RLWC

Panthers coach among new faces in Samoa set-up

Samoa, who face Cook Islands in the Pacific Test double-header at Campbelltown on June 25 ahead of the World Cup opener against England at St James Park on October 15, will again be led by Parish, with Webster and Agar joining Geoff Toovey on his coaching staff.

Pritchard, who played eight Tests for Samoa and 256 NRL matches for Penrith, Canterbury and Parramatta, has also joined the staff.

Samoa name burly team to face Kiwis

A monster forward pack including captain Frank Pritchard and Canberra-based duo Junior Paulo and Josh Papalii will take to the field in Auckland, hoping for an upset win over the hosts.

With several Australian and Kiwi-born players, that's a distinct possibility.

Ben Roberts starts at halfback, partnered by Joseph Paulo, while NRL regulars Tim Lafai and Joey Leilua line up in the centres.

There are four Warriors players in Matt Parish's extended squad - wing Ken Maumalo, hooker Jazz Tevaga, prop Sam Lisone and reserve Bunty Afoa.

Toa Samoa quietly dreaming of Rugby League World Cup success

While New Zealand and Tonga have stolen all the headlines ahead of this week's first round of pool matches, Toa Samoa have been assiduously working away on home soil, hoping to earn a spot in the Cup final four.

They've now touched down in Auckland - home to an enormous Samoan diaspora - in preparation for Saturday night's clash with the Kiwis.

Pritchard, a 26-cap Kiwis veteran who has elected to represent his heritage at the Cup, couldn't wait to showcase his Samoa side to the world.

He had every belief they could make waves at the event.

Kangaroos’ centre stocks thin: Renouf

Manly's Dylan Walker – the Dally M Centre of the Year – was an unfortunate casualty of the Prime Minister's XIII game in Papua New Guinea and would almost certainly have earned selection, but his absence leaves Chambers and Dane Gagai as the only Kangaroos to have played a minimum of five NRL games in the centres this season.

Instead, the proliferation of fullbacks at the representative level continued with Meninga selecting five players who have spent significant time in the No.1 jersey during the course of the season.

Leuluai: I thought my Kiwis career was over

After featuring at the Four Nations tournament at the end of last season, Leuluai expected the pool play clash against Scotland – where he suffered a broken jaw midway through the match – would be his 36th and final Test for New Zealand.

But this week he spoke of his joy when coach David Kidwell confirmed he would be part of the 24-man squad despite the selection of UK-based Kiwi players being almost unheard in the current international environment.

Toa Samoa defeat NSW Country U23's

Samoa’s tries came from Peter Mata'utia, Jarome Luai, Young Tonumaipe'a, Ken Maumalo and Suaia Matagi.

Joesph Leilua added to tha tally with his two tries.

The conversions came from Matthew Wright, Fa'amanu Brown and Joseph Paulo.

There were two tries for NSW  Country U23’s from Jacob Gagai and a try each from Ryley Thomas, Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy and Jack Hickson.

The clash is the first for Toa Samoa since its line up for the RLWC was announced last week.

Toa Samoa’s campaign for the RLWC kicks off against New Zealand in Auckland on 28 October.

Foran out of World Cup

The NZRL confirmed Foran's new club, the Canterbury Bulldogs, have made him unavailable for the World Cup so he can recover from a quad and back strain he played through for the majority of the 2017 season with the Warriors.

The Kiwis co-host the World Cup alongside Australia and Papaua New Guinea.

The tournament kicks off at the end of next month.