SRL has released the Toa Samoa’s 37-man training squad

[kiwileaguefan]

The Samoa Rugby League (SRL) has released the Toa Samoa’s 37-man training squad for the World Cup beginning on October 25th.

Included in the squad are five locally based players: Tupu Ulufale, Ponifasio Vasa and Taualagi Lepupa of Marist; Afa Poalaga of Vaiala; and Timothy Stowers of Channel.

Vasa and Lepupa are the team’s only two remaining local players since its reperchage matches last year in England, where the Toa booked a slot for the 100th Rugby League World Cup this October.

The squad will be narrowed down to 26, before the announcement of the official 24 players to represent Samoa in this prestigious tournament.

“We won’t finalise our team until probably the 16th of October,” said SRL Secretary Fritz Tuiavi’i.

“At the moment it’s still an ongoing selection,” said Tuiavi’i.

“For example, some of the Warriors players which are doing very well at the moment want to play for Samoa in the World Cup,” he explained.

“We haven’t finalised anything yet until our team is named in October.”

“The number of local players hasn’t been finalised, but we will take local players in order to be recognised by the Rugby League world body in Australia.”

However, our local boys have to compete for spots with international players so the exact number of local players to be selected remains undetermined.

The Toa Samoa RLWC team will be in Samoa for one week in October, before they are given a national send-off.

The Toa Samoa training squad includes the dynamic Matt Utai of the Canterbury Bulldogs, the Wigan bulldozer Lafeta Paleasina and the Panthers’ Puletua brothers, Tony and Frank.

The SRL Management team will leave this week for New Zealand for the revealing of the Toa Samoa World Cup outfit.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesolia’i Sa’ilele Malielegaoi is expected to be present for the announcement.
Toa Samoa RLWC training squad:
Afa Poalaga (Vaiala Blackie), Ali Lauititi (Leeds), Ben Te’o ( West Tigers), David Faiumu (Huddersfield), David Solomona (Bradford), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Francis Meli (St. Helens), Frank Puletua (Panthers), George Carmont (Wigan), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Hutch Maiava (Windsor), Iaefeta Paleasina (Wigan), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Joe Paulo (Panthers), Junior Paulo (Parramatta), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Kristian Inu (Parramatta), Lagi Setu (St. George), Kylie Leuluai (Leeds), Mark Taufua (Newcastle Knights), Masada Iosefa (Panthers), Matt Utai (Canterbury Bulldogs), Misi Taulapapa (Cronulla Sharks), Nigel Vagana (South), Phil Leuluai (Selford), Ponifasio Vasa (Marist Saints), Smith Samau (Cold Coast Titans), Steven Matai (Manly), Tagi Ropati (Easts Brisbane), Taualagi Lepupa (Marist Saints), Tauliima Tautai (Parammatta), Terry Seuseu (Sharks), Timothy Stowers (Channel Roosters), Tony Puletua (Panthers), Tupu Ulufale (Marist Saints), Wayne McDade (Auckland Vulcans), Willie Talau (St. Helens​

 

[JasonE]

Thats one hell of a squad imo, plenty of depth as well.

 

[roopy]

Great to see Mark Tuafua is a late inclusion.
The game where he bashed the Melbourne forwards must have made a few sit up and take notice.

 

[roughyedspud]

who can we rub out of that squad cos they'll defo be playing for NZ?

Kris inu is'nt gonna play for samoa

 

[Alehana]

​

Toa Samoa RLWC training squad:

Afa Poalaga (Vaiala Blackie), Ali Lauititi (Leeds), Ben Te’o ( West Tigers), David Faiumu (Huddersfield), David Solomona (Bradford), Evarn Tuimavave (Warriors), Francis Meli (St. Helens), Frank Puletua (Panthers), George Carmont (Wigan), Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Hutch Maiava (Windsor), Iaefeta Paleasina (Wigan), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Joe Paulo (Panthers), Junior Paulo (Parramatta), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Kristian Inu (Parramatta), Lagi Setu (St. George), Kylie Leuluai (Leeds), Mark Taufua (Newcastle Knights), Masada Iosefa (Panthers), Matt Utai (Canterbury Bulldogs), Misi Taulapapa (Cronulla Sharks), Nigel Vagana (South), Phil Leuluai (Selford), Ponifasio Vasa (Marist Saints), Smith Samau (Cold Coast Titans), Steven Matai (Manly), Tagi Ropati (Easts Brisbane), Taualagi Lepupa (Marist Saints), Tauliima Tautai (Parammatta), Terry Seuseu (Sharks), Timothy Stowers (Channel Roosters), Tony Puletua (Panthers), Tupu Ulufale (Marist Saints), Wayne McDade (Auckland Vulcans), Willie Talau (St. Helens​

Kiwis

Jerome Ropati, Matai

Definately Samoan (ex Kiwis)

Ali, Solomona, Meli, Puletua(s), Carmont, Hansen, Iefata, Utai, Leuluai, Vagana,

Unsure Samoan (ex kiwis)

Faiumu, Evarn, Talau

Unsure who to commit to

Te'o, Lagi (aus as well), Masada, Misi, Tautai,

The others i dont have any idea or are commited to samoa, feel free to confirm/deny this list, coz i'm sure there are mistakes, i'm just going of rumour.

 

[roopy]

Terrence Seu Seu was born in NZ, raised in Newcastle and has played for the junior Kiwis. His father is a long term league and Union player around Newcastle. A few years ago Terrence played alongside his father in firstgrade for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, but this year his father captained the side that won the Newcastle Union comp (although he was sent off in the grandfinal).

Mark Taufua is born and bred in Newcastle but apparently his father is some sort of leader in the Samoan community - not sure how that works. Mark played Union up till last year - he has two seasons of League behind him.

Junior Sau played for Queensland and Aus as a junior.

 

[girvie]

In
Afa Poalaga
Iafeta Paleasina
Krisnan Inu
Mark Tauafa
Ponifasio Vasa
Taualagi Lepupa
Timothy Stowers
Tupu Ulufale

Out
Ben Matulino
Chase Stanley
Malo Solomona
Mark Leafa
Motu Tony
Patrick Ah Van
Reni Maitua
Sam Tagataese
Sonny Fai
Wallace Solomona