Macedonia Rugby League: Shane Flanagan, Paul Gallen back project
Macedonia, supported by a star-studded coaching team, is the new kid on the block in international rugby league and has dreams of a World Cup berth. Find out how the team came to be.
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Like it often goes in rugby league, the tale begins with a brew in hand at the local watering hole.
And the origin story of the Macedonian Rugby League team is no different, with the passion of a couple of men leading to the formation of an international squad mentored by NRL premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan alongside former NSW Blues skipper Paul Gallen.
At Taren Point Bowling Club, businessman and proud Macedonian Oliver Joseski shared a drink with his mate and commentator Mark Levy when conversation shifted to what’s next for the pair.
“I said ‘Why don’t we do Macedonian Rugby League’ and (Levy) said ‘stop it’,” Joseski said. “He said I can speak Macedonian and he trotted out a few words, he put out a post and it just grew like wildfire.”
Now, a surge of Macedonian hopefuls have expressed interest in taking part including two players competing in Canada, Newcastle Rugby League veteran Ryan Petro and Western Suburbs Magpies Ron Massey Cup player James Mirceski.
There are also hopes of recruiting premiership-winning Panther Paul Momirovski and St George Illawarra Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan, who is understood to have Macedonian heritage.
The international squad enjoyed their first training session at Captain Cook Oval on Sunday, watched on by the coaching team of Flanagan, Gallen, Keith Galloway and Reece Williams who have all volunteered their services for free.
The team has ambitions to feature in the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, with success at an upcoming European Championship would lead to qualification.
Joseski said rugby league holds a special place for Macedonians, helping many assimilate into Australian culture.
When asked why rugby league was special, he said: “The relationships, the camaraderie – you build friends for life in rugby league.”
Discussions are in motion for the first ever international against either Thailand, Vietnam or Philippines at Leichhardt Oval, or what Joseski calls the Eighth Wonder of the World.
A chance for Joseski, Levy and fellow passionate Macedonians to toast their success, possibly with a brew in hand.
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