Exciting young winger Abbas Miski couldn't help but laugh when the name 'Mansour' was mentioned at training this morning.
The Lebanese international will make his NRL debut for the Manly Sea Eagles against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Lottoland tomorrow after being in great form for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles this season.
The fact that Miski has an uncanny resemblance to Penrith's Test winger Josh Mansour has certainly not been lost on his Manly team-mates.
"The boys rib him a little bit...he looks a little bit like Josh Mansour,'' said Manly Coach Des Hasler with a smile.
"He is really excited. He is someone who has kept working and working at it, and it is great to see young players like that get their opportunity.
"Abbas trained for most of the off-season with us. He has done the hard yards. He is pretty solid."
Miski was presented with his NRL debut jersey prior to training today by two-time premiership-winning Manly Sea Eagles winger Michael Robertson.
"I felt really honoured when Des asked me to present Abbas with his jersey,'' Robertson said.
"It is the first time I've presented a game jersey and I hope Abbas can score a try or two. I wish him well in his NRL debut."
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Coach Steven Hales believes Miski is ready for the NRL stage.
The 23-year-old has averaged 153 metres for Blacktown in seven rounds of the Canterbury Cup.
“Abbas leaves no stone unturned. He is meticulous,’’ Hales said.
“It is no shock that Des Hasler has warmed to him because that is very much what our NRL coach is like.
“Abbas is the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. He has become a real student of the game.
"Physically, he has been ready for the NRL for a while but he now feels he is mentally ready too. He will go well."
