Poland triumph as North Macedonia make international debut

A new look Poland side, with five debutants, defeated North Macedonia on their rugby league debut, 40-8 ,in a men’s senior international at Sydney's Sylvannia Waters.

A try to co-captain Harry Siejka in the 19th minute opened the scoring for Poland who led 16-0 at the break after Penrith’s Zac Lipowicz – whose brother Reece also went over late on - and then Callum Gromek crossed.

Debutants centres Ethan Niszczot and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak extended the lead at the start of the second half and Siejka finished with 16 points, kicking six goals.

North Macedonia’s moment of history came when hooker Jayden Foye went over for their first try, Jayden Gouganovski with a fine chase of his own kick grabbing their second.

NORTH MACEDONIA 8

Elia Georgievski, Angelo Avramovski, Xanda Georgievski, Aledin Hrvat, Jayden Gouganovski, Mitchel Stojanoski, James Suleski, Jayden Foye, Jake Mitrevski, James Mirceski, Aleks Stojkovski, Jamie Miletic, Josh Kosteski. Interchange: Aleks Srbinovski, Josh Boicheski, Sean Metelovski, Justin Miletec

Tries: Foye (70), Gouganovski (77); Goals: Suleski (0/2)

POLAND 40

Callum Gromek, Daniel Stiff, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Ethan Niszczot, Reece Lipowicz, Matthew Stachnik, Harrison Siejka, Mitchell Shaw, Arek Werstak, Norbert Bałaciński, Chippie Korostchuk, Simon Maslanka, Zac Lipowicz. Interchange: Lachlan Srama, Brayden Tyburski, Tynan Forster, Adam Artsivourtsis

Tries: Siejka (19), Z. Lipowicz (26), Gromek (30), Ethan Niszczot (42), Watene-Zelezniak (49), M. Stachnik (60), Lipowicz (74); Goals: Harrison Siejka (6/7)

Half time: 16-0