Fletcher Flies Greek
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ROB Campbell set the trend several years ago at Dolphin Oval with international rugby league honours. Through a grand parent's heritage, big Rob turned out for Russia in World Cup qualifiers. Now another Emerald Group Dolphin has claimed international honours. Lively winger Adam Fletcher is a current Greece international and is licking his lips at the prospect of a match in Greece at the end of this year as well as the 2008 World Cup. There's also a planned match against Fiji in October. The Greek side boasts some handy players, including Wests Tigers premiership prop John Skandalis, coach Steve Georgallis and first graders George Gatis, Willie Peters and Michael Kokardis, although the majority of the squad don't play at a high level. Even Roosters superstar Braith Anasta could come into the picture. "I've played with the Greek national side a few times already," he said. "I qualify because both my grandparents were Greek, which also gives me a European Union passport qualification. It's the same as if I was born in England. "This is really handy for playing rugby league in England as I would not talking up an import spot, which usually go to NRL players.'' "My ambition this season is to consolidate a spot in the Dolphins' top side and if nothing eventuates from that try to get a start in England and then hopefully work my way into a Super League club." A newcomer to the club this season, Fletcher, 22, joined from the Magpies component in the premiership Wests Tigers conglomerate. "I played for the Wests side out of Campbelltown in the NSW Premier League," he said. "As a team we were not too crash hot, but the first grade winning the premiership created a good atmosphere and it was all a good experience and I learned a lot of things." Originally a Brisbane Norths product, Fletcher joined the Magpies in 2005 as a winger. "I played my junior football with Brothers Holy Spirit at Bray park and the Pine Rivers Bears before going over to North to play Colts," he said. "I played fullback in Norths but I have gradually moved to the wing, although I feel comfortable in either spot." Fletcher turned out for two seasons with Norths' then feeder club Aspley before spending 2001 with the Devils' Colts, enduring a grand final loss to Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval. "We lost 12-10, or something like that, and were warm favourites as we had a good team," he said. "It included Bill Slater, Jake Webster, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk. The second year I spent in Colts and reserve grade. "I knew Anthony Griffin as he was the Norths Colts coach before he was appointed assistant coach at the Storm and also contacted Mark Murray, who said Redcliffe needed some outside backs. "I gave James Hinchey a call and it went from there. I live at Bray Park with my parents so it is was easy to move back to Brisbane." Fletcher had been working with the Skins apparel outfit at Campbell as well as studying to become a personal trainer. That is still an ambition, although for the moment he is helping out at his family's snack bar at Brendale. "I usually work from seven in the morning to about two, when it slackens off," eh said. "The hours work in really well with football." Fletcher started this season in Premier League, notching five appearances before dropping back to A grade. "I need a couple of big games to get back into the Premier league," he said. "There's a good buzz around the club with all three grades doing well."