RedVHeartbeat
SGI NSW Cup
It is International footy time this weekend in Sydney and across the ditch in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
The pandemic years and before have not been easy for Samoan rugby league, culminating in losing their Pacific Island crown to Tonga.
Samoa has won just one of its last nine matches. The last time they troubled one of the big three was back in the 2014 Four Nations while their last showing was a disastrous 44-18 hiding by Fiji in November 2019. And Samoan RL fortunes wont improve any time soon with a cluster of Australian born but of Samoan decent players to concentrate instead on becoming an Australian Kangaroo for the upcoming World Cup by choosing to play State of Origin. And these blokes are no lower tier rookies or powder puffs with the likes of Brian To'o, Jarome Luai, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo, who have all worn Samoan blue before to the uncapped Stephen Crichton, Payne Haas and rising star Joseph Suaalii, all eligible for Samoa. That is some man power Samoa is losing. Samoan tho have picked up some fine NRL talent in the Dragons Jaydn Su’A plus Martin Taupau and David Nofoaluma.
In Auckland, Samoan graduates Isaiah Papali'i, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Moses Leota will wear the black and white of New Zealand, along with man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
- New Zealand v Tonga in Auckland on Saturday, June 25
- Pacific double header featuring Samoa v Cook Islands and PNG v Fiji at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday, June 25..
The pandemic years and before have not been easy for Samoan rugby league, culminating in losing their Pacific Island crown to Tonga.
Samoa has won just one of its last nine matches. The last time they troubled one of the big three was back in the 2014 Four Nations while their last showing was a disastrous 44-18 hiding by Fiji in November 2019. And Samoan RL fortunes wont improve any time soon with a cluster of Australian born but of Samoan decent players to concentrate instead on becoming an Australian Kangaroo for the upcoming World Cup by choosing to play State of Origin. And these blokes are no lower tier rookies or powder puffs with the likes of Brian To'o, Jarome Luai, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo, who have all worn Samoan blue before to the uncapped Stephen Crichton, Payne Haas and rising star Joseph Suaalii, all eligible for Samoa. That is some man power Samoa is losing. Samoan tho have picked up some fine NRL talent in the Dragons Jaydn Su’A plus Martin Taupau and David Nofoaluma.
In Auckland, Samoan graduates Isaiah Papali'i, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Moses Leota will wear the black and white of New Zealand, along with man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
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