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Last Game Greece 22 - Malta 24
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How It All Began Greek RL |
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The Greek community plays and important part in Rugby League with many involved in playing, coaching, sponsorship and administration at all levels of the game.
The South Sydney, Bulldogs and St George Illawarra clubs have a huge Greek following but introducing Rugby League to Greece was something that was never discussed.
A Greek-based Rugby League club was formed in Brisbane during the 1960s. Known as GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of Australia) the club played many sports including Rugby League, Touch Football, Soccer and Basketball.
GOYA played Rugby League in the Brisbane Church League and won the premiership in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1976 and 1977. They wore blue and white jerseys the official colours of Greece.
They joined the Brisbane Second Division Rugby League in 1984 affiliating with the Souths club. They played in the competition from 1984 to 1987 before dropping out due to lack of numbers.
They re-formed in 1990 and made the grand final in that year. They made the semi finals again in 1991 and the grand final in 1992 before dis-banding.
While GOYA played regular club football there was no plans to spread the game internationally.
With no Rugby Union ever being played in Greece getting the game started was laughable. But the success of Italy and Lebanon to kick-start the game in their own back-yard via Australian-based players gave other nations hope.
There were whispers about a Greek side being formed in 1999 featuring Australian-based players but nothing eventuated.
Lebanon in particular have no Rugby Union yet there is now an established four-team competition played in Lebanon. A residents side also toured Morocco early this season and Lebanon will be hosting the Mediterranean Cup next month.
Colin Mylonas a former Easts junior representative and Illawarra Carlton League player had an idea to get Greece involved. He sat back and saw nations such as Fiji, Japan, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco and Serbia take up the game. He wondered how he could get Greece started.
He went as one of the trainers for the New South Wales Students representative side to New Caledonia in September 2002. Travelling on the same play was Rugby League Review editor Terry Liberopoulos.
New Caledonia has just switched en masse for Rugby Union to Rugby League and had asked Australian Rugby League for help. A NSW Students side flew to Noumea to take on New Caledonia who were set to play their first ever game of Rugby League.
The Students and all the staff visited all four schools to help them with coaching drills in preparation for the 13-a-side game. Mylonas looked at the way things were being done to set up Rugby League in a new country. He was aware of how things worked back in Sydney after helping run Nepean in the Students Rugby League and UTS Roosters in the Metro Cup.
He ran the idea past Liberopoulos who was all for it and promised to help in any way he could. The first that was required was to get a coach who had a Greek background.
"I knew Steve Georgallis from my cousin's husband. I had interviewed Georgallis a few times during his playing career so we knew each other. I contacted him and he was all for it from the word go" said Liberopoulos.
Georgallis reaction basically pushed the operation much quicker with plans to play an international against Italy mentioned. Mylonas got his brother Bill involved because of his insight into how a club is run. Bill runs the University of Western Sydney Nepean side in the Students Rugby League and is one dedicated official that every club in the world craves for.
Mylonas then got in contact with Rugby League International Federation Development Officer Tas Baitieri with a business plan outlining what the Greek Rugby League was all about.
"They were very professional about it and explained to us what they wanted to do. They wanted to model the game around the success of Lebanese Rugby League who now have a four-team competition being played in Beirut" said Baitieri.
"The Rugby League International Federation were impressed with their plans and are happy to assist them in introducing Rugby League in Greece."
Mylonas put an advertisement in the February issue of Rugby League Review asking for Players and officials that wanted to help the Greek Rugby League.
"Calls started coming in for the first day from people that wanted to do their bit to help the game. We had people that weren't Greek ringing asking if they could help" said Mylonas.
"The reaction was what we needed. Without the support of the public we couldn't do anything. We also realised just how many Greeks are involved in Rugby League."
Braith Anasta, John Skandalis, Willie Peters, Jason Stevens, George Gatis, Justin Tsoulos and Michael Korkidas are just some of the high profile Greeks that are involved in top-class Rugby League.
"Our aim is to start from the bottom and work our way up. There is plenty of work to be done but everybody involved is excited about our plans" said Mylonas.
The Greeks were keen on entering a team in the Wollongong Sevens in February of this year but decided it was too early to organise such a squad. They decided they would play Teriary League as well as looking to play the Italians.
The Italians were quick to oblige and a meeting was quickly arranged to organise a date which was vital.
"We had to make sure it was as late as possible in the season and before the NRL grand final. We didn't want to play after the grand final because that is usually the last game of the season as most supporters and players switch off" said Mylonas
"We came up with September 27 because both Greece and Italy would have access to most of their players."
With date now in place a suitable ground had to secured.
"Marrickville Council gave us permission to use Henson Park but we could only use it up until the middle of September because of maintenance work that had to be carried out" said Leberopoulos.
"We wanted a ground that was close to the majority of the Greek and Italian community and we needed it to be a venue that hosted at least Premier League matches. We looked at Leichhardt Oval and Belmore Sports Ground but it was Kogarah Council that came to the rescue. They were very professional and we had no trouble in securing the ground."
Kogarah Oval or Oki Jubilee Oval was booked for September 27 thanks to help of the Rugby League International Federation.
Georgallis knows that the game can be played in Greece and become a force in the future.
"Greece can be competitive because Greeks love their sport. George Peponis who played Rugby League for Australia played for my junior club St George Dragons and inspired many Greeks to play the game" said Georgallis
"I have seen how countries like Lebanon and Italy have evolved in the last five years and I am excited at being involved."
The International Rugby League Federation is more than willing to assist Greece in establishing the game.
"We are happy to see any country playing the game. We will assist them in any way we can. The formation of the European Federation means that Greece can apply to be an associate member" said International Rugby League Development Officer Tas Baitieri
The match against Italy was being looked at being played as a curtain-raiser to an NRL match, in conjuction with a soccer match at Marconi Stadium or a stand alone match.
The NRL match was being targeted as a West Tigers match at Leichhardt Oval but with the match being played during the play offs it became clear this wouldn't be viable.
A soccer-League double header was considered featuring Marconi playing Sydney Olympic played after Greece took on Italy in Rugby League. With the soccer draw for the 2003-2004 season unknown and the match to be played in the Rugby League off-season the only alternative was to play the game as a stand alone fixture.
The first meeting of the Greek Rugby League was held last march with Georgallis, Con Saroukas, Colin Mylonas, Liberopoulos, Bill Mylonas and George Katralis in attendance. Jim Konistis was unable to attend the meeting but has been heavily involved ever since.
"We have a sub-committee of another 10 people that are also involved and are an important part of the team. Everyone is putting in 110% which is what is needed at this early stage" said Colin Mylonas.
Kos Sports also manufactured the Greek jerseys that will be on display in the game against Italy.
"We are also staging a sports dinner for the Greek Rugby League in February 2004 in order to help the Greek Rugby League. We need the whole community to get behind this" said Mylonas.
Most of the committee have already contributed large amounts of money out of their own pockets to help kick-start the Greek Rugby League.
"You have to got to be kidding if you think we are doing it for the money. Most of the costs are being funded by ourselves because we are Rugby League fanatics that want to see international Rugby League prosper" said Mylonas
Article from RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW
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