Lebanon’s raging success and popularity at the World Cup has renewed Josh Mansour’s love for league – and reminded him why he should not retire from the game at just 32.
The Cedars’ winger, who played in the 2020 grand final for Penrith remains without a deal for 2023, and like the un-signed Marty Taupau, has attracted interest from clubs without a firm offer until the salary cap is put in place.
Mansour struggled to nail down a regular starting spot during his two years at South Sydney – he played just 16 NRL games – but says the Cedars’ World Cup campaign helped him realise he still had plenty to offer in the NRL.
While prepared to entertain a move to the Super League, Mansour said he did not want to re-locate his young family to the other side of the world until the door was permanently slammed shut on him in Australia.
“The desire and fire in the belly has always been there, that’s never gone away, and I will always love competing – it’s part of my DNA,” Mansour told the Herald on Thursday.
“It was almost a case of losing my confidence the past couple of years, and I felt a bit lost at Souths. Things never panned out the way I imagined they would.
The un-signed Josh Mansour re-discovered his love for league playing for Lebanon at the World Cup.Credit:PA
“Nobody was to blame, it just didn’t work out, I couldn’t find any rhythm, which was a shame.
“But going to the World Cup was the best thing for me. I loved playing under [coach] Michael Cheika, he was such a motivator, and I learned how to have fun again. I was reminded how much fun it is to play the game.
“I’ve been doing my own training and weights program in the meantime, I’ve been training with a few Lebanese boys – James Roumanos and Elie El-Zakhem – and we all felt like we were in a bit of limbo at one stage.
“James has since picked up a train-and-trial with the Tigers, and Elie now has a train-and-trial with the Roosters, so now it’s just me training on my own.
“There’s no way I want to retire. Hopefully, when I do get a call-up, I’ll be fit and ready to go right away.”
Mansour knows his future will remain on hold until the NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association thrash out a new collective bargaining agreement, including a new cap figure for 2023.
Taupau told the Herald earlier this week it was frustrating having to wait on something beyond his control, and how Samoa’s success at the Cup also had him eagerly anticipating the new season.
The 174-game bearded Mansour whose famous physique once drew praise from Rocky IV actor Dolph Lundgren while standing next to each other in a Gold Coast hotel lift is widely regarded as one of the game’s genuine good guys.
Some will even argue Mansour was at one stage of his career the best winger in the game, or at least the best kick returner.
The NRL officially break for Christmas on Friday, but chief executive Andrew Abdo is expected to continue working in the hope he can broker a deal with the RLPA, however the general consensus in clubland is the CBA will not be signed until the new year.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
