Samoa’s revolution in a league of its own
If you think a lot can change in five years then try the difference four weeks makes. Toa Samoa couldn’t win a game at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and just one month ago they looked on track for a similar result when copping a 60-6 flogging from England in the opening match of this year’s Covid-19 delayed tournament.
But somehow, the perennial battlers are in the decider against the Cup favourites Australia at Old Trafford tomorrow morning. They
will be the first tier 2 nation to contest a world cup final after turning the tables on England in a historic semifinal.
A country tiny in size but big in heart, the nation has been inspired by a movement that is bigger than any sporting event. Videos of parades, hakas and singing from villages across Samoa are going viral and the celebrations are set to gridlock South Auckland tomorrow morning.
Head coach Matt Parish held his job after the 2017 disappointment when most columnists were calling for his head. Parish and his coaching team’s biggest metric of success isn’t about the performances of their star players; instead they should be judged on the way they have integrated NRL discards such as Tim Lafai and Ligi Sao and lifted them to another level.
Lafai, who was in semiretirement at the end of the 2020 NRL season with no contract offers in sight, eventually signed with Salford for the 2022 Super League season and was only called in by Parish when injuries ruled out Tyrone May and Hamiso TabuaiFidow. Yet, last week he was named in the tournament team alongside team-mates Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo.
Bookmakers give Toa Samoa little hope of pulling off the ultimate league fairytale. The New Zealand TAB has the Pacific nation at $6.50 in the head-to-head market against Australia’s $1.10.
1. Can they win?
It’s a huge ask. The Kangaroos boast threats all over the park but there is one area Toa Samoa can exploit. Josh Papali’i, Royce Hunt, Spencer Leniu and the skipper Paulo will need to run over Australia in the middle and defend with equally brutal defence to keep the Kangaroos playing off the back foot.
If – and it’s a big if – they can, it will limit the damage from Australia’s far superior kicking game and not allow the likes of Ben Hunt and Harry Grant to free up their dangerous outside backs in James Tedesco, Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell.
2. Who is Samoa’s player to watch?
Many nominees here – the outgoing Chanel Harris-Tavita likely going 80 minutes at hooker, Paulo who will set the tone in the middle, Luai and
semifinal matchwinner Crichton.
But it’s hard to go past teenage superstar Joseph Sua’ali’i at fullback. At 19, Sua’ali’i will play the biggest game of his young life up against mentor and clubmate Tedesco.
If Toa Samoa is going to upset the defending champions, he will need to find the energy to top the running metres and execute the big plays on attack too.
3. Will their fame be fleeting, or are they now league heavyweights?
For the good of the international game let’s hope it’s the latter but in reality, it will likely depend on the eligibility rules for State of Origin.
Toa Samoa is classified as a tier 2 nation but should the team be promoted to tier 1, alongside the Kiwis, Kangaroos and England, their players become ineligible for New South Wales and Queensland.
Turning down Australia to play for Samoa was one thing, but without a law change, will the Toa Samoa stars be willing to give up their spots in the greatest rugby league cauldron of all?
When Toa Samoa couldn’t win a game in 2017, Mate Ma’a Tonga went within one controversial call of beating England and making the final. They were boosted by the defections of former Kiwis and Kangaroos such as Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita, Daniel Tupou and Michael Jennings while many leading Samoan players were representing New Zealand and Australia.
Luai has this week revealed , how he and Penrith Panthers teammates
To’o, Crichton, May and Spencer Leniu made a pact to switch their allegiance to Toa Samoa. As the NRL season went on, names like Paulo, Sua’ali’i and Papalii joined them and the snowball effort continued.
5. What will be the legacy of this cup campaign?
It could well prove to be a game changer.
A whole generation of children who were born in Australia and
New Zealand with Samoan heritage will now be dreaming of winning a world cup in the blue and white jersey of the Pacific nation.
Regardless of the result or the long-term State of Origin eligibility
rules, this 2022 group of players has created a revolution for Samoan rugby league.
At the unpleasant hour of 3am tomorrow, thousands are expected to turn up to fan zones in O¯ tara and
Ma¯ ngere in South Auckland to cheer on their national team.
Samoan flags are flying in all corners of New Zealand for a team who couldn’t win a game here in 2017.