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Sidelined Eel earns Lebanon World Cup call-up
George Clarke, AAP •  October 7th, 2026 2:04 pm
Mohamed Alameddine has been selected by Lebanon despite not playing for Parramatta since June | Photo: Handout/NRL
A member of the Alameddine family, who was sidelined by his NRL club for his own safety and that of his teammates, has earned selection in Lebanon's Rugby League World Cup squad.
Mohamed Alameddine - an outside back signed to Parramatta - has been included in coach Michael Cheika's squad after missing most of the season.
Alameddine is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mitchell Moses (left) has switched allegiance from Lebanon to Australia in a blow for the Cedars | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Owing to rising tensions in Sydney's gang wars, the 21-year-old trained away from the Eels' facility this year and last played NSW Cup in June.
Alameddine is one of a healthy squad of players assembled by Cheika who are on the books of NRL clubs or their feeder sides.
The Cedars, who reached the quarter-finals of the last tournament, will be without two of their most influential players with Wests Tigers playmaker Adam Doueihi injured and Mitchell Moses selected by Australia.
Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz is likely to play fullback in a side that includes Eels centre Jordan Samrani, Tigers prop Alex Twal and Manly's Jason Saab.
Winger Saab had to seek an exemption to play for the Cedars given he has no Lebanese ancestry, relying on the roots of his adoptive stepfather to turn out for Lebanon.
There are no players from Lebanon's domestic competition included in the squad.
Sydney Roosters assistant coach Michael Cheika will steer Lebanon, before returning to rugby | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Future NSW State of Origin coach Matt King will assist Cheika, who will leave his Sydney Roosters assistant post to return as head coach of Super Rugby Pacific's NSW Waratahs following Lebanon's campaign.
The Cedars face Papua New Guinea in their group opener in Port Moresby on October 17, before taking on Tonga and France.
Labanon squad:
Mohamed Alameddine, Yehya Ayache, Jalal Bazzaz, Alex Conti, Ibrahim El Labban, Tony Francis, Tupou Francis, Michael Gabrael, Mikael Ibrahim, Moustafa Dirani, Jacob Kiraz, Abbas Miski, Brad Morkos, Joseph Nohra, Khaled Rajab, Jaxson Rahme, Khalia Rahme, James Roumanos, Jason Saab, Jordan Samrani, Tony Sukkar, Charbel Tasipale, Alex Twal.
