Jacob Kiraz

Jacob Kiraz (born 23 November 2001) is a Lebanon international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.

Jacob Kiraz
Personal information
Born (2001-11-23) 23 November 2001
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022– Canterbury Bulldogs 34 12 0 0 48
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–22 Lebanon 5 3 0 0 12
2019 Lebanon 9s 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 20 August 2023

Background

Kiraz was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is of Lebanese descent.

He played his junior rugby league for the Penrith Panthers,Berala Bears and later St Johns Eagles.

Playing career

Early career

In 2015, Kiraz was a member of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs under-15 Summer Development Squad. In 2018, he was a member of the under-17 Winter Development squad.[2][3] In November 2018, he was named in the St. George Dragons SG Ball Cup train-on squad. On 6 February 2019, he was named in the team's final squad, and played eight games and scored three tries during the season.[4][5]

2019

In June, Kiraz signed a three-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys, beginning in 2020.[6]

On 22 June, at 17-years old, Kiraz made his international Test debut for Lebanon, coming off the bench in their 58–14 loss to Fiji at Leichhardt Oval. He set up his side's third try just two minutes after coming onto the field.[7][8]

On 10 October, he was named in Lebanon's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s squad.[9] Kiraz played just one game in the tournament before being disqualified for being under the age of 18. While the International Rugby League allows players 16 or older to play in Test matches, the National Rugby League, who ran the tournament, stipulates that you must be 18 to play. Kiraz, who would not turn 18 until November.[10][11]

2020

In 2020, Kiraz moved to Townsville but played just one game for the Townsville Blackhawks Under-20s side before moving back to Sydney after the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

2021

In 2021, Kiraz joined the Newcastle Knights on an NRL development contract.[13]

2022

After not being able to break through for an NRL debut at the Newcastle club, Kiraz returned to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 season.[14]

In round 7 of the 2022 NRL season, Kiraz made his NRL debut for Canterbury against Brisbane.[15] He scored his first try in first grade the following week against the Wests Tigers.

In round 20, Kiraz scored a hat-trick in Canterbury's 24-10 victory over Newcastle.[16]

Kiraz played 15 games for Canterbury in the 2022 season scoring six tries. The club would finish 12th on the table at the end of the season.[17]

Kiraz would impress in the unfamiliar position of fullback for Lebanon during the Rugby League World Cup, scoring a try against Ireland as the Cedars made the quarter finals.[18]

2023

In round 2 of the 2023 NRL season, Kiraz scored two tries for Canterbury in a 26-12 upset victory over Melbourne.[19] In round 7 against arch-rivals Parramatta, Kiraz was taken from the field during the first half with a knee injury. Canterbury would go on to lose the match 30-4. Kiraz was later ruled out for three matches.[20][21] Kiraz played a total of 19 matches for Canterbury in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 15th on the table.[22] On 24 October, Kiraz signed a contract extension to remain at Canterbury until the end of the 2027 season.[23]

References
  1. "Jacob Kiraz - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. "Development Squads Announced". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 19 November 2015.
  3. "Bulldogs Under 17 Winter Development Squad". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 9 July 2018.
  4. "St George, Illawarra junior representative train-on squads announced". St George Illawarra Dragons. 22 November 2018.
  5. "Junior representatives squads announced". St George Illawarra Dragons. 6 February 2019.
  6. "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". www.townsvillebulletin.com.au.
  7. "2019 Representative round teams: State of Origin, Test squads, NSW v Queensland". National Rugby League. 22 June 2019.
  8. "Maika Sivo and Suliasi Vunivalu fire as Fiji Bati overpower Lebanon". National Rugby League. 22 June 2019.
  9. "2019 World Cup Nines squads and player numbers". National Rugby League. 18 October 2019.
  10. "Cedars stripped of win after having two players disqualified". National Rugby League. 19 October 2019.
  11. "World Nines, World 9s: Lebanon points stripped vs France, Wales, fight, video, Rugby League NRL 2019". 19 October 2019.
  12. "Kiraz craving top tier football ahead of Round 1". QRL. 12 March 2020.
  13. "Full 2021 NRL squad list and development players". Newcastle Knights. 4 February 2021.
  14. Pryde, Scott (20 January 2022). "Bulldogs make raid on rivals to secure departed local junior". Zero Tackle.
  15. "Round 7 Team News: Squad confirmed for Broncos clash". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 22 April 2022.
  16. "Kiraz scores three as Bulldogs cruise past Knights". www.nrl.com.
  17. "NRL 2022: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  18. O'Loughlin, Liam (14 November 2022). "Rugby League World Cup: Whose stocks have risen during RLWC 2021?". Sporting News. Retrieved 7 December 2022. Jacob Kiraz (Lebanon/Bulldogs) While his side may have been dismantled by the Aussies in the quarter-finals, Lebanon fullback Jacob Kiraz shined in his first RLWC. The 20-year-old, who made his first grade debut for Canterbury this year, was among the Cedars' best throughout the tournament as they made it out of the group stage comfortably. Kiraz scored one try, produced one try assist and averaged 139 run metres per game in the unfamiliar No.1 role, and could contend for the spot at the Bulldogs next season under new coach Cameron Ciraldo.
  19. "NRL Saturday AS IT HAPPENED: Craig Bellamy goes 'nuclear' as Dogs shock Storm; Dolphins fairytale rolls on in dramatic victory over Raiders". wwos.nine.com.au.
  20. "Gutherson makes mockery of 'X-Factor' claims as ex-Eel cops nightmare return: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  21. "Casualty Ward: Taumalolo to undergo surgery; Kiraz out for three, Averillo hobbled". www.nrl.com.
  22. "NRL 2023: Canterbury Bulldogs season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  23. "Sea Eagle returns home as Bulldogs lose one after big retention win: NRL Transfer Centre". www.foxsports.com.au.
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