On Saturday night at Leichhardt Oval, Alex Twal will pause to remember his late father, adding an extra layer of significance to the NRL’s multicultural round for the Wests Tigers prop this year.
Twal’s father, Osama, affectionately known as Sam, passed away last September after a brief illness. As he steps onto the field against Cronulla, the 27-year-old feels a profound sense of representing his family, particularly his Jordanian heritage, with his father being born and raised in Jordan before relocating to Australia at 18.
Expressing his pride in his heritage, Twal displayed the Jordanian flag alongside the Lebanese flag, paying homage to his mother’s background during Tigers media activities. The significance of this round is deeply personal for Twal, who acknowledges the heightened emotional resonance as he honors his father’s memory.
Twal attributes his strong work ethic in football to his parents and desires greater recognition of his full heritage. Despite representing Lebanon in four Tests, he stands as the sole NRL player of Jordanian descent and aims to celebrate both his father’s and mother’s backgrounds.
Reflecting on his father’s love for rugby league and the sacrifices he made to support Twal’s sporting endeavors, the prop acknowledges his debt of gratitude. Embracing his Jordanian heritage during multicultural week holds personal importance for Twal, who sees it as an opportunity to honor his father’s legacy.
Moreover, Twal recognizes the significance of multicultural week coinciding with a pivotal moment for the Tigers, following their recent loss to Canberra. As the longest-serving player at the club since joining in 2017, Twal remains optimistic about the team’s progress under Benji Marshall’s leadership. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and trust in the process, urging his teammates to deliver a performance they can be proud of in the upcoming fixture.