fetu samoa

The match, which was played on an afternoon in which temperatures reached 30°C at the Santos National Football Stadium Port Moresby, ended a four-year wait between games for Fiji and was Samoa's first outing since 2020.

Despite having much less experience in their squad than Samoa – whose side included dual-code international Niall Williams-Guthrie, Maroons hooker Destiny Brill and former Kiwi Fern Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala – it was Fiji who got off to the better start. 

Fetū Samoa defended strongly in a credible 28-8 defeat by New Zealand but the agility and foot work of the Kiwi Ferns ultimately proved too strong at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Ross Uele believed the team would only get better with more time together.

"If we had another week under our belt it could have been a different story, but full credit to the Kiwis," he said.

"They're the benchmark and I'm really happy with the girls and what they did today."

Samoa put in a tough defensive effort but the agility and foot work of home team proved too strong at Mt Smart Stadium.

Karli Hansen scored the opening try off the back of a hopeful kick which bounced off the outside of the posts before the Ferns scored another through Honey Hireme.

The first half was always going to be challenging for Samoa, who were working against the wind, but they soon found momentum with a quick dummy from stand-off Ricshay Lemanu helping her make way through the defence, putting points on the board at 10-4.

Eight of the 20-strong squad were involved in last weekend's NZRL women's grand final, while six players have been selected from the Farah Palmer Cup rugby union competition, including Manusina international Nina Foaese.

Masuisui Pauaraisa will lead Fetu Samoa against New Zealand for the second year running while Aieshaleigh Smalley has swapped black for blue, having been a part of the New Zealand team that outclassed Samoa 46-8 last June.

Rota has been a focal point of the Ferns team for the better part of four years since making her debut in the 2016 Anzac test victory over the Jillaroos.

No stranger to the captaincy role, Rota led the Counties Manukau women's team for three years, including over the weekend when they won their 11th straight national title by beating the Akarana Falcons in the final.

She has also captained the Maori All-Stars for two years and scored the match-winning try in their inaugural game against the Indigenous All-Stars.

Fetu Samoa were overpowered by the Kiwi Ferns on their return to international rugby league last year, but head of Rugby League Samoa's New Zealand chapter, Geoff Muliaga Brown, said the upcoming match is a chance at redemption.

"This is a test. You're playing the Kiwi Ferns, they're one of the best teams in the world so we certainly want to make sure we're putting in the work," he said.

"Its unfortunate we can't have girls from overseas involved, which we generally do, but we're quite confident we can put together a very competitive Samoan team."

It was the Samoans first international in eight years, and only the second time the two teams had met.

The win was built around New Zealand's strength in the centres and superb support play.

Kiana Takairangi opened the scoring after just two minutes, adding a second 10 minutes later as the New Zealanders' pace and power found gaps in the Samoan defence.

Kiwi Ferns skipper Honey Hireme sliced through for a third after 13 minutes, with second rower Kathleen Wharton making it four as the 20 minute mark ticked over.

Billy-Jean Ale and Tasia Seumanufagai are the only survivors from the side that played Australia in Apia in 2011, while five of the 21-strong squad have previously represented New Zealand or Australia.

New Zealand Warriors second rower Luisa Gago was a part of the Kiwi Ferns World Cup squad in 2017 but said the opportunity to represent Samoa was one she could not ignore.