SAMOA will have to go some way to replicate their success from their World Cup campaign four years ago when they made it all the way to the final, only to be beaten by a rampant Australia.

They reached last year’s Pacific Cup Final as well, only for New Zealand to show their mettle in a 36-14 defeat.

Samoa open their World Cup campaign against France in Sydney on 16th October before travelling to Papua New Guinea to take on the Kumuls on 24th October.

The Toa then meet arch-rivals Tonga again in Sydney on 1st November in a clash likely to determine which of the Pacific powerhouses advances to the World Cup semi-finals.

Ben Gardiner’s side do go into this tournament with just one win from their last eight international fixtures, however, including defeats to Australia, England and New Zealand, with only a solitary victory over Tonga.

KEY PLAYERS

WITH the dance moves, the try-scoring ability and the capacity to hit hard in defence, there is no doubt that Brian To’o will be one to watch later this year.

In the halves, Jarome Luai is always keen to impress and his running game will certainly make spectators sit up and take note. But Luai will be the linchpin on which Samoa will rely going forward.

And Jazz Tevaga will look to take his title-winning Wakefield form into the World Cup and play a key role in the pack – keeping his hot-headedness on the right side of the line in the process.

COACH

BEN GARDINER took over as head coach of Samoa in September 2023 following the exit of Matt Parish. 

A former assistant of the New Zealand national side as well as Penrith Panthers, Gardiner will also become number two to Mal Meninga at the new NRL side, Perth Bears.

SQUAD

Shawn Blore Anae Ulesese (Melbourne Storm), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sua Fa’alogo (Melbourne Storm), Clayton Faulalo (Manly Sea Eagles), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters), Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers), Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights), Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos), Ata Mariota (Canberra Raiders), Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights), Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights), Francis Molo (Dolphins), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Enari Tuala (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman (Parramatta Eels).