While giving his insight into the Rabbitohs-Roosters rivalry ahead of the NRL Multicultural Round clash, Peter Mamouzelos has also declared his ambition to play in Greece, having previously been denied because rugby league was illegal.

In 2022, the Rabbitohs hooker represented Greece at the World Cup but has not played in Athens in any of his 10 international appearances.

This is because rugby league was banned until after the team qualified for the tournament by beating Serbia in Belgrade.

“Our ‘home’ games actually had to be played overseas, and we played in London against Norway [in an RLWC qualifier] because it was illegal to play in Greece,” he said.

A year before that they actually played a game in Greece and the police were called to shut it down.

“As the years have gone on, and obviously Greece has seen us represent Greece at the World Cup, things have changed, so hopefully we have their support and backing to play more home games there.”

Mamouzelos is Greek on both sides of his family, his mother Denise (Zakynthos) and father Theo (Kalymnos).

Growing up he looked up to NRL Premiership player Braith Anasta, who was also Greek Australian, and played alongside Lachlan Ilias and Billy Magoulias at club or Test level.

“Now that rugby league is growing in Greece too – we have a domestic competition so there is definitely more interest around rugby league over there – we will hopefully see more Greek players in the NRL,” he said.

“I want to put Greece on the rugby league map, so any opportunity to represent my Greek heritage I just try to make the most if it, and it’s something that I am very proud of.

“Obviously I haven’t had the chance to play in Greece yet, so hopefully in the next World Cup qualifiers we get to play at home.

“The game is definitely growing over there so we’d get a bit of backing and get a crowd behind us, which would be cool so hopefully we get that opportunity soon.”

This week he represents his heritage in Multicultural Round when he plays against the roosters on Friday night, a battle between two clubs with strong Greek connections in their chairmen Nick Pappas and Nick Politis.