Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai has been selected in the Toa Samoa squad to contest the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
The call-up caps off an incredible season for the 20-year-old St Marys junior. He started the year in the Panthers NYC side before earning promotion to Garth Brennan's ISP squad and finishing up with the ISP Premiership and State Championship.
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While some players from the Pacific Test against England in May are unavailable, including Anthony Milford (injured), Josh McGuire (Australia) and Isaac Liu (New Zealand), Toa Samoa will field a strong squad and take on New Zealand (Auckland, 28 October), Tonga (Hamilton, NZ, 4 November) and Scotland (Cairns, 11 November).
Yet coach Matt Parish says he has assembled a strong, experienced squad with the desire to represent Samoa evident in the disappointed of several NRL player who missed selection.
"Despite some players being unavailable due to injury we have a very strong squad that will do Samoa proud," Parish said.
The squad will assemble in Sydney next Tuesday and play a Country Rugby League side in Wagga Wagga on Friday, October 13, at McDonalds Park.
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Rugby League Samoa president Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a said team work would be the focus of the preparations for the squad leading up to the opening game against the Kiwis.
"Teamwork requires sacrifice upfront and putting the collective needs of the team ahead of any individual. There is no ‘I’ in team but there is ‘I’ in ‘WIN’," he said.
The 24-man Samoa squad is:
- Frank Pritchard (c)
- Bunty Afoa
- Leeson Ah Mau
- Faamanu Brown
- Herman Ese’ese
- Pita Godinet
- Joseph Leilua
- Ricky Leutele
- Sam Lisone
- Jarome Luai
- Suaia Matagi
- Peter Mata’utia
- Sione Mata’utia
- Ken Maumalo
- Tautau Moga
- Zane Musgrave
- Josh Papalii
- Joseph Paulo
- Junior Paulo
- Ben Roberts
- Sam Tagataese
- Jazz Tevaga
- Young Tonumaipea
- Matthew Wright
