At 50, Hazem El Masri is due to join Lebanon's national camp to mentor the Cedars before their match against France.
The squad is still processing a 42-18 loss to PNG.
"Lebanon made some poor errors and got off to a slow start," he noted.
For the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, El Masri believes a Samoa-Tonga final is possible.
Seventeen years after retiring from professional rugby league, the former Canterbury-Bankstown great has taken up padel, a fast-growing racquet sport.
More than 90,000 Australians have recently joined, with over 200 courts across 44 venues.
Despite a sore right knee and strapped left hamstring, El Masri dominated play at Club Padel Spot, which made him an honorary member and gave him a new racquet.
He played 317 NRL games and remains warm and attentive to young locals and older fans who remember 2004.
A wrongful accusation ended with his full exoneration in 2016; he is described as a patient, empathetic figure and moral leader.