Lebenon 'dark horses' : Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:21 am  

After watching the Lebanon v England game on Saturday, listening to the commentators wowing the Lebonan team, only to hear that only one of them was born in Lebanon, from my reading on the ever reliable 'wikipedidia' all except one play either NRL or reserve grade in the Australian leagues.
Is it then surprising they are making a great show in this world cup?

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:28 pm  

I didn't realise there were that many born in the Lebanon.

They've got a few good players but you could've said the same about Italy. I can't see them troubling New Zilland in the QFs.

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Mon Nov 13, 2017 1:17 pm  

When I said New Zilland, obviously I meant Mate Ma'a Tonga.

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:43 pm  

Sadly this has really highlighted what a joke our international game is. Everyone was getting very excited about the Tonga result, but they were the same- only Koni Hurrel born in Tonga.

In reality there are 5 "proper" teams there- England, NZ, Aus, PNG and France. The others have no domestic set up, and wont survive in the next generation unless there is another influx of immigrants to Aus/NZ

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:10 pm  

Halifax1989 wrote: Sadly this has really highlighted what a joke our international game is. Everyone was getting very excited about the Tonga result, but they were the same- only Koni Hurrel born in Tonga. In reality there are 5 "proper" teams there- England, NZ, Aus, PNG and France. The others have no domestic set up, and wont survive in the next generation unless there is another influx of immigrants to Aus/NZ The international game is far from a joke and this World Cup has been the best in my lifetime. The qualification rules are no different to other sports, just look at the number of island born players in the All Blacks team and nobody moans about that, they just refer to how great they are. If you want to read about how inspirational the World Cup is, look at the story below from Lebanon captain Robbie Farah. Players travelling across the globe, $30 appearance fees, part time players, determination to play in the face of injury. These are the things that are inspirational https://www.playersvoice.com.au/robbie- ... Dk6gc3j.97 I was at the two Lebanon game in Sydney and they play with real heart. That cedars badge means a lot to them and their fans are absolutely fantastic. Lebanon isn’t an isolated story in this World Cup either. The international game has come a long way

Halifax1989 wrote: Sadly this has really highlighted what a joke our international game is. Everyone was getting very excited about the Tonga result, but they were the same- only Koni Hurrel born in Tonga. In reality there are 5 "proper" teams there- England, NZ, Aus, PNG and France. The others have no domestic set up, and wont survive in the next generation unless there is another influx of immigrants to Aus/NZ The international game is far from a joke and this World Cup has been the best in my lifetime. The qualification rules are no different to other sports, just look at the number of island born players in the All Blacks team and nobody moans about that, they just refer to how great they are. If you want to read about how inspirational the World Cup is, look at the story below from Lebanon captain Robbie Farah. Players travelling across the globe, $30 appearance fees, part time players, determination to play in the face of injury. These are the things that are inspirational https://www.playersvoice.com.au/robbie- ... Dk6gc3j.97 I was at the two Lebanon game in Sydney and they play with real heart. That cedars badge means a lot to them and their fans are absolutely fantastic. Lebanon isn’t an isolated story in this World Cup either. The international game has come a long way

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:22 pm  

The fact is that people are a lot more mobile than they used to be. Work takes them away from home.

Nor is it new. A lot of folk in the armed forces have had kids in other countries over the years. People have acquired residential qualifications. Ranjitsinji played for England at cricket over 100 years ago. He wasn't born here.

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:45 pm  

I respect those opinions. Just for me personally its difficult to get excited about a proper international team from a country where pretty much nobody would know what RL is.

Id be happy to see a "Lebanese exiles" team play exhibition games, I just find it difficult to look at them as a world cup team.

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:20 am  

Fax Missionary, lots of people have talked about N Z having players from the 'South Seas' for as long as I can remember and I can go back a long way !, it is just that it made no difference if people said anything, the world of R L ignored it as it stopped Australia having the monopoly, and it was really the only way the guys would get International recognition until a few years ago, maybe now though the tide is turning and N Z might not be the force they once were id the Islanders play for their 'home' country.
I also remember South Africa as a dominant force in R L once upon a time.

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:56 pm  

Fax Missionary wrote: The international game is far from a joke and this World Cup has been the best in my lifetime. The qualification rules are no different to other sports, just look at the number of island born players in the All Blacks team and nobody moans about that, they just refer to how great they are. If you want to read about how inspirational the World Cup is, look at the story below from Lebanon captain Robbie Farah. Players travelling across the globe, $30 appearance fees, part time players, determination to play in the face of injury. These are the things that are inspirational https://www.playersvoice.com.au/robbie- ... Dk6gc3j.97 I was at the two Lebanon game in Sydney and they play with real heart. That cedars badge means a lot to them and their fans are absolutely fantastic. Lebanon isn’t an isolated story in this World Cup either. The international game has come a long way 13,500 for the host nation in a quarter final, awesome

Fax Missionary wrote: The international game is far from a joke and this World Cup has been the best in my lifetime. The qualification rules are no different to other sports, just look at the number of island born players in the All Blacks team and nobody moans about that, they just refer to how great they are. If you want to read about how inspirational the World Cup is, look at the story below from Lebanon captain Robbie Farah. Players travelling across the globe, $30 appearance fees, part time players, determination to play in the face of injury. These are the things that are inspirational https://www.playersvoice.com.au/robbie- ... Dk6gc3j.97 I was at the two Lebanon game in Sydney and they play with real heart. That cedars badge means a lot to them and their fans are absolutely fantastic. Lebanon isn’t an isolated story in this World Cup either. The international game has come a long way 13,500 for the host nation in a quarter final, awesome

Re: Lebenon 'dark horses' : Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:31 pm  

Leon Ashton wrote:

13,500 for the host nation in a quarter final, awesome

In Darwin and that’s the capacity of the stadium