The NSWRL competition talent set to light up the Rugby League World Cup in England
Lesser-known players shining on the international stage is what brings the magic of the Rugby League World Cup to life. We look at a huge contingent of 63 players from NSWRL competitions set to do just that in England.
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THE premier international rugby league event is back on the calendar for the first time since 2017, with 16 teams in the running to be crowned best in the world.
The Rugby League World Cup commences in England this weekend, with a huge number of representatives from the lower grades in New South Wales set to honour their heritage.
While the big names take centre stage, it’s the lesser known players that step up to the plate that make the RLWC the major spectacle that it is.
NewsLocal looks at the 63 players set to do just that on the biggest stage.
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GREECE
Their local NSW contingent is headed up by BILLY MAGOULIAS, the hero of Newtown’s State Championship win in 2019. Magoulias has gone on to play 17 first grade games with the Sharks, returning home from the Super League earlier this year to rejoin the Jets.
JAKE KAMBOS enjoyed a Ron Massey Cup campaign with the Western Suburbs Magpies, with JOHN MITSIAS scoring a pair of tries in the Tigers’ NSW Cup season.
BILLY TSIKRIKAS made his NRL debut this year with the Bulldogs at 26 years old, playing out the rest of the season in NSW Cup.
SEBASTIAN SELL is one of Greece’s feel-good stories, called up from the Mittagong Lions in the Macarthur competition to play for his nation. MITCHELL ZAMPETIDES first represented his country in 2013.
NICK MOUGIOS was part of a Matraville side that won the grand final in the Souths Juniors competition.
FIJI
A mix of NRL experience and young blood hopes to lead the Bati into England.
VUATE KARAWALEVU and SIUA WONG are both in the Roosters system, with the former spending the year in NSW Cup with the Bears and Wong graduating from SG Ball Cup level.
SUNIA TURUVA turned heads earlier this season with a blistering game in the Pacific Test against PNG, and the Panthers reserve grader also enjoyed a taste of NRL, as did PIO SECI with Manly after acquitting himself well in the NSW Cup.
ISAAC LUMELUME and BRANDON WAKEHAM were both a part of Canterbury’s charge to the final of the Knock On Effect Cup side that went down to Turuva’s Panthers.
HENRY RAIWALUI brings previous state league experience to the side and had a run with the Hills District Bulls in the Massey Cup this season, playing against Mounties’ KAYLEN MILLER in the same league.
PENIONE TAGITUIMUA saw game time at the Massey and NSW Cup levels with Mounties, while NETANE MASIMA spent time with the Magpies also in the Massey Cup.
ITALY
The Azzurri will have a strong contingent of local faces on board.
JACK CAMPAGNOLO is perhaps the pick of the bunch after a solid season in the halves for the Rabbitohs in the Knock On Effect Cup.
LUCA MORETTI enjoyed a similar campaign for Parramatta in the reserves and is one to watch for the future. JACK COLOVATTI is also with the Eels and spent time in reserves and Flegg.
JOEY TRAMONTANA has experience with Blacktown Workers and LUKE HODGE was a regular in that side throughout 2022.
ETHAN NATOLI is a past Italian representative and has played with Glebe and Newtown.
ALEC SUSINO scored a premiership win in reserve grade with the Panthers as a front rower/interchange player
KYLE PICKERING scored time with the Cronulla Sharks in Jersey Flegg.
SCOTLAND
Just the two players from NSWRL competitions will feature for the Bravehearts.
LUKE BAIN saw the field for eight games with Parramatta in the NSW Cup this year, and BAILEY HAYWARD is a young gun on the side, named Canterbury’s Flegg player of the year and playing up in reserves.
IRELAND
Four from the Wolfhounds spent time in local competitions this year.
JOSH COOK has been knocking on the door of first grade after stints in the NSW Cup with South Sydney and this year at Canterbury.
JAMES HASSON joined the Rabbitohs this year and spent the season in the back row, while
HENRY O’KANE is only 20 but looks destined for first grade as part of the Tigers system.
HARRY RUSHTON played a handful of NRL games for the Raiders and spent most of the season in NSW Cup.
LEBANON
The most NSW lower grade experience of any team comes from the Lebanese Cedars.
JOSH MANSOUR is the most experienced player in the side and has a vast array of international exposure, and comes into this World Cup after playing for the Rabbitohs in the NSW Cup.
KHALED RAJAB looks destined for first grade after a good year of reserve grade with Canterbury, with Jersey Flegg reps JAXSON RAHME (Rabbitohs) and HANNA EL-NACHAR (Panthers) also hopeful of cracking it into first grade.
KAYNE KALACHE and CHARBEL TASIPALE both finished the season as regulars for the Newtown Jets in reserve grade, with the former starting the year with Mounties.
Blacktown Workers winger BILAL MAARBANI is headed to his second World Cup, as is ANDREW KAZZI.
ANTHONY LAYOUN spent time with St Mary’s in the Ron Massey Cup, as did KHALIL RHAME with Mounties.
JALAL BAZZAZ is currently tied up with the Western Suburbs Red Devils in the Illawarra competition.
ELIE EL-ZAKHEM was a regular for Parramatta in reserve grade in the second row, scoring six tries for the year,
JOSH MAREE captained the Wentworthville Magpies in the Sydney Shield this year, and TONY MAROUN saw time with the Tigers Flegg team, alongside MICHAEL TANNOUS.
JAMES ROUMANOS got his first taste of NRL in the final round for Manly after playing well in the NSW Cup.
COOK ISLANDS
Some very solid local talents help bolster the stocks of the Cook Islands.
GEOFF DANIELA is the most experienced of the pack with the 35-year-old notching up 45 NRL games. He was last seen with St Mary’s in the Ron Massey Cup.
KAYAL IRO was crowned NSW Cup player of the year with Newtown, and made his debut late in the season.
STEVEN MARSTERS played a handful of games for South Sydney and is now with Thirroul in the Illawarra league.
Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup talent RUATAPU NGATIKAURA adds to the youth in the squad.
Brothers VINCENT RENNIE and REUBENN RENNIE were both regulars for the Jets alongside Iro.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
JIMMY NGUTLIK is the lone representative based in NSW for the Kumuls, playing the season with the Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup before getting the call up to NSW Cup for a pair of games.
TONGA
A large contingent of NRL players have Tonga poised for a huge tilt at the title this year.
ISAIYA KATOA and SONI LUKE both come through the Panthers lower grade ranks this season, with Katoa steering the side to a Jersey Flegg premiership, and Luke notching four NRL games as he won the comp in NSW Cup.
WALES
JOSH RALPH joins his Welsh counterparts after guiding Mounties around in the halves throughout the 2022 season.
WOMEN
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
THERESE AITON comes into the PNG side as one of the more experienced players, having previously shaped up in the NRLW and last season finishing with the Rabbitohs in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership. Winger ANIKA BUTLER competed against Aiton this year, plying her trade with the Knights.
COOK ISLANDS
A solid contingent of local talent will help the Cook Islands. TETUANUI DEAN was part of the Campbelltown Collegians side that claimed the Macarthur premiership.
MONIQCA MO’ALE was a regular for the Rabbitohs in their state cup charge, scoring a few tries in the process. KAROL-ANN TANEVESI has been a long-time Mounties representative, along with teammate ELIANNA WALTON, with both forwards bringing international experience to the table.
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