Toa Samoa

The 22-year-old Broncos star represented Samoa at the last World Cup and told the Courier Mail he was available to face England in May.

International eligibility laws were relaxed last year, allowing eligible players to nominate both a tier one and tier two nation to represent, with no stand-down periods and the ability to switch multiple times.

Milford is free to play for Samoa if he's overlooked by Australia and could even play for both this year, as well as the Queensland State of Origin team.

“Right now were just evaluating and looking at players. I can’t say who will be playing because that’s the coach’s decision independently. He selects the players to go,” said Su’a.

“We start trials next month. Towards the end of March we’ll have a fair idea of who we got on our list, but then again I can’t confirm who will be in the train on squad. It’s all up to the coach himself,” he added.

Meanwhile, Samoa’s favorite rugby league wing, Daniel Vidot has announced a return to rugby league meaning a chance to put on the Blue jersey for Samoa.

Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano inspired Samoa to a fast start, barging over for the opening try after just four minutes.

Lively Warriors winger Ken Maumalo crossed on the right hand side to extend the home side's lead and bagged his second four minutes later to give the Toa a commanding 18-0 lead.

Mick Potter said his side turned over too much possession in the opening quarter, forcing them to defend their line.

Coming back from the breather, Fiji began pounding at the Samoan front line, leading to their first three tries, before the halftime hooter.

The score remained 16 to 18 until the final 10 minutes when a crucial error at the Fijian goal line, led to Apisai Koroisau sprinting the length of the field for the apparent winning try.

Toa Samoa have called up six new caps: New Zealand Warriors quartet Mason Lino, Ken Maumalo, James Gavet and Bunty Afoa, Castleford Tigers back Denny Solomona and David Nofoaluma from Wests Tigers.

Meanwhile, Sam Lisone and Tim Lafai are back in blue after last representing the Toa in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

New Zealand Warriors quartet Mason Lino, Ken Maumalo, James Gavet and Bunty Afoa have all been selected in the Toa Samoa squad for the first time.

Rugby League Samoa President Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a said interest in the match was high.

On October 8, when the Toa Samoa international test team takes on the formidable Fiji Bati team, Lafai will be putting on that blue jersey once again.

“I always love running with these guys and coach Matt (Parish) has been doing a phenomenal job with the development of the team throughout the years and I’m excited to hit the field again with that signature blue on,” said Lafai.

Lafai started his career when he was only 19 years old in 2011 when the Bulldogs offered the Samoan centre a contract in the NRL.

Recently he moved to join the St George Illawara Dragons.

Coach Matthew Parish is also very much aware that the Fijian team has eight NRL players who were in the same team that defeated Toa Samoa in the 2013 Rugby League World playoffs.

“It’s a very strong team they’ve picked and some of those are key playmakers in the NRL and they also played a big role in our defeat in the last world cup,” he said.

“However, while they have a really strong team I also believe that the team Samoa will assemble here in Apia will be one of the strongest we’ve ever had on the field and its very exciting times,” he added.

Fiji Times reports the side has two boys from the Fiji Residents team and 12 players from the NRL competition and four are playing in local competition in Australia.

The Bati lineup against Samoa on October 8 is: Sitiveni Moceidreke, Tyrone Phillips, Kevin Naiqama, Brayden Williame, Marcelo Montoya, Henry Raiwalui, Maurice Kennedy, Kane Evans, Apisai Koroisau, Vitale Roqica, Viliame Kikau, Eloni Vunakece, Korbin Sims, James Storer, Erevonu Kamikamica, Petero Nakubuwai, Pio Seci and Saimoni Lomaloma.

Photo: Fiji Bati coach Mick Potter

The match coincides with Rugby League Samoa’s 30^th anniversary this year.

“We take pride in supporting our sports and Rugby League Samoa has been performing really well with their results and because of their performance including having been fourth in the world in Rugby league, we at Digicel believe it’s crucial to get involved,” said Digicel Samoa CEO Rory Condon.

This follows a bold move by the Rugby League International Federation to change its eligibility rules now allowing eligible players to nominate one tier one team, and one tier two team to represent.

Players can also switch between their two countries multiple times within a World Cup Cycle.

The biggest trouble Samoa Rugby League has been dealing with is the previous eligibility law that really tied down players of Pacific descent from competing for their nations.

“The rule changes are a massive positive for Rugby League leading into the 2017 World Cup.”