Samoa draw up hit list of rugby league stars to take them to the next level

Samoa have their eyes on landing some of rugby league and rugby union’s biggest stars as they try to follow Tonga into Test football’s highest highs.

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It’s the Samoan hit list that could dethrone Tonga as the reigning kings of rugby league in the pacific.

Powerhouse forward Martin Taupau believes the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can help Samoa reach its potential as a footballing nation.

While Williams is currently contracted to the Auckland Blues, Taupau sounded out the dual-code superstar for the upcoming rugby league world cup in 2021.

“He’s played world cups in rugby union, he’s won Super Rugby championship, he’s won NRL premierships, he’s done it all. It would be amazing. Do you have Sonny Bill’s number to send it over to me?,” Taupau said with a laugh.

Earlier this month, Taupau pledged his allegiance to Samoa after playing 24 Test matches for the Kiwis, continuing the trend of NRL stars opting to play for their countries of heritage over Tier One nations Australia and New Zealand.

Taupau has joined Samoa. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

Taupau is hoping his move might encourage others to make the same shift and at the same time help Samoa become as competitive as Tonga on the world stage.

“There is RTS, Leeson Ah Mau, Nelson Asofa Solomona and there’s Ken Maumalolo. It would be nice if any of the players who have Samoan heritage want to represent their country. My move isn’t to apply any pressure on the players, it’s more about making the transition easier when they do make the decision.”

Jason Taumalolo’s decision in 2017 to play for Tonga in the world cup instead of the Kiwis had a seismic impact on the Mate Ma’a. At the time, the North Queensland behemoth was the Dally M Player of the Year and widely regarded as the best forward in the game. The ripple effect was huge, players like Andrew Fifita, Manu Ma’u and Sio Siua Taukeiaho all turned their back on New Zealand to play for Tonga.

Outside back Jamayne Isaako believes current Dally M Player of Year Tuivasa-Sheck could have the same impact on Samoa that Taumalolo’s switch did on Tonga.

Tuivasa-Sheck was born in Apia. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images.

“A lot of the Pacific Islander players look up to Roger, he has such a highly regarded reputation among the boys and within Pacific Islander communities. I’m not too sure if Roger has ever thought of making the move but if he did a lot of the players would follow in his footsteps if he made that call to play for Samoa,” he said.

Earlier this week, one of the players on Taupau’s list, Asofa-Solomona, shut down the idea of ever playing for Samoa over New Zealand.

“Each to their own, I’m fine with that. I have nothing against him making that decision. For me it was never about shutting the door on the Kiwis. For me it was how I felt about how strongly I felt about my Samoan heritage,” he said.

Williams has a Samoan passport. Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images.

To help bring the players closer to their Samoan heritage ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, Isaako told The Daily Telegraph a traditional ‘ava ceremony was performed during the camp. The ‘ava ceremony is an ancient ritual that is usually performed at the beginning of gatherings and is traditionally conducted by the village high chief.

“We had a few of our old boys come back like Ben Roberts and Frank Pritchard. The vibe in camp has been great.

“We had ‘ava ceremony and Benny got up and said a few words and it really hit home for the younger boys of what it means to represent the country.

“His words were about representing family and friends and everyone who paved the way to be where we are today,” Isaako said.