World Cup 2022: Samoa names Ligi Sao as replacement for stood down Luciano Leilua

Samoa has named its replacement for Luciano Leilua after he was stood down, rushing a former Manly and Roosters prop into its World Cup squad.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Former Manly and Roosters prop Ligi Sao has been rushed into the Samoan World Cup squad to replace Luciano Leilua.

Leilua was stood down after being charged with domestic violence related offences. He was at the airport ready to fly out with his Samoan teammates before he was instructed to remain in Sydney.

He was formally stood down under the NRL’s no fault policy on Thursday.

Sao is his replacement. He has spent the past three seasons with Hull FC after playing 47 matches split between Manly and the Warriors.

Sao played one Test for Samoa in 2018.

DCE FIRED UP FOR SHOOTOUT AFTER CAPTAINCY CALL

Travis Meyn

Daly Cherry-Evans has spoken about his disappointment in being snubbed for a Kangaroos captaincy role as NSW rival Nathan Cleary closes in on Australia’s No. 7 jersey.

Cherry-Evans will depart for England on Thursday with a cloud hanging over his Test future despite being part of Australia’s 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.

At 33 and with 15 Test caps next to his name, Cherry-Evans will be the oldest and most experienced player in Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos touring party.

But he faces a fight to secure the coveted halfback role for the World Cup finals after being overlooked for a position in Australia’s leadership group.

With incumbent skipper Boyd Cordner retiring since Australia’s last Test three years ago, the Kangaroos’ captaincy was up for grabs.

Daly Cherry-Evans was disappointed to miss out on the Kangaroos’ captaincy. Picture: Richard Dobson

Meninga opted to hand the top job to NSW Origin skipper James Tedesco, with fellow Blues Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo appointed co-captains.

Cherry-Evans has captained Queensland in the last four State of Origin series and said he hoped to secure the Australia role.

“I would have loved to have been captain of Australia but it’s not the direction they wanted to head in, which is fine,” he said. “It doesn’t change my role over there. I’m still going to be myself and help the captain and vice-captains if they ever need.

“It definitely doesn’t change my on-field role. When I’m playing halfback I’ll always make sure I’m doing that role really well. It hasn’t really changed anything.

“I would have loved the opportunity but it’s not to be. I’m still determined to go over there and play halfback for Australia. That will be the focus.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has handed the captaincy to James Tedesco, while Isaah Yeo and Cameron Murray are vice-captains. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

That will be a challenge in itself for Cherry-Evans following the rise of Cleary in recent years. The Panthers halfback clinched his second NRL premiership with a dominant performance in Penrith’s grand final demolition of Parramatta on Sunday.

Cleary, 24, and Cherry-Evans have waged several duels in the NRL and Origin arenas and are now set to take their professional rivalry to the Test stage.

Cherry-Evans admitted Meninga’s captaincy decision suggested he was no certainty to be in Australia’s best 17.

“Bloody oath it does,” he said when asked if the captaincy call suggested there was uncertainty around the halfback position. “It shows how close it is. It’s fantastic for the team that we’ve got some really decent options, not just at halfback but across the squad.

Daly Cherry-Evans captained Queensland to a famous Origin series win this year. Picture: Adam Head

“We’re in an Australia camp now and it’s the best of the best. You’ve got to be on your game and I’m really confident I’ll be able to do that when we get away.

“Mal was pretty open about it all. He said I am the most experienced and oldest player he’s taking, but he hopes I can have a really positive impact on the field as well as off it with the boys who haven’t toured before. I’m really excited about that role.

“With the team he was pretty up front. He said there’s a real challenge on mine and Nathan’s hands. We’re going to have to go over there and play some good footy. They’ll have a decision to make at some stage.”

While Cleary has had a meteoric rise, piloting Penrith to three straight grand finals, Cherry-Evans is no shot duck.

The Maroons maestro has 283 games of NRL experience behind him and led Queensland to a famous Origin series victory this year, outpointing Cleary’s Blues.

Cherry-Evans insisted there was no tension between him and Cleary in the halfback race.

Two-time premiership-winner Nathan Cleary is pushing for the Kangaroos No. 7 jersey. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“There’s heaps of people talking about that sort of stuff and is it a feud,” he said.

“We haven’t even spent any time together before. I’m really looking forward to getting into camp and learning and seeing how Nathan goes about his footy.

“Being halfbacks, naturally we’re going to be involved in meetings and game plans. I’m really looking forward to working with him. I think I’ll be able to learn something.

“We haven’t been told anything about (who the halfback will be). I’m assuming we’ll get to play the pool games and from there they’ll have a pretty good indication of what the team needs. Once you get to the quarterfinals you’re pretty settled.”

The Kangaroos open their World Cup campaign against Fiji on Saturday week at Headingley.

Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Originally published as World Cup 2022: Samoa names Ligi Sao as replacement for stood down Luciano Leilua