of international Rugby League.
 
@Abraham said:
@jirskyr said:
Let's be honest, this team should be called Lebanese Australians, I'd be surprised if any of them were even born in Lebanon.

Good team for a minnow, though.

There are actually a few players from the Lebanese domestic competition in the squad that was named.

However you can make the same argument for all of the Pacific Islander teams. How many of them are born in the Islands, and how many domestic players do they have in their sides?

That's just the reality of international Rugby League.
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Glad to hear that, I don't wish to speak from ignorance, though I recognised most of those names. Who are the domestics?

I do get what you are saying about the Pacific teams though. I did a quick check of the current Tonga squad - only 10% were born in Tonga, 49% were born in Australia and 41% in NZ.
 
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