Matt Parish names Toa Samoa World Cup squad

Frank Pritchard will captain Toa Samoa at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup after being named in a 24-man which includes Canberra Raiders powerhouse Josh Papalii.

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Rugby League Samoa president Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a announced the squad in Samoa on Friday for the tournament, which will be played in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between 27 October and 2 December.

The squad will be led by Pritchard, the 33-year-old who returned to the NRL from the English Super League to join Parramatta this season. He represented New Zealand at the 2013 Cup and has played 27 Tests for the Kiwis, as well as five Tests for Samoa. Papalii, who has played eight Tests for Australia including this year’s clash with the Kiwis in May, will represent Samoa for the first time and will play alongside Canberra teammates Junior Paulo and Joey Leilua in a strong Toa Samoan side with extensive NRL and Super League experience but a blend of youth.

Tim Lafai and Frank Winterstein have been called into the Toa Samoa squad for the Rugby League World Cup after two unexpected changes were forced on coach Matt Parish, with Sione Mata’utia and Tautau Moga withdrawing due to injury.

After announcing their 24-man squad in Samoa on Friday morning, officials were given the belated news that Newcastle Knights skipper Mata’utia and Knights-bound Brisbane centre Moga have been ruled unfit.

Mata’utia had been told he would be fine to play in the tournament but the Samoans were advised by the Knights after further tests that he should not play following a concussion in the last NRL match of the season. Moga has been directed to have off-season shoulder surgery.

Their replacements are two in-form NRL players from this season in Lafai, the St George Illawarra Dragons’ three-quarter, and Manly back-rower Winterstein - neither of whom missed a club match in 2017.

“While it is disappointing, especially at this late stage when we were led to believe both players were fit, I am really delighted that we have such depth to bring in Frank and Tim who were both disappointed not to make the initial squad,” said Parish.

“Tim has played eight times for Samoa and both were valuable members of our 2013 World Cup squad.

“They have proved to be consistent good performers in the NRL this season and I know how much this opportunity will mean to them.”

Zane Musgrove, Jazz Tevaga and Jarome Luai join Papalii as newcomers to the Toa Samoa squad, while Joseph Paulo returns to the side for the first time since 2010 after captaining the United States at the 2013 World Cup.

Ben Roberts, Leeson Ah Mau, Peter Mata’utia and Sam Tagataese add further experience to the squad.

The former Canterbury Bulldogs half Roberts has had an outstanding season with runaway Super League ladder leaders Castleford who take on Leeds in the grand final this weekend. He has played 12 Tests for Samoa, including the 2008 World Cup, and five for New Zealand.

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 disappointment of several NRL players who missed selection.

“Despite some players being unavailable due to injury we have a very strong squad that will do Samoa proud,” said Parish of the squad that will assemble in Sydney next Tuesday and play a Country Rugby League side in Wagga on Friday, October 13 at McDonalds Park (7pm).

“It’s a tough group but these boys have lifted before when they have put on the Samoan jersey, and there is a lot of competitiveness to gain selection. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.”

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.

Samoa Rugby League World Cup 2017 Squad