Sammut & Rowe named in Malta squad

Correspondent

Malta coach Anthony Micallef has cast his net over a wide geographical area to name a 35-man train-on squad for his team’s international with Belgium later this month.

The Maltese play Belgium at Headingley on june 21 at Headingley, as a curtain-raiser for the Super League game between Leeds and Hull FC.

“This match will see our 2014 debutants add another stripe to their collar. We’ll introduce a couple of debutants too,” said Micallef.

“The match will have a number of achievable goals for every player in the squad before preparations turn towards the home clash against Ireland on September 5.

“The Belgians are largely unknown to us, but they put away Czech Republic recently and weren’t easily outdone by Spain in their two tests last year. They have a very competent staff and we are taking them very seriously.

“The squad is virtually every player considered for the match. But from that group, a number of players are dependent on their clubs releasing them and others recovering from injury.

“We’re only really sure of the Malta based players. They’ve been in training since March at LivingWell and will make up the nucleus of the squad. There are 16 domestic players in the train-on squad”.

Alex Rowe of Batley also adds professional experience to the squad, and Jonathan Wallace of London Broncos is also included.

Several players are included from the English community game, including Karl Cassar of Shaw Cross and Paul Parkinson of Gateshead Storm.

Malta 35-man train-on squad:

Graham Attard (Team Pit RL), Malcolm Attard (Stompers RL), Justin Barlogio (DC Slayers), Sam Blyton-Keep (Malta Origin RL), Christian Briffa (Malta Origin RL), Danny Burke (London Skolars), Matthew Camilleri (Stompers RL), Julian Caruana (Stompers RL), Karl Cassar (Shaw Cross), Dragan Cerketa (Stompers RL), Clifford Debattista (Gozo RL), Pete Debono (Malta Origin RL), Jeremy Dela (Birmingham Bulldogs), Kaine Dimech (Medway Dragons), Darren Edmunds (Team Pit RL), Kane Fuller (Minchinbury Jets), Kyal Greene (The Oaks Tigers), Carl Grima (Flimby Vikings), Jake Lennox (Blacktown Workers), Jake Lynch (Folly Lane), Joseph Pio Mizzi (Gozo RL), Matthew Mizzi (Norths Devils), James Morris (unattached), Joe Paolella (Malta Origin RL), Paul Parkinson (Gateshead Storm), Blake Phillips (Helensburgh Tigers), James Redman (Central ASA Tigers), Alex Rowe (Batley Bulldogs), Jarrod Sammut (Wakefield Wildcats), Matthew Spiteri (Stompers RL), Andrew Sultana (unattached), Jonathan Wallace (London Broncos), Aaron Weston (Hills Bulls), Ed Willis (Stompers RL), Jean-Pierre Zarb (Eagles RL).