England v Samoa 2024 series

[taste2taste]

They'll push England's shit in

I thought the same about Tonga last year but England gave them a 3 game belting.

 

[Perth Red]

Hard to say, they are currently ranked 3rd in world but of their last 5 results against the big boys they only just won one.

v NZ L 0-50
v Aus L 12-38
v Aus L 10-30
v Eng W 27-26
v Eng L 6-60

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

When do we find out who's confirmed themselves available for Samoa?

Talagi and Utoikamanu are being mentioned and would obviously be strong additions but surely there's a risk they'll instead opt to commit themselves to a full preseason for their new clubs.

And yes, I know Ponga got himself in the shit for opting out of the Roos but lets be honest... the silence will be deafening if it happens to Samoa. Either that or some mysterious injury will suddenly surface.

Interested whether Nanai switches if he misses Mal's final squad too.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

They'll push England's shit in

It'll be pretty tight I reckon, especially because it's in England. The Poms have an underrated side bolstered by Dom Young, Herbie, Pearce-Paul, Bateman and a pretty handy spine.

 

[Coastbloke]

Samoa are 4th in the rankings currently..

 

[Stinkfinger]

They'll push England's shit in

Not with Pommy refs.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

England will win 2-1.

 

[Coastbloke]

England will win 2-1.

it’s only a 2 Test series. Being rugby league there was no room for a Test against France….

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Anyone know when Samoa name their squad? Lots of speculation on who may or may not be available. Interested to see where it all ends up.

 

[taste2taste]

it’s only a 2 Test series. Being rugby league there was no room for a Test against France….

Samoa and Tonga last year could have had a warm up game against France or a game at the end of the series to give all the players that didn't get a run a game and It would have given the French players invaluable experience.

It baffles me why France is continually ignored, a very rich country with a population of 75m and no one bothers to give them a game or give league a leg up.

 

[Perth Red]

Toa Samoa head coach Ben Gardiner has named a 23-player squad for their upcoming Test match series against England.

Samoa will head to England off the back of a tough trot at the Pacific Championships last year.

A depleted outfit slipped to heavy losses to Australia and New Zealand, so they will be eager to make a strong impression on the other side of the world when they face Shane Warne's side in a two-Test match series.

Samoa name squad for England Test series​

Jarome Luai, fresh off his fourth consecutive premiership with Penrith, will lead his nation for the first time.

The soon-to-be Wests Tigers talisman replaces Junior Paulo as skipper with the Parramatta forward still sidelined through injury.

The Eels prop isn't the only star who will be absent though with Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu also missing the tour.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for Gardiner with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck set to make his debut after defecting from the Kiwis upon his return to rugby league.

Jeremiah Nanai will also play with the former Australia backrower electing to represent Samoa instead.

Blaize Talagi is an exciting inclusion with the young gun joined in the backline by Izack Tago and Deine Mariner.

Meanwhile, Shawn Blore will play alongside after rookie Lazarus Vaalepu after both featured for Melbourne in a losing grand final effort against the all-conquering Panthers.

Although Sualauvi Fa'alogo will not play with other notable absentees including Murray Taulagi, Royce Hunt, Heilum Luki, Greg Marzhew and Stefano Utoikamanu.

Toa Samoa squad for England Tour 2024​

• Broncos: Deine Mariner
• Bulldogs: Jeral Skelton
• Cowboys: Jeremiah Nanai
• Dolphins: Anthony Milford
• Dragons: Francis Molo, Luciano Leilua
• Eels: Blaize Talagi, Jake Tago
• Leopards (UK): John Asiata, Ricky Leutele
• Panthers: Izack Tago, Jarome Luai (capt.)
• Raiders: Simi Sasagi
• Roosters: Junior Pauga, Terrell May
• Sea Eagles: Gordon Chan Kum Tong
• Storm: Lazarus Vaalepu, Shawn Blore
• Titans: Josiah Pahulu, Keenan Palasia
• Warriors: Jazz Tevaga, Paul Roache, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

England vs. Samoa rugby league Test schedule​

Date	Fixture	Venue
Oct. 27	England vs. Samoa	Brick Community Stadium, Wigan
Nov. 2	England vs. Samoa	Headingley, Leeds

https://www.nospam47.com/au/rugby-l...t-team-schedule-2024/b9cdc13b6ad2519205827fee

 

[Matua]

@Clarkent What do you think of that side? Doesn't look the strongest to me, but you'll have a better idea.

Also, do you know if Mariner has declared for Samoa, or was overlooked for the Kiwis so just chosen this tour?

 

[Clarkent]

@Clarkent What do you think of that side? Doesn't look the strongest to me, but you'll have a better idea.

