Khaled Rajab  (Arabic: خالد رجب; born 2002) is a Lebanese Australian footballer who plays as a  or  for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also plays for the Lebanon international rugby league team.

Background
Rajab was born in New South Wales, Australia. He is Muslim and of Lebanese descent. Rajab played his junior football for Bankstown Sports, whom he joined as a four-year-old. Rajab graduated from Al Noori Muslim School in Greenacre in 2019.

Playing career
Rajab played in every Canterbury junior rank, including Harold Matthews Cup,  Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and was the SG Ball player of the year in 2021.

2022
In 2022, Rajab captained the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Jersey Flegg side. He also played in four games for the Bulldogs in the NSW Cup including the NSW Cup grand final loss against the Penrith Panthers NSW Cup team.

International career
In 2022, Rajab was named in the Lebanon squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Rajab made his international debut against Ireland in 42–18 victory for Lebanon.

Rajab's impressive form on the international stage attracted considerable attention from Phil Gould and rugby league commentators, with Gould declaring on Twitter "I'm sure he will debut next year, probably at 7". Rajab said in response to the attention: “I heard about that tweet. Some of my mates sent it to me saying, ‘Look what Gus said about you’. I was shocked, I thought, ‘No way’,” Rajab told The Daily Telegraph. “As a kid this is what you dream of. “For Gus to even mention I might have a chance to play NRL, I’m grateful. It makes me want to work harder to get that shot.”

Rajab was included in the Top 30 for the 2023 season.

2023 
Rajab began the NSW Cup season with 11 appearances, six try assists and three tries guiding the Bulldog's reserve grade squad to the top of the ladder.

Rajab was a late inclusion into the Canterbury team that faced the Sydney Roosters in round 15 at Central Coast Stadium, losing 25–24.  Rajab came off the bench to replace Karl Oloapu in the last twenty minutes, achieving his National Rugby League first grade debut.

References

External links
Canterbury Bulldogs profile
Lebanon profile

Living people
Australian rugby league players
Australian people of Lebanese descent
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players
Rugby league halfbacks
Rugby league five-eighths
Rugby league players from Sydney
Lebanon national rugby league team players
2002 births