'One of our best teams': Kiraz to delay honeymoon for World Cup
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Representing Lebanon means so much to Jacob Kiraz that the Bulldogs star will fly to Papua New Guinea immediately after his wedding to play for the Cedars in their opening World Cup match against the Kumuls.
Kiraz, who scored two tries for the Bulldogs in Friday night's gripping 20-18 loss to Sydney Roosters, has scheduled his wedding for the weekend between the NRL grand final on October 4 and the start of Lebanon’s World Cup campaign on October 17.
The 24-year-old said he and fiancé Erian, whom he proposed to last November, would postpone their honeymoon until after Rugby League World Cup 2026, in which the Cedars also play Tonga on October 23 and France on November 1 at CommBank Stadium.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Lebanon, especially with the World Cup being this year. The last World Cup was one of the best moments of my life and I am very keen,” said Kiraz, who played fullback for the Cedars in 2022.
“I had to get married sometime and we didn’t want to wait until next year.
“Literally the next week we are playing in PNG so I will have to delay the honeymoon until after the World Cup, but I am proud to represent my country and I’ve always wanted to do that.”
Kiraz, Eels halfback Mitchell Moses and centre Jordan Samrani, Wests Tigers trio Adam Doueihi, Alex Twal, Tony Sukkar, Sea Eagles speedster Jason Saab and Titans winger Tony Francis are the NRL stars eligible for Lebanon.
Rookie Broncos forward Tupou Francis, Sharks centre Michael Gabrael and Bulldogs playmaker Alex Conti have also put up their hands for selection.
Match: Papua New Guinea v Lebanon
Round 1 -
home Team
Papua New Guinea
away Team
Lebanon
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
“This will probably be one of our best teams that we have ever put on the field. We have got lots of Lebanese players playing NRL now, so it is growing,” Kiraz said.
“Conti has been killing it. He is training with us at the Bulldogs, so I see what he does first hand. He is a very good talent.
“Obviously we don’t know what is going to happen with Mitch, we are trying to convince him to play for Lebanon and not play for Australia, but either way I am sure Conti will be in the squad.
"I have been talking to him about it to see if he is keen and he can’t wait. He said that, and if he does get picked he won’t let anyone down. He is a very good talent.
“We have got so many young boys coming through which is good to see, like Michael Gabrael, and you have still got all the veterans like Adam Doueihi and Alex Twal.”
The Cedars officially launched their World Cup campaign at NSWRL HQ on Wednesday night, unveiling their RLWC26 home and away jerseys amid heavyweight support, including representatives of the Wests Tigers, Eels, Bulldogs and Dragons.
Warriors CEO Cameron George, who is passionate about his Lebanese heritage, has joined the board of the Lebanon Rugby League as an independent director and flew over from New Zealand for the event.
Moses, who has represented Lebanon at the last two World Cups, and Samrani also attended and were interviewed on stage by MC Andrew Voss, along with Cedars greats Hazem El Masri, Tim Mannah and Josh Mansour.
“The 2017 World Cup was the first time I represented Lebanon and I don’t think anyone expected much of us in that tournament,” said Moses, who was a member of the Kangaroos squad that toured England for last year’s Ashes series but didn’t play.
“After we knocked off France and then to go back to Sydney to verse England and Australia, the support that came in was just amazing and flowing onto the next World Cup it was even bigger.
“We didn’t have too many first graders in that 2017 World Cup and then we had a few more in the 2022 World Cup and in this one we will probably have a few more again, so it is growing and growing each year.”
Moses masterclass
Doueihi played in the 2017 World Cup alongside Moses and Twal before he had made his NRL debut and Kiraz made his Test debut in 2022 after his rookie season for the Bulldogs.
“Just to be with all of the boys, and especially some senior players who I am now very close with – Adam Doueihi, Mitch Moses and Josh Mansour was finishing his career …. it was the best experience ever,” Kiraz said.
“We’re all from the same background and I idolised Josh Mansour growing up, and to get to play with one of the best halfbacks in the game in Mitch, and Adam … that is why I am excited to play with all of these younger boys now.”
Mansour with the sauce
Cedars assistant coach Matt King will continue to help Michael Cheika plot Lebanon’s World Cup campaign before taking up his appointment as NSW State of Origin coach after being appointed to replace Laurie Daley.
The pair currently work together at Sydney Roosters under Trent Robinson, but King will depart at the end of the season to take up his new position with the Blues.
However, the former Kangaroos star remains committed to the Cedars for the World Cup.
Moses praised the leadership of Cheika, the former Wallabies coach who guided the Cedars to the quarter-final of the last World Cup against Australia in his first rugby league post as head coach with King by his side.
“I have never seen someone control a room so well,” Moses said of Cheika. “It was amazing to see and I got a lot out of it. I still talk to him today and he gives us some great advice.”
Match: Lebanon v France
Round 3 -
home Team
Lebanon
away Team
France
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.