Also, do you know if Mariner has declared for Samoa, or was overlooked for the Kiwis so just chosen this tour?

On the nrl article he turned the Kiwis down same with Nanai with the aussies.

It's not the strongest samoan team that's for sure, but we're playing over in England and it's no surprise players will pull out after a long season. Jarome Luai going on tour is a huge relief because he's the key to the samoan spine. I'm glad some of the SL players are picked because they know how those English boys play. It's definitely a team to build for the next world cup.

 

[Clarkent]

If that team played in the Pacific Championships, they would've got destroyed but all 3 nations

 

[Matua]

On the nrl article he turned the Kiwis down same with Nanai with the aussies.

It's not the strongest samoan team that's for sure, but we're playing over in England and it's no surprise players will pull out after a long season. Jarome Luai going on tour is a huge relief because he's the key to the samoan spine. I'm glad some of the SL players are picked because they know how those English boys play. It's definitely a team to build for the next world cup.

Revoke his passport then.

 

[taste2taste]

In hindsight it was a good move to make this a 2 game series. Unless England name a heavily depleted team you'd expect them to win both games comfortably. If they had a 3rd game, with England easily winning the first 2 it would have been a hard sell getting anyone to watch.

Shame, a full strength Samoa could give any of the big 3 a tough game.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Bit disappointed TBH. I know there’s various reasons for their best players not being available and most (I hope) are perfectly valid.

But when I look at the Tonga squad and see just about all their best players making themselves available, it’s still a shame not seeing the same for Samoa.

Good to have Nanai, Mariner and Talagi committing though. Wasn’t sure which way those guys were leaning.

 

[Clarkent]

Bit disappointed TBH. I know there’s various reasons for their best players not being available and most (I hope) are perfectly valid.

But when I look at the Tonga squad and see just about all their best players making themselves available, it’s still a shame not seeing the same for Samoa.

Good to have Nanai, Mariner and Talagi committing though. Wasn’t sure which way those guys were leaning.

You can't compare the two. The players missing out for samoa are the Panthers boys who are way overdue for a rest after playing 5 grandfinals in a row. Some of those players also played Origin after a long season. Tonga basically only has one origin player (Olakau'atu) I'm glad they're resting now and I hope they're free next year to play the Kiwis and Tonga in the Pacific Championships

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

You can't compare the two. The players missing out for samoa are the Panthers boys who are way overdue for a rest after playing 5 grandfinals in a row. Some of those players also played Origin after a long season. Tonga basically only has one origin player (Olakau'atu) I'm glad they're resting now and I hope they're free next year to play the Kiwis and Tonga in the Pacific Championships

Well like I said, I know there’s various reasons and most will be valid so it is what it is. And I also know the organisers didn’t help by being slow with confirming dates.

But I don’t buy the workload thing. I’m not downplaying how long the season is, but Luai should be the first one staying home if it was a problem across the board.

Crichton didn’t play finals and Leniu only played 17 NRL games this season, mostly off the bench. Yea he played Origin too but they were also off the bench.

Compared to Nanai who started most of his 23 club games and Origin, and Blore who started all bar 1 of his 24 games including the GF.

I get Crichton’s wedding was another factor, but other players have cut honeymoons or holidays short when called up for rep duty.

Like I said, it is what it is. And hopefully the boys all make themselves available next year when playing closer to home. But when they’re all clearly as proud of their culture as they are, genuine injuries aside, I’m still disappointed more of them didn’t front up like Luai has.

 

[Clarkent]

Well like I said, I know there’s various reasons and most will be valid so it is what it is. And I also know the organisers didn’t help by being slow with confirming dates.

But I don’t buy the workload thing. I’m not downplaying how long the season is, but Luai should be the first one staying home if it was a problem across the board.

Crichton didn’t play finals and Leniu only played 17 NRL games this season, mostly off the bench. Yea he played Origin too but they were also off the bench.

Compared to Nanai who started most of his 23 club games and Origin, and Blore who started all bar 1 of his 24 games including the GF.

I get Crichton’s wedding was another factor, but other players have cut honeymoons or holidays short when called up for rep duty.

Like I said, it is what it is. And hopefully the boys all make themselves available next year when playing closer to home. But when they’re all clearly as proud of their culture as they are, genuine injuries aside, I’m still disappointed more of them didn’t front up like Luai has.

Critchon, Leniu weren't part of the finals this year but they were the last 4 years. I will never downplay there commitment to samoa because they could've easily said no to samoa and chase the money by wearing the kangaroos jersey instead. Luai didn't play for samoa last year so he's a bit more fresher then those guys.