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Bulldogs 2018 recruit Fa'amanu Brown has been selected for Toa Samoa in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup announced today (Friday).

Frank Pritchard will captain Toa Samoa at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup after being named in a 24-man squad which includes Canberra Raiders powerhouse Josh Papalii.

Rugby League Samoa president Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a announced the squad in Samoa on Friday for the tournament, which will be played in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between 27 October and 2 December.

The squad will be led by Pritchard, the 33-year-old who returned to the NRL from the English Super League to join Parramatta this season. 

Papalii, who has played eight Tests for Australia, will represent Samoa for the first time and will play alongside Canberra teammates Junior Paulo and Joey Leilua in a strong Toa Samoan side with extensive NRL and Super League experience but a blend of youth.

Zane Musgrove, Jazz Tevaga and Jarome Luai are other newcomers to the Toa Samoa squad, while Joseph Paulo returns to the side for the first time since 2010.

Ben Roberts, Leeson Ah Mau, Peter and Sione Mata’utia, Sam Tagataese and Tautau Moga add further experience to the squad.

The former Canterbury Bulldogs half Roberts has had an outstanding season with runaway Super League ladder leaders Castleford who take on Leeds in the grand final this weekend. He has played 12 Tests for Samoa, including the 2008 World Cup.

Samoa coach Matt Parish says he has assembled a strong, experienced squad with the desire to represent Samoa as evident in the disappointment of several NRL players who missed selection.

“Despite some players being unavailable due to injury we have a very strong squad that will do Samoa proud,” said Parish of the squad that will take on New Zealand (Auckland, 28 October), Tonga (Hamilton, NZ, 4 November) and Scotland (Cairns, 11 November).

“It’s a tough group but these boys have lifted before when they have put on the Samoan jersey, and there is a lot of competitiveness to gain selection. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.”

Rugby League Samoa president Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a said team work would be the focus of the preparations for the squad leading up to the opening game against the Kiwis.

“Teamwork requires sacrifice upfront and putting the collective needs of the team ahead of any individual. There is no ‘I’ in team but there is ‘I’ in ‘WIN’,” he said.

The Samoa squad will assemble in Sydney next Tuesday and play a Country Rugby League side in Wagga on Friday, 13 October at McDonalds Park (7pm).

The 24-man Samoan squad is:
 

 

PLAYER NAME

CLUB

1

Frank Pritchard (captain)

Parramatta Eels

2

Bunty Afoa

NZ Warriors

3

Leeson Ah Mau

St George Illawarra Dragons

4

Faámanu Brown

Cronulla Sharks

5

Herman Ese’ese

Brisbane Broncos

6

Pita Godinet

Manly Sea Eagles

7

Joey Leilua

Canberra Raiders

8

Ricky Leutele

Cronulla Sharks

9

Sam Lisone

NZ Warriors

10

Jarmoine Luai  

Penrith Panthers

11

Suaia Matagi

Parramatta Eels

12

Peter Mata’utia

Newcastle Knights

13

Sione Mata’utia

Newcastle Knights

14

Ken Maumalo

NZ Warriors

15

Tautau Moga

Brisbane Broncos

16

Zane Musgrave  

South Sydney Rabbitohs

17

Josh Papalii  

Canberra Raiders

18

Joseph Paulo

Cronulla Sharks

19

Junior Paulo

Canberra Raiders

20

Ben Roberts

Castleford – UK

21

Sam Tagataese

Cronulla Sharks

22

Jazz Tevaga  

NZ Warriors

23

Young Tonumaipea

Melbourne Storm

24

Matthew Wright

Manly Sea Eagles

Acknowledgement of Country

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs respect and honour the Darug and Eora nations, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.