15 replies to this topic

[Wendall]

The Samoa and Maori teams named today are:

SAMOA: Tony Puletua (St Helens), Francis Meli (St Helens), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds), David Faiumu (Huddersfield), David Solomona (Warrington), George Carmont (Wigan), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ben Roberts (Canterbury-Bankstown), Constantine Mika (Newcastle), Mark Taufua (Newcastle), Joseph Paulo (Penrith), Masada Iosefa (Penrith), Terence Seuseu (Manly), Willie Isa (Melbourne), Daniel Vidot (Canberra), Josh McGuire (Brisbane), Taulima Tautai (Cronulla), Quentin Togaga'e (Souths Logan), Frank Winterstein (Crusaders). One player to be named from Samoa domestic players: Tupu Ulufale, Tanielu Pasene, Vailoa Kereti, David Masoe.
Teofilo Lepou.
Coach: Steve Price.

NEW ZEALAND MAORI: Kevin Locke (NZ Warriors), Sandor Earl (Penrith), Timana Tahu (Parramatta), Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast), Arana J Taumata (North Queensland), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Jeremy Smith (Wakefield), Willie Heta (Otahuhu), Aaron Heremaia (NZ Warriors), Weller Hauraki (Crusaders), Justin Horo (Parramatta), Bodene Thompson (Gold Coast), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne), James Tamou (North Queensland), Sam McKendry (Penrith), Russell Packer (Vodafone Warriors). One player to be added from Kiwis.
Coach: Richie Blackmore.


http://www.rleague.c...le.php?id=37859

Going off SL form Samoa would give England a fright, but by the time the World Cup comes around most of their best lads are poached by the Kiwis and Aussies (and even England with Fasavalu!!).

The Anteroa Maori look strong too and will scare England in the warm up next week - wouldn't suprise me if we lost this opening tour game.

Edited by Wendall, 08 October 2010 - 12:32 PM.

[Odsal Outlaw]

I always wait with great anticipation each year to find out where Harrison Hansen has decided he now comes from.

[Optimus]

I always wait with great anticipation each year to find out where Harrison Hansen has decided he now comes from.

Even better, The Maori have Tahu the self proclaimed Abo playing for them, how does he qualify? Sure he's never, lived in New Zealand? His mums aborigional aussie. And he is a dual code international for.......Australia.

What's the point?

Hang on, I want to play international Rugby League too, mmmm how's Madagascar? Yes they'll do, I've never been there but I have seen the Disney film, does that count?

[Wendall]

Even better, The Maori have Tahu the self proclaimed Abo playing for them, how does he qualify? Sure he's never, lived in New Zealand? His mums aborigional aussie. And he is a dual code international for.......Australia.

What's the point?

Hang on, I want to play international Rugby League too, mmmm how's Madagascar? Yes they'll do, I've never been there but I have seen the Disney film, does that count?

It is a joke that we have all these players moving countries when they get past their prime like Tahu who is no longer good enough for the Aussies so he joins the Maoris in 2010. Maori my booty! The guy is a joke in the NRL after his whinging last year.

[Blind side johnny]

The Anteroa Maori look strong too and will scare England in the warm up next week - wouldn't suprise me if we lost this opening tour game.

Naaah! British coaching will come to the fore, mark my words.

[Bob8]

I always wait with great anticipation each year to find out where Harrison Hansen has decided he now comes from.

Hansen?

Now there is a Danish name....

[AndyCapp]

Tahu has a Maori Father, its not a NZ squad its a team with a common culture. If its a problem gathering a squad like the Maori and who plays for them, England should have played Wales again I guess.

Its Aotearoa by the way.

[Derwent]

I'm still trying to work out how Wendell reckons that SL players "dominate" the squads seeing as they only make up about 25% of the named players

[dallymessenger]

It is a joke that we have all these players moving countries when they get past their prime like Tahu who is no longer good enough for the Aussies so he joins the Maoris in 2010. Maori my booty! The guy is a joke in the NRL after his whinging last year.

hes even more of a joke if youve been following the latest stories about him

good player but making an idiot of himself.

he is still good enough for origin

[Optimus]

Tahu has a Maori Father, its not a NZ squad its a team with a common culture. If its a problem gathering a squad like the Maori and who plays for them, England should have played Wales again I guess.

Its Aotearoa by the way.

Has he really? I did not know that and if you are correct them fair do's.

[Pottsy]

Hansen?

Now there is a Danish name....

As is Sorensen. You'll find a few Samoans with German surnames too (eg, Frank Winterstein, John Schuster etc_

[Pottsy]

It is a joke that we have all these players moving countries when they get past their prime like Tahu who is no longer good enough for the Aussies so he joins the Maoris in 2010. Maori my booty! The guy is a joke in the NRL after his whinging last year.

Whinging? The bloke - rightly imo - was man enough to make a principled stand over the casual racism (the use of the world 'abo' being a good example) that sadly is still prevalent in Australia - 43 years after their enlightened decision to class Aboriginals Australians as human beings in the cencus.

Fair play for Tahu for making a stand and fair play to him for celebrating his dual heritage. The Maori is an invitational team rather than a Test team so I don't think the same criticisms about nation hopping apply either.

[petero]

Well what will our erstwhile coaches strategy be in this one then?

Seeing that many of the players in the English party will have had quite a lay off, namely Sam Burgess. I wonder what the team make-up will be like.
Will he want game time and a vigorous run out for the probable test side or will he want to see how the fringe players can perform at this level?
Because with some of the names in that Maori side this will be no cakewalk and any poor players will certainly get found out quickly.

I think that McNamara has got himself a bit of a headache with this, as it will be a full bloodied approach from the Maori's (nothing new in that) and there is always the risk that injuries to the prominent players could occur.

Personally I would not be too keen on having to make such a decision, but I would I believe in the end plump for the best side and the chance to get some match fitness instilled into them.

[hutch]

Going off SL form Samoa would give England a fright, but by the time the World Cup comes around most of their best lads are poached by the Kiwis and Aussies (and even England with Fasavalu!!).

\

maybe because they are all from either australia or new zealand! if we had stronger rules regarding nation hopping then this couldnt happen, the players named would be committed to samoa. our current rules and admin are a disgrace!

its good to see samoa giving a domestic player the chance to represent their country though. every national team named should have to have at least 3 players who were developed domestically (not necessarily still playing domestically). lets see if the tonga team includes a domestic player. i highly doubt it as they threatened legal action at the last world cup when each squad was meant to have 3 domestic produced players in them.

[FrankDrebin]

I could quite easily see both these sides turning us over. The sad fact is that they have more ability in their squads than we have.

[thirteenthman]

Samoa are the great under achievers of international RL. On paper they should've made the semi-finals of the 08 WC but never did. Last year they were turned over by the Cook Islands and never even made it to the Pacific Cup. Most of the SL players in the squad are arguably past their best, and many have had a shot at the NZ team in year's gone by.