I see Ilias Bergal played for France against Australia, in the World Cup today - I believe that it was his debut?

He played last week against Lebanon.

Results apart, did anyone see how he shaped?

Bloody awful.

Quote ="atomic"Bloody awful.'" Ah well. Thanks A. Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294

Quote ="atomic"Bloody awful.'" Ah well. Thanks A. Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Ah well. Thanks A.=#40BF00 Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294'" He's Egyptian.

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Ah well. Thanks A.=#40BF00 Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294'" He's Egyptian.

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Ah well. Thanks A. Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294'" Yes,interesting they have one homegrown player. Will he play May/June 2018?

Quote ="Bent&Bongser"Ah well. Thanks A. Lovely breakaway solo French try though. Bongser now heading for a relatively early night - got to be up for his first England fix of the WCup. Interesting piece by Dave Woods (for once) regarding Lebanese RLl: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41805294'" Yes,interesting they have one homegrown player. Will he play May/June 2018?

One, Atomic, is surely a step forward. How many N American players will TW be fielding in the Champ next year? The NRL (as according to the report it is Oz money that is funding the development programmes in Lebanon) seemed to have the right ideas regarding outreach and the spread of the game. A real good news story uniting Muslims & Christians (within teams and on the terraces) in a normally sectarian state.

Tragedy about the political news from that country that broke today just as many were uniting behind the Cedar flag due to the Rugby World Cup.

A little unfair comparing TW with a international squad! Canada do have their own National squad filled with Canadians not NRL stars,probably the reason they didn't qualify. If it's the Aussies way of expanding the game good on them.

(Not sure what happened with that last post)



Bongser thinks that you have either missed or ignored his point. Furthermore, to suggest that the Lebanese team today was "filled" with NRL stars could be construed as disingenuous. Or are you over-egging a refutation of Farah's own earlier disingenuity today? Let's hope the review board also ignore his simulation during the game to boot. Naughty.

I chose to ignore the religious factor B&B,not because of ignorance but purely choice.

On a personal note I didn't think the Lebanese fella "Farah" assisted their international expansion today. But thats another story,as for the main topic..Bergal can only get better and the man of steel needs to do the same.

The Samoan and Tongan's hacka,both teams showing unity was a sight never to be forgotten. What an incredible crowd that was.

Then let us at least agree fully upon your last paragraph.


Have a good evening.

Just watching the Tonga Samoa game again with my son. That was some way to perform the pregame war cries. And one of the most entertaining games of RL I've ever seen.

But back on thread, Bergal is one of us now. I'm sure he will improve as a player with the world cup experience. Looking forward to him and all the new players taking the field.

Well his World Cup is now over and he has not given any lasting impression, I observed him 'grazing' out on the touchline quite a lot, didn't seem to have the want to come infield to take play the balls and help out, and he was beaten with a ball in the air Higsonesq style standing 2 yards from touch and the ball going over his head to bounce in the field of play before going out.

Judgement will be reserved till after the trial games, from what I have seen up to now, not as good as Dawson or Evans.

Interestingly how many English players will Leigh field next season? asking for a friend

14 born here in the squad plus a Welshman, and Hansen who is a Leyther by marriage

14 then !!!

The stats tell a different story, he took the most carries out of everyone on the French team and joint most in total(17) and made more meters than anyone on the pitch except Jermaine McGilvary. In fact bergal had the most carries and meters for France for the whole tournament.

To be fair the lad hasn't any experience on any level,to just throw him in the deep end like that at International level has probably scared the life out of him. He maybe pacey,but hes nowhere near that level required yet,as was the fella on his inside.

A good pre-season,build some confidence back in him and lets see how he goes then.

So not grazing much it would seem. I say again, I look forward to seeing him pull on a Leyth shirt. He’s one of us now.

Far from it, it's no mean feat to a rack up more than 300m in gains across 3 matches, especially when 2 of them are England and Australia.

Impressive stats, for Ilias. Especially when you compare them with Peter Mata'utia's -= although nobody has commented on his World Cup yet. (admittedly only in one game) www.rugby-league.com/rlwc2017/match_report/54208

Impressive stats, for Ilias. Especially when you compare them with Peter Mata'utia's -= although nobody has commented on his World Cup yet. (admittedly only in one game) www.rugby-league.com/rlwc2017/match_report/54208

Think Peter Mata'utia was injured during that game as well

Hope it's nothing serious.