Among them are Mansour, who represented Australia in last year's Four Nations, and Robinson, who switched codes two years ago to join the Waratahs after playing 116 NRL matches for Brisbane, Canberra and Parramatta.
Fittler is also waiting on clearances for Robinson’s brother Travis, who plays for Newtown, Penrith’s Raymond Maroun and former Parramatta Under 20s player Jason Wehbe, who had a stint in Japanese rugby union for Panasonic Wild Knights.
The inclusion of Mansour and the Robinson brothers, who have all previously played for Lebanon, would be a significant boost to a side already brimming with NRL experience through Farah, Mannah, Moses and Lichaa.
"With the NRL season nearing its completion, the players and staff understand the challenge and tough encounters ahead, but having NRL players in the squad will add extra flavour and experience to the squad," Fittler said.
The majority of the squad are from NRL or other Australian-based clubs but five domestic players have been included and one will be selected for the World Cup.
Farah, whose only Test for Lebanon was as an 18-year-old in 2002, said running out with the Cedars against France in Canberra and Australia and England in Sydney would be one of the proudest moments of his career.
“It is going to be a great occasion for Lebanon Rugby League and Lebanon as a country in general,” Farah told RLWC2017 broadcaster Channel 7.
“There are not many sports that they have played in a World Cup. In rugby league they played in 2000 and since then they haven’t been in any other World Cups.
“I know the community over here is very excited about it, our families are excited about it, our friends are and there is going to be some big crowds.”
With Canterbury’s Lichaa also in the squad, there is a chance that Farah could play in the halves with Moses – the Parramatta five-eighth - rather than his usual position with South Sydney of hooker, where he has played eight Tests for Australia.
Eels captain Mannah and Wests Tigers rookie Twal are likely to be the starting frontrowers, while either Mansour and Reece Robinson give Fittler quality fullback options.
“We will have our backs against the wall and people will write us off but we will go out there and give it our best shot, there is no doubt about that.”
“Hopefully as a playing group we can not only play well but provide a positive sort of impact in the community here. “Sometimes the Lebanese community does get a bad name in these parts of the world and we have an opportunity here to provide a positive influence for our community and for some kids growing up who can dream about being in our shoes one day and represent their country in rugby league.”
The Cedars successfully qualified for the World Cup by beating South Africa in October 2015 to end a 17-year absence from the pinnacle rugby league tournament.
The squad will begin preparations in early October, with an international warm-up fixture against Niue scheduled for 14 October in Sydney at Leichhardt Oval.
The inclusion of at least one domestic player in the final 24-man squad demonstrates the importance that the Lebanon Rugby League Federation places on home grown development.
Lebanon Cedars 40 Man Squad
Mark Daoud (Asquith); Jamie Clark, Ahmad Ellaz, Abraham el Zakhem, Elie el Zakhem, Adnan el Zbaidieh (Auburn Warriors); Mario Boustani, Chris Saab, Nick Kassis (Blacktown Workers); Kayne Kalache, Michael Lichaa, Raymond Moujalli (Canterbury Bulldogs); Imad Chidiac (Jounieh RLFC); Ben Chahoud (Hills Bulls); Wael Harb, Raymond Sabat (Lycans FC); Bilal Maarbani (Manly Sea Eagles); Abbas Miski (North Sydney Bears); Anthony Layoun, Tim Mannah, Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels); Adam Doueihi, Robbie Farah (South Sydney Rabbitohs); Ali Abou Arabi (Tripoli RLFC); Danny Barakat, Mitchell Mammary, Tarek el Masri, Elias Sukkar (Wentworthville); Alex Twal, Bernard Kairouz, Jaleel Seve Derbas, Christian Yassmin (Wests Tigers); James Elias (West Newcastle); Toufic el Hage (Wolves RLFC).
By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017
