The Australian players and official members of Greece’s Rugby League World Cup Squad departed Sydney for Athens on Monday. They will then jet off to England, where they will take on France later this month.
Speaking with The Greek Herald prior to their departure, the squad’s head coach, Steve Georgallis, said he was feeling relieved and thrilled to see the team make their tournament debut as they head to the rescheduled 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.
“Last year we thought we were going and then Covid hit so I can’t believe the day has come where we’re actually leaving to go overseas,” he said.
“We’re really excited and we can’t wait to play.”
This will be Greece’s first-ever World Cup after they qualified in November 2019 when they beat Serbia 82-6.
“I’m so proud of the team and proud that Greece is playing in a World Cup for rugby league,” team manager, Terry Liberopoulos, told The Greek Herald.
“Out of our 24-man squad, we’ve got 16 heritage players who are mostly Australian and eight players from Greece who we’re so proud to have.”
Pointing to the eight domestic players, Liberopoulos said: “These guys are one day running around playing for their local teams and the next they’re taking on England. That is a massive, massive achievement.”
Greece’s World Cup Squad, announced last month, will be captained by Australian-born, Jordan Meads, who will be joined by four players holding NRL experience, namely: South Sydney Rabbitohs half-back Lachlan Ilias, hooker Peter Mamouzelos, Canterbury Bulldogs prop Billy Tsikrikas and former Cronulla Sharks forward Billy Magoulias.
Ilias and Mamouzelos will play alongside fellow reserve grade Rabbits players, Chaise Robinson and Nick Mougios.
A couple of Greek freaks ready to rip in at #RLWC2021 ❤️💚💙🤍 Congrats on the selection lads 💪 pic.twitter.com/wd51l0cKZg
— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) September 30, 2022
The squad also includes: Terry Constantinou (Sunbury Tigers), Nick Flocas (Ipswich Jets), John Mitsias (Wests Magpies), Mitchell Zampetides (Wests Magpies), Jake Kambos (Wests Magpies), Sebastian Sell (Mittagong Lions), Robert Tuliatu (London Broncos), Liam Sue-Tin, Myles Gal, Theodoros Nianiakas (Woolston Rovers), Aris Dardamanis (Aris Eagles), Greg Koutsimporgiorgos (Aris Eagles), Ioannis Rousoglou (Aris Eagles), Nikolaos Bosmos (Rhodes Knights), Kosta Katsidonis (Rhodes Knights), Stefanos Bastas (Coventry Bears) and Ioannis Nake (Attica Rhinos).
Rising Rabbitohs half-back, Lachlan Ilias, discussed his involvement with the team with The Greek Herald and explained how his first time pulling on the blue and white jersey will be a fitting tribute to his pappou who recently passed away.
“My yiayia and pappou were both born in Greece, and I actually lost my grandfather a couple of months ago. So that really motivated me to play for Greece,” the 22-year-old said.
The Greek team is set to face off against France on Tuesday, October 18 before taking on rugby league powerhouses Samoa (October 24) and host-country England (October 30).
“They’re calling it the group of death,” head-coach Georgallis laughed.
“We’re looking to give it our best. It’s a tough group but we’ve got the fighting spirit and when push comes to shove, we’ll fight with everything.”
“It’s the hardest group,” Liberopoulos added. “But just to be there, we’ve already won.”
As to which game he is most excited about, the team manager said England.
“That’s going to be 30,000 people at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. Just to see our boys walking out there, singing the national anthem, that’s alone is a huge victory for us and Greece,” Liberopoulos concluded.
