Malta Knights v Japan Samurais at Coffs Harbour

[DIEHARD]

By Anthony Micallef

Malta and Japan are set to put up one considerable fracas at the Colosseum, the BCU International Stadium in Coffs Harbour.

Malta - the Knights, and Japan - conversely known as the Samurais, will meet in a rugby league international at the BCU International Stadium on January 25 but Malta head coach Joe Grima knows his limits.

"I don't know who or where the players (Japanese) are coming from," says Grima.

"(However) if you don't turn up to play, you will end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. This will be no different.

"I remember seeing them last year and the crowd really encouraged them too, so we will have to deal with that also.

"Everyone loves the underdog tag," declares Grima who understands the Maltese will head into the match as favourites.

Grima has named four debutants in a seventeen man squad to take on Japan and merely missing the squad were two Maltese based players.

Maltese based players and youthful exuberance are the beginning of a new era for Maltese Rugby League as officials arrive at a position in preparing for the path to the 2012 Rugby League World Cup.

"We're very excited to have five new debutants who will represent Malta in the upcoming friendly?who will be the new era for Maltese Rugby League.

"The new players will be relishing to play against the Japanese."

Finances prevented the selection of the Maltese based players.

"It is a shame as we really need to tap into the Maltese based players

"It will promote rugby league in Malta and subsequently make our job of qualifying for the next World Cup much more attainable."

Yet the new era is heralded by Wests Magpies centre Tyson Muscat who burst onto the scene in Malta's October loss to Lebanon.

"On debut (Muscat) and called up only one day before the match, was simply great - with his bursting offence and aggressive defence."

Players alike to Muscat will merge with local based Maltese players when the need to meet criteria for the next World Cup comes around.

Yet fresh from bowing out of World Cup Qualification, Japan will pose an exciting threat to the Maltese, only later this month.

Grima concurs, "The Japanese are very humble people, but they always give 100%. It's in their make up and their culture."

Malta hope to exceed expectations in this year's Sevens tournament following their semi-final defeat at the hands of Lebanon in 2006.

"We've got some speed and possess a fair bit of skill. We will try to use this particularly against the top teams such as Lebanon and the Fiji Bati."

Malta: S Azzopardi, T Bonanno, R Borg, B Clews, S Galea, J Lateo, J Micallef, S Micallef, T Muscat, M Grech, W Grech, B Russell, B Sammut, J Sammut, R Sammut, D Spiteri, Z Williams

rleague.com

[Future Star]

Go Malta!! WOOO!

I hope they make the world-cup!

[~lee~]

I thought Japan were a better side than Malta, I'll go for a Japan win but i hope they have a good game and continue to improve. I hope someone will be able to post up the result for us.

[chocco]

GoOoOoooOOoooOoOOoooooOooo MALTA!

[DIEHARD]

I've seen Malta play, they are pretty good. They beat the Titans first up last year in the first round of the Orara 7s.

Malta would have to be favourites.

[~lee~]

Maltese is the Flavour - Malta 82 Japan 0


As the Maltese rugby league squad departs Coffs Harbour for another year, the Knights leave having shown the class that has displayed the Maltese passion on and off the rugby league field for the past three years of their diminutive yet constructive existence.

On the field, Malta disposed of Japan at the BCU International Stadium by a record score line of 82-0. Emerging young Wests Magpies centre Tyson Muscat equalling the tally for most tries in a match for Malta when he crossed the line on five occasions.

The arrival of the city?s most anticipated team was evident when media awaited their arrival at Coffs Harbour Airport on the morning of their most recent international friendly.

A day after their uncompromising defeat of Japan?s Samurai, the Maltese were the taste of the city during a warm down session at the picturesque Park Beach as media flocked beachside, only to see the Maltese squad up in lights in the evenings national news.

Malta head coach Joe Grima utilised the match against Japan to unveil several debutants over and above a mix of positional changes that saw Steve Galea emerge as the player of the match in a dominant team display from the opening minutes.

Japan Rugby League CEO Konishi Amane praised Malta, saying ?Malta was too good for us?.

The match epitomised the meaning of passion and enthusiasm from go to whoa as the Samurai almost crossed the line in the final minute of play. The match was ended at the seventy-two minute mark.

Hard hitting Japanese forward Hirosuke Oyabu earned praise from the Maltese squad, awarded the Japanese squad?s respective player of the match award.

Sure, the Maltese were boosted by the availability of players such as Wests Tigers full time senior squad member Pat Galea, nonetheless the Maltese succeeded superfluously in sending out skipper Ben Sammut a winner in his last international appearance on Australian soil.

The match was the ideal bonding session for a Maltese team that trekked out to the Coramba Sportsground for day one of the 2007 Orara Valley Sevens with sights set high.

Making a return to Maltese colours in the sevens format of the game was the hulking Jeremy Lateo that sparked defences to line up threefold to prepare for the onslaught as Lateo converted two try scoring opportunities into a tally of twelve points after the first day.

Upcoming Penrith Panthers sensation Jarrod Sammut made a mark on each of his three appearances on day one, racking up 24 points from five tries and two conversions.

The 38-4 rout of Brothers Toowoomba saw several length of the field efforts by Queensland based Maltese Brendan Russell and debutant Zack Williams.

Malta completed the opening day undefeated and accrued maximum bonus points for the third successive year.

Malta valiantly succumbed on day two, only to the might of the back-to-back tournament winning Lebanon Cedars who are primed for a 2008 Rugby League World Cup appearance, in what was decisively a controversial ?shepherd play? try to snatch a 18-14 victory from under the noses of the Maltese, despite Malta?s half time lead.

And so now Malta prepares to delve again into the continued global expansion of rugby league with commitments strongly beamed towards Malta?s domestic rugby league activity.

Friendly International
Malta 82 defeated Japan 0
BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
H-T Malta 30-0
Att: 2000