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Entering their first World Cup, things are looking rosy for Greek rugby league. First up, they recently were victorious in a decade-long fight to have the game legalised in Greece, where the domestic competition had been playing without access to funding and without government recognition.
On the back of that huge boost to the sport, they are also facing up to their first tournament, having qualified in late 2019 with a win over Serbia. They face a group with England, Samoa and France, so it’s going to be a tough ask – but they’ll certainly not lack for passion and commitment. Their team will be much improved on the 17 that won them qualification, but there will be names that remain alongside the more recognised figures.
In fact, they’ll have a unique situation at the World Cup: they will feature players from the top three grades in England and Australia, as well as the French competition – not to mention their own comp. The Titans have committed to at least 8 domestic players for the tournament and will feature several, not least Stefanos Bastas, a living legend of the game in Greece who was the first player to go from the domestic comp to the pro ranks.
Greece were the first team to announce their full squad, so we have replaced our predicted team with a confirmed one.
Greece have a few star names, a few fringe names and then a big drop off. Of the NRL talent, they get Lachlan Ilias and Peter Mamouzelos of Souths and Billy Magoulias, now at Newtown Jets after stints with Cronulla and Warrington.
Robert Tuliatu is running around for London Broncos and has made eight appearances in the past, so will likely play again, as will his teammate Adam Vrahnos.
Sam Louizou and Johnny Mitsias are NSW Cup players at the Eels and Magpies respectively, while Nick Mougios plays Flegg at Souths and Jake Kambos is at the Magpies in third grade.
Alongside Bastos, Dimosthenis Kartsonakis has played pro in the UK and should be picked.
Billy Tsikrikas from the Bulldogs would have walked it had he not done a knee, but his brother, George Tsikrikas might feature. Chaise Robinson is in the Souths system and if fit, will play.
Perhaps even more unlikely than Greek domestic players featuring in the World Cup is that they might well have a Victorian: Terry Constantinou, born in Gordon, was selected in 2019. From further north, Nic Flocas of the Ipswich Jets will likely be on the plane.
This is more a question of who makes themselves eligible. Nathan Peats, now playing Super League with Toulouse, could certainly feature, as could Jordan Meads, once of Gateshead in the UK but now playing rugby union on the Sunshine Coast.
Jake Vrahnos, Adam’s brother, is captain-coach at Sydney Uni RLFC and is a chance. The rest are Greek domestic players and, as good as our research team at The Roar is, it doesn’t go down that far.
1 Chaise Robinson 2 Sebastian Sell 3 Nick Mougios 4 Kosta Katsidonis 5 Johnny Mitsias 6 Jordan Meads 7 Lachlan Ilias 8 Robert Tuilatu 9 Peter Mamouzelos 10 Stefanos Bastas 11 Terry Constantinou 12 Adam Vrhanos 13 Billy Magoulias 14 Nioloas Bosmos 15 Jake Kambos 16 Nic Flocas 17 Greg Koutsimporgiorgos 18 Jake Vrhanos 19 Theodoros Nianiakas 20 Aris Dardamanis 21 Liam Sue-Tin 22 Ioannis Rousoglou 23 Ioannis Nake 24 Myles Gal
World Cup Chasers is our new Rugby League World Cup podcast and will be released weekly all the way through to the final at Old Trafford in November.
It features exclusive interviews, plus expert analysis from The Roar rugby league writers Mike Meehall Wood and Mary Konstantopolous, as well as Michael Carbone from Chasing Kangaroos, the original international rugby league podcast.