Kazandjian’s XIII:

FB.  Pierre Nasr (NDU/CL/Jounieh)

Deadly broken field attack and solid defence coupled with high work rate and considerable leadership qualities. He just pips AUB’s Wassim Moumneh, a highly skilled custodian, and LAU’s Jawad Fakih, the highest try-scoring back in league history.

WINGS. Omar Ghizzaoui (AUB); Gilbert Haydamous (Balamand)

Haydamous is one of the fastest players in the game, with a good work rate and defensive ability. He was one of the most successful Cedar choices, becoming the first local to score for the national side, in Med Cup 2004. Ghizzaoui makes it on his kick return prowess and try-scoring in AUB’s two championship successes. He beats out his team-mate, the pure speedster Hussein Khatib, and LAU’s goal-kicking flanker Hamid Wazni.

CENTRES. Rany Chahoud (USEK/CL); Wassim Moumneh (AUB)

Lebanon has had a lot of good centres, usually either defensive or attacking, such as the light-stepping 100kg AUB phenom Edib Samara, or the Army’s ephemeral duo Shafik Souad and Ali Ghazeri. The defensive centres, such as current Cedar tourist Ghassan Dandash, and AUB duo Faisal Itani and Hassan Mansour, are led by Najy Bassil, possibly the finest tackler Lebanon has produced. But my choices go to two players with more polished all-round games who were forcibly deployed as utilities, a testament to their skill level.

HALFBACKS. Jad Abinassif (AUB); Peter Danner (AUB)

Most of our best halves have been overseas players with some experience of ‘rugby’. Diminutive Australian stand-off Maurice Zalloua lit it up for AUB, but he is in the shadow of game-breaking American Peter Danner, who gets my vote just ahead of three Australians: Roy Abla whose kicking game is slightly behind his fine passing and tackling game; Lubnan Alamuddine, Balamand’s record points scorer who toughed out the hard times before winning two titles; and the Army’s Remond Safi, who spearheaded an attractive attacking side before it self-destructed. At half Danny Chemaly deserves a mention but Canadian Jad Abinassif is Lebanon’s undisputed no. 1 scrum half, a pure product of Lebanese rugby league with a great passing game and terrific leadership qualities.

PROP FORWARDS. Amin Maassarani (Balamand); Robin Hachache (LAU)

AUB’s Anthony Letayf was the most dominant front row in the early seasons, with his team-mate George Helou the steady mainstay of many a mediocre AUB side, but the current crop is our best crop yet, with Maassarani and Hachache, both current internationals, both athletic, fast and indefatigable, deserving of their places just ahead of the recently departed Immortal George Rehayem.

HOOKER. Sami Halabi (LAU)

Like FB there are three choices in my book: Jad El Masri, Darwich Darwich and Sami Halabi. Jad set the early tone for toughness and desire, with Darwich arguably the most important individual player to any team due to his defence and organization around the ruck. Yet both lack Halabi’s all round game. Lebanon’s all-time leading goal scorer and most successful coach in terms of championship titles, Halabi is almost an icon of Lebanese rugby league.

SECOND ROWS. Rudi Hachache (LAU); Charbel Raad (LAU)

Possibly the most difficult position to choose such has been the wealth and consistency of strong back rowers in Lebanon - underlined by my choices of two players who both appeared in the very first season of play. The names who miss out are prominent: Omar Darwich, who never really pushed himself physically; the ‘Bassassin’ Bassel Rehayem, who returned to the league after a two year hiatus, only to carve up defences as though he’d never been away; LAU stalwart Ibrahim Ballout whose rep opportunities were unfortunately curtailed by injury; AUB’s Jihad Achkar, who took to tackling and line running like an old pro; and Balamand tackling machines Bassam Krayam and his veteran team-mate Hassan Taha, who lifted his team on numerous occasions with his inimitable style. But my choices combine the abundant talent and game-breaking power of Lebanese colossus Rudi Hachache with the work-rate and sheer willpower of his Immortals team-mate Charbel Raad.

LOOSE FORWARD. Allen Soultan (Balamand).

The prototype Lebanese loose forward was Balamand captain Edgar Fayad, the winner of the inaugural John Elias Award for player of the season. Yet Fayad is eclipsed by today’s best lock, USEK product Youssef El Helou, who himself is nudged out by the superlative talents of a player with NRL first grade potential, Allen Soultan, Lebanon’s own Sonny Bill Williams.