Toa Samoa coach Matthew Parish is debuting six players in the Pacific Test against the Fiji Bati team in Apia on Saturday.
“We’ve got mostly pretty young guys here playing this week with about six of them putting this blue jersey on this week for Toa for the first time. The focus is on putting development players out there for experience looking at the future of the sport here in Samoa,” Parish said.
He says his team to take on Fiji may be lacking in size but result will depend mostly on the performance of the players.
“Well we just have to play well and if the boys put on a good performance we can seal the win this week,” he said.
The team which is missing out on some of its normal utility players like Faamanu Brown, Tim Simona and Joey Leilua will rely mostly on the debuting backs, one of them being Castleford winger, Denny Solomona.
“I’ve been all for playing for Samoa in the blue jersey and there isn’t much pressure on me to perform. I just have been preparing well and look forward to hitting the field,” said Solomona in an interview with Loop Samoa.
Solomona holds the record for most tries in a season in the Super Leagues 8s competition this year with 37 tries, something coach Parish is quite proud of.
“With our young players like Denny, we’re looking at a really good team filled with playmakers and strong backs, so I’m glad that we have these young faces. Tim, Faamanu and Joey unfortunately have been struck with injuries but with the team we now have what it takes to get the job done,” said Parish.
The test match is part of celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Rugby League Samoa.
The team list is as follows:
- Sam Kasiano
- Kaisa Pritchard
- Denny Solomona
- Junior Paulo
- Sauaso Su’e
- Tim Lafai
- Pita Godinet
- Matthew Wright
- David Nofoaluma
- Mason Lino
- Ken Maumalo
- Leeson Amau
- Raymond Faitala Mariner
- Sam Lisone
- James Gavet
- Bunty Afoa
- Erin Clark