By Milly McEvoy at Leigh Sports Village

Lebanon captain Mitchell Moses showered praise on his new half-back partner Khaled Rajab after the teenager shone against Ireland on his World Cup debut.

Rajab, replacing the injured Adam Doueihi, combined deftly with Moses to send Jacob Kiraz over for Lebanon’s second try of the game and was an imposing presence throughout as Michael Cheika’s side boosted their quarter-final hopes.

Moses picked up the Cazoo Player of the Match award following the Cedars' 32-14 win but was keen to deflect the compliments elsewhere as he reflected on the 19-year-old’s display.

Lebanon hit the front through Reece Robinson and follow it up three minutes later with a Kiraz try!

How good is this Robinson score?#RLWC2021 | @BBCSport | @LebanonRL | #LEBIRE pic.twitter.com/iYEhIncBwR
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 23, 2022

“He [Rajab] was outstanding,” Moses said. “He has a massive future in the game.

“He is at the [Canterbury-Bankstown] Bulldogs at the moment, and they are crying out for some halves there, If he can step up to first grade, he’ll do a great job. 

“He brings a lot of energy and he has come in and done a job. He has got great energy around the group and all the boys love him. 

“To do that in his first game on a world stage is something special. He wanted the ball, it is such a big thing as a half-back.

READ MORE: Match report - Lebanon up and running with win over Ireland

“I told him, ‘anytime you want the ball, you demand the ball’, and he demanded it. That is what you want to see from young halves and you don’t see that too often.” 

A Moses penalty opened the scoring in Leigh before Reece Robinson, Kiraz and Brad Morkos crossed, Louis Senior responding for Ireland with scores either side of the break. 

Elie El-Zakhem and Abbas Miski put the game out of Ireland's reach with Ed Chamberlain’s late try only a consolation. 

Lebanon stripped the ball from Ireland six times to frustrate the Wolfhounds and Moses, who set up two of his side’s five tries, was pleased to see their efforts on the training field pay off as they bounced back from their Round 1 defeat against New Zealand.

You don't stop Abbas Miski from there!

Lebanon work the ball wide and score their 5th of the afternoon to take control of the game.#RLWC2021 | @BBCSport | @LebanonRL | #LEBIRE pic.twitter.com/swFhOTmUhG
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 23, 2022

“I was proud of the efforts last week from the boys, we really showed some fight there and took that into the game today,” the Parramatta Eels scrum-half added. 

“There was a lot of live footy out there early in the game and we came out on top better there. We started fast and got the jump on them.  

“That [the six strips] is the boys working overtime, doing the extras at training to nail that skill. That is what it means to the boys to put in the extra work there and it shows on the field.” 

Ireland head coach Ged Corcoran was frustrated by his side's display and they now need a win over New Zealand next Friday to be certain of qualification from Group C. 

READ MORE: Lebanon 32-14 Ireland - Match in Pictures

He said: “I’m very disappointed. I think we put a game plan together that we should have and could have executed. 

“Fair play to Lebanon, they did their homework like we did our homework on them. They saw something in us that maybe I missed in terms of the ball steals and the carry of each individual.

“[Six strips] is something we need to look at. With the calibre of players, the way we have trained and prepped it is inexcusable.”

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets