BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Exclusive: Lebanese international Abbas Miski has spoken out about his heartbreak for the country of his heritage following the Super League grand final.
Twelve days ago Israel launched a series of attacks in Lebanon as part of the growing conflict in the Middle East.
Miski, whose parents are from Lebanon, has family in the country and has represented the Cedars 13 times, has described the worsening situation as very sad.
“It’s upsetting,” the 29-year-old told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads at Old Trafford.
“I’ve been to Lebanon twice and it’s sad to see this sort of stuff going on, anywhere in the world really. It does hit a bit harder when you see videos and pictures of things going on and to think that my Mum and Dad walked those streets and there’s people that look like me and sound like me.
“I have a strong connection to them. Hopefully, it ends soon. There’s despair as well because you can’t really do much.
“My parents were born in Lebanon, me and my brothers and sisters were born in Australia. But I’ve got strong ties to Lebanon and that’s how my career kicked off, how I got my first full-time contract through playing well for Lebanon in 2017.
“So that sort of got me on the map a bit so I owe a lot to it.”
Miski helped Wigan claim back-to-back Super League titles on Saturday night.
It was the winger’s fourth trophy win this season.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said.
“Obviously we had plans to do this at the start of the year, and it’s been a very long year as well.
“We had the World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, the League Leader’s and now this and it’s just no weeks off.
“Looking back in retrospect it’s been a long, hard year but through it all I’m just absolutely fucking stoked.”
Miski joined Wigan in 2022 after a season in London and struggling to establish himself in his native Australia.
“I only played a handful of games in the NRL, I didn’t really crack it until I was 23, 24,” he said.
“I was always in and out of NSW Cup so it’s been hard. But that’s just part of the journey. I came to London and it’s always gone the way I wanted. It’s good times right now.”
Wigan have completed a historic grand slam of trophies in 2024 and have now won seven in the past three years.
“It’s very special,” Miski said.
“We have a lot of special players, freaky players. Bevan, Jai, Harry and stuff like that. Then we’ve got the rest of the team that are just unbelievable.
“Very skillful but also work their arses off and we have a great coaching staff. Great technically, tactically but also very good people that don’t just care about you in rugby league but what you’re doing in life and make sure everything’s going alright.
“I can’t thank them enough for everything they do.”