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 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.
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