Toa Samoa

Coach Matt Parish has been scanning through the list of players this past week to come up a formidable side for the test match.

Parish says he has a larger pool of athletes to select from thanks to NRL Secretariat and new Rugby League World Cup CEO, Andrew Hill.

He says most of the players are currently in NRL or Super League.

Parish adds many players are excited about the prospect of playing for Toa Samoa since the test match was announced in May.

Hill, who takes up his new role at the end of the month, is visiting Samoa to finalise preparations for the test match between Toa Samoa and Fiji Bati in October.

 “Every country in the world, who plays rugby league, every time they play against Samoa they actually know that they have to be at their best performance,” said Hill.

“Anyone who has watched the last four nations in 2014, under Matt’s coaching, Samoa should have won two of those three games,” he added.

Toa Samoa will play 3 pool matches:

Toa Samoa v New Zealand 
Saturday 28 October 2017
Mt Smart Stadium AUCKLAND

RNZI reports the Toa beat Tonga 18-6 at the weekend in the Pacific Test to retain the Polynesian Cup while Fiji were upset 24-22 by Papua New Guinea in the Melanesian Cup.

Rugby League International Federation Deputy Chair John Grant said the Test is a fitting way for Samoa to celebrate 30 years of rugby league in the country.

Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish told Fox Sports he will pick Milford for their 7th May test against Tonga in Parramatta if he is overlooked by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga for their one-off clash with New Zealand next month.

Milford played for Samoa at the 2013 World Cup but switched his allegiances the following year in a bid to be eligible for State of Origin.

Despite the squad not being named yet, Su’a said there are international names who have been representing Samoa in international test matches expected to join the team.