Serbia pick Trbojevic brothers
Serbia have picked a strong contingent of heritage players for their squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Italy.
NRL stars Jake and Tom Trbojevic, as well as Brisbane Broncos centre Tom Opacic, are the biggest names in the squad.
Jason Muranka of Dewsbury Rams is also named, as is Austen Novakovic (occasional Love Rugby League columnist) of English amateur side Huddersfield Underbank Rangers.
Skipper Dalibor Vukanovic is relishing the chance to get stuck into the Welsh and Italians.
“We are so excited for this historic opportunity to compete for place at the World Cup,” he said.
“As one of the more experienced players, for me this is the culmination of the 15 years long evolution of rugby league in Serbia.
“It is wonderful that such high profile and talented players of heritage want to be a part of what we are building here. When we step on the field in October, we are not just fighting for ourselves and our country, but also for the all the hard work and sacrifice that thousands of enthusiasts gave for the sport in Serbia to get to this international recognition.”
Serbian half back Vladislav Dedic is excited by the chance to play at a higher level.
“Four or five years ago, I could only see the biggest rugby league stars on TV and now I have a chance to be on the field, toe to toe with them,” he said.
“We will have to outperform ourselves to beat two great teams in Wales and Italy. We have the utmost respect for both nations, so we are preparing hard for the historic games that stand between us and possible World Cup glory.”
SERBIA 56-MAN TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Stevan Dobric (Belrose Eagles), David Andjelic (Blacktown Workers), Tom Opacic (Brisbane Broncos), Nikola Strbac (Bristol Sonics), Joshua Blenkinsop (Burleigh Bears), Ilija Cotric (Bush Rangers), Reece Grkenic (Cabramatta), Nikola Cotric (Canberra Raiders), Danilo Delic, Nebojsa Zivanovic, Zoran Pesic (Carpentras), Daniel Burke (Collegians), Jason Muranka (Dewsbury Rams), Aleksa Radic, Andrej Mora, Dalibor Samardzic, Dalibor Vukanovic, Radovan Tajsic, Relja Petrovic, Stefan Nedeljkovic, Stevan Stevanovic (Dorcol), George Vujanovic (East Tigers), Djordje Stosic, Filip Stosic (Falcon VR), Milan Radojevic (Fassifern), Adam Nedic (Gunghalin Bulls), Austen Novakovic (Huddersfield Underbank Rangers), Joshua Marjanovic (Kawana Dolphins), Jake Trbojevic, Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Moravas Cheetahs), Dario Abidinovic, Dragan Jankovic, Dzavid Jasari, Nikola Srbljanin, Pavle Vojinovic, Vlado Kusic (Partisan), Marko Milenkovic (Radnicki Nis), Pero Madzarevic, Zarko Kovacevic (Radnicki NP), Milos Calic, Milos Zogovic, Miodrag Tomic, Petar Milanovic, Slobodan Manak, Vladislav Dedic, Vojislav Dedic (Red Star), Chad Grant, Michael Stig (St Clair Comets), Djordje Gak, Stefan Nikolic (Tasmajdan Tigers), Vladica Nikolic (Villeneuve XIII Leopards), James Mircevski (Western Suburbs Magpies), Jordan Grant (Wests Tigers), Dejan Lukenic, Ilija Radan (unaffiliated)