Three weeks ago James Elias was playing for Western Suburbs in the Newcastle Rugby League grand final.
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Later this month the 23-year-old from Corlette will take to the sport’s biggest international stage.
Elias was last Thursday officially announced in Lebanon’s 24-man World Cup squad, coached by Brad Fittler and captained by Robbie Farrah.
On Saturday, Elias played a trial game to press his case for selection in tests against France, England and Australia.
“You can brush the cobwebs off, maybe get a chance to impress a bit and hopefully work your way into the side,” Elias said.
Elias, who played most of the year in Wests’ second-row, said he expected to line up in the centres for Lebanon but would find out more detail during the team’s final training run on Friday night.
“Based on training so far that’s where I’ll probably be,” Elias said.
“I played a few games at centre for Wests this year and I’m normally on the edge somewhere so it doesn’t really make too much difference for me. I’m just looking forward to it all.”
Elias said recent three-hour commutes from Port Stephens to Concord three times a week were made worthwhile when hearing his name read out alongside NRL players such as Farrah, Mitchell Moses and Tim Mannah.
“I’m very honoured and proud,” he said.
The Nelson Bay junior said he would put aside the disappointment of the Rosellas’ 24-6 loss to Macquarie in the 2017 decider at McDonald Jones Stadium and refocus on the job at hand.
“It would have been better to end on a better note with Wests but this is obviously totally different,” Elias said.
“It means a lot playing for my grandparents’ heritage.”
His maternal grandmother lives in Lakemba.
Elias helped Lebanon qualify for the international tournament in South Africa in 2015.
Lebanon open their tournament against France in Canberra on October 29 before meeting heavyweights England (November 4) and hosts Australia (November 11) at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
Fittler said it was a difficult task making the last call on players, which included former Newcastle Knights reserve grader Elias.
“It was tough selecting a final squad for the rugby league World Cup,” Fittler said.
“I think one of the hardest but most gratifying things is watching how disappointed some players were for not making it.
“If the love of this game is any guide to how we will play, then we will be very competitive in this tournament.
“These players have a great passion for the game of rugby league and it’s a quality squad that we have assembled.
“Most the team are either playing first grade, NSW Cup or Ron Massey Cup, so they have a good level of fitness and that’s going to be important that they are able to last and concentrate for the whole tournament.
“Looking at the squad, we have two front rowers [Tim Mannah and Alex Twal] who are regular NRL players so that will be a huge benefit for us.
“We just have to get it right in these tough pool matches, we won’t get any second chances and that has been the message the team.
“The fact is that only half a dozen of our squad are full-time professionals, so we need to make every opportunity count.”