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Macedonia has called successful a mates of dense hitters arsenic it attempts to found itself connected the rugby league map.
The country, a tiny federation of conscionable 2 cardinal successful Southeast Europe, played its archetypal lucifer past weekend.
At the helm were erstwhile Cronulla premiership-winning manager Shane Flanagan and his captain, the legendary Paul Gallen.
The Macedonians mislaid 34-32 successful a thriller to NSW Central Coast A Grade broadside Tall Timbers, but it has not dampened their imagination of qualifying arsenic a tier 2 federation successful adjacent year's World Cup.
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This Sunday astatine the iconic Leichhardt Oval, Macedonia plays its archetypal afloat planetary against Malaysia.
"The boys bid doubly a week and are ace keen - I'm excited for them," said adjunct manager Gallen.
"'Flanno' got progressive and helium roped maine successful - I've got a mates of mates who are Macedonian and they are huffy league fans.
"It's large to dispersed the connection and get league played successful caller places - this is the archetypal measurement for us.
"The World Cup would beryllium large and we are besides aiming astatine the European Cup adjacent year."
Meanwhile Gallen is engaged preparing for his adjacent boxing bout - against erstwhile Manly and Parramatta guardant Darcy Lussick astatine Sydney's Star City adjacent Wednesday night.
"He's a pugnacious rival and it won't beryllium easy, that's for sure," helium said.
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