We create how each nation could line up before the World Cup, in collaboration with He can play for. This week, it’s Greece!
In these weekly reports, we select our predicted side which can represent Greece. This may include players born in that country, with national heritage or even residency.
The first seconds were France, Jamaica, the cook islands, Fiji, Ireland, Wales and Papua New Guinea. Now is the time for Greece…
How Greece could line up at the World Cup
1. Robinson Chair
The full-back currently plays for South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Jersey Flegg Cup. He says he hopes to make his NRL debut this year or next.
Robinson comes from a major rugby league background, with his father and cousin Nathan Merritt previously playing for Souths. Robinson is of Indigenous Australian and Greek descent and has previously played for Greece internationally.
2. Johnny Mitsias
Mitsias is currently plying his trade for Wests Magpies in the New South Wales Cup. The Magpies are the feeder club to the Wests Tigers of the NRL.
The winger has already played for Greece on the international stage and hopes to play in his first World Cup this fall.
3. Sam Loizou
Loizou may only be 19 but he has already made his NRL debut for Parramatta Eels, who arrived in 2021.
The winger or center was born and raised in New South Wales but is of Greek Cypriot descent. He has a bright future ahead of him.
4. Nick Mougios
Mougios is another Rabbitohs system player who is of Greek descent. The 23-year-old was born in Sydney and qualifies to play for Greece through his family.
The former North Sydney Bears star played for Greece in their World Cup qualifiers. He hopes to play his first World Cup later this year.
5. Dimosthenes Kartsonakis
Kartsonakis plays for the Rhodes Knights in the Greek domestic competition. The 26-year-old, who is also a bar manager, has won eight caps for Greece.
The winger has also spent time with League 1 club West Wales Raiders in the past. He hopes to put his country on the rugby league map later this year.
6. Jordan Meads
Half-back Meads was born in Wellington, New Zealand and qualifies to play for Greece through his maternal family.
The 30-year-old, who played for Gateshead Thunder for two seasons between 2014 and 2015, is the captain of the Greek national team. He is the nation’s top try scorer (16) and points scorer (132).
Meads captained Greece through their World Cup qualification process and is expected to lead Steve Georgallis’ side at the tournament in England.
7. Lachlan Ilias
Greece are drawn in a group alongside England, Samoa and France at this year’s World Cup.
If they are going to turn the tournament upside down, then Ilias will be a very important part of it. At just 22, Ilias is considered one of the NRL’s brightest talents.
Ilias has already made 17 first-team appearances for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, scoring two tries.
8. Billy Tsikrikas
The 27-year-old actually made his international debut for Greece eight years before making his NRL debut!
His birth name is Vasili but he is known to his teammates as Billy. He made his NRL bow for the Canterbury Bulldogs earlier this season and has made two first-team appearances so far. He has scored four tries in six games for Greece.
9. Pierre Mamouzelos
Like his Rabbitohs team-mate Ilias, if Greece are to defy the odds at the World Cup, Mamouzelos will have to play a major role.
The 21-year-old hooker has made four NRL appearances for the Rabbitohs since making his first-year debut in 2021.
Mamouzelos has scored 10 tries in seven games so far for Greece, helping them qualify for their first-ever World Cup.
Both sets of his grandparents emigrated to Australia from Greece. The maternal side of the family hails from Zakynthos while the paternal side originates from Kalymnos.
Speaking after a win over Norway in the World Cup qualifying process, Mamouzelos said Neos Cosmos: “Especially after the game, my dad tried to hide it but he started crying. I’ve never seen him cry before, so putting on this shirt to represent my culture and my family name is a great honor and something I will cherish forever.
10. Rob Tuliatu
The 26-year-old is currently playing in the London Broncos championshiphaving previously played for the London Skolars and West Wales Raiders in Ligue 1.
Tuliatu, who has spent time with the Newcastle Knights Under-23s, has won eight caps for Greece so far.
11. Nic Flocas
Flocas is currently playing in the Queensland Cup for the Ipswich Jets. The 23-year-old forward has already played for the Jets 11 times this season.
He hasn’t played for Greece on the international stage yet, but he could feature in the World Cup if called up.
12. Billy Magoulias
Magoulias recently returned to Australia after a short stint in the Super League with Warrington.
The 25-year-old played 17 games for Cronulla Sharks in the NRL before moving to England ahead of this season. However, he was granted a release from his contract on humanitarian grounds.
Magoulias was born and raised in Sydney but qualifies to play for Greece thanks to the family legacy ruling. He also represented his Greek roots three times. He will be one of the hottest Greek players this fall.
Since returning Down Under, Magoulias has joined Newtown Jets in the New South Wales Cup. They are Cronulla’s feeder club.
13. Nathan Peats
Toulouse hooker Peats is the most prominent player in this squad, with the 31-year-old having previously played for New South Wales in the State of Origin Arena.
Peats, who is of Indigenous Australian and Greek descent, has yet to play for Greece but it would be a coup for the Greeks if he plays at the next World Cup.
The New South Wales born hooker or loose forward has made over 200 career appearances for South Sydney Rabbitohs, Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans, Leigh, Huddersfield, Albi and Toulouse.
Peats also played for the Native All Stars and Combined Nations All Stars in representative arena.
Bench
14. Jake Kambos
Kambos plays alongside Greek international teammate Mitsias for the New South Wales Cup Wests Magpies.
The Magpies are a feeder club for the Wests Tigers, so a good World Cup campaign for Greece could help back rower Kambos achieve his goal of playing in the NRL.
15. Harris Georgopoulos
The second rower is currently in the system at NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons.
Georgopoulos has played for the Dragons in the New South Wales Cup this season and dreams of playing in the NRL one day. He qualifies to play for Greece via the family inheritance rule.
16. Stefanos Bastas
Bastas will be a household name for rugby league anoraks in the northern hemisphere. The 28-year-old prop has previously played for Hemel Stags, Doncaster and Coventry Bears in Ligue 1.
The Karystos-born prop also enjoyed spells with Villeghailhenc-Aragon and Saint-Gaudens Bears in French domestic competitions.
Bastas has won 12 caps for his native Greece since making his international debut in 2014.
17. Adam Vrahnos
Vrahnos plays alongside Greek international teammate Tuliatu at Championship side London Broncos.
The 29-year-old striker made his debut for Greece at the Emerging Nations World Cup in 2018. He will be hoping to prove himself on the biggest stage at the World Cup this fall.
Thanks to He Can Play For for their collaboration, you can follow them on Twitter and instagram.
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