TOA SAMOA - RLWC17
The Rugby League World Cup 2017 kicks off tonight in Melbourne where Australia take on England and our Pacific boys - Toa Samoa, Mate Ma'a Tonga, Fiji Bati & the PNG Kumuls are set to take the field over the next couple of days in the first rounds of pool play.
With there being a lot of discussion & some controversy over a couple of the Tongan players opting to "Turn their backs" on Australia & New Zealand and go with Tonga & their heritage, Toa Samoa have managed to escape a lot of the media focus in the build up to the Rugby League World Cup.
We caught up with some of the boys earlier in the week and asked them their thoughts on playing for their country of heritage, whether they feel like they're coming in as the Underdogs, who the funny guys in the team are & more ...
What do you think about players going to play for their country of heritage?
Frank Pritchard (Captain) I think it’s healthy for the game. It evens up the competition, especially for international rugby. Australia always set the bar and the Kiwi’s, so for those players to go back its great for Tonga. We’re in a tough pool against them, but at the end of the day, good on them. Hopefully in the future some Samoa players end up picking us first instead of those other countries.
Bunty Afoa - I reckon it’s massive. I was born in Samoa and it was a proud moment for mum and dad playing for the world cup. For me to play for my country was massive. We went back there last week, and you see a lot of kids that don’t have the opportunity like us in New Zealand. You start to take a lot of things for granted being young, but now I’m grateful for everything.
Sefa Paulo - I think it’s important to every rugby league player because they get that opportunity. So you’re not only representing your culture, but your family too. Some of the values you learn as a young kid, as a Tongan or Samoan, Cook Island or Niuean kid, I think it’s important as a player because you don’t get that many opportunities, but when you get that chance you want to embrace it and represent your family and culture well.
I’m pretty proud of those guys, it takes a lot of courage to take less money but in the long run you get to represent your family, and you start to see the emotional effect it has on the family. You can understand as a ruby league player, it’s not just putting on the jersey, it’s so much more.
For us, we got to play in Wagga Wagga; a country town in New South Wales. You wouldn’t think, but there’s a community of 15 Samoans and they put on an umu for us. Even when they got to talk they were proud, this is our national team. I get to tell my kids one day that our national team Toa Samoa rugby league, played in Wagga Wagga.
How do you feel about the team coming in as the Underdogs?
Josh Papali'i - We have to be the underdogs, but I reckon that’s better than having pressure on your team. We have our heads down and we’re just trying to work hard to do something as a team.
Pita Godinet - I think the boys obviously know that the other teams will be working hard, and we’ll be doing the same. We just have to concentrate on what we do and do all the little things right. You just never know what’s going to happen on game day, like you said, we’re just flying under the radar at the moment and I think it suits us. We’ll lay low a bit and see what happens.
Frank Pritchard - We’re happy to go in as underdogs, there’s not pressure on us to perform well. The good thing for us is that we can focus on the team and rock up and do well. I think the pressure is on them and at the end of the day we just have to do us well.
Do you feel that now that players are allowed to play for their country of heritage it evens up the playing field?
Suaia Matagi - Yeah I think it’s probably a good thing that a few players have gone back. Especially for Tonga, seeing that team on paper is a strong team, and the Kiwi’s are one to look out for.
Bunty Afoa - I think it’s awesome, I don’t mind it. They’re going to put their best players on the field, and we just have to do our best. We have the best of our country, and they’re bring their best, so it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere. It’s a big challenge as players and as a team.
Sefa Paulo - I think its going to be interesting, you can see across the whole world cup squads, from Italy to Tonga to Samoa, there’s so much experience across each team. I think it’s going to be a great contest this world cup and it’ll be excited.
What is the team culture like with the mix of Aussie raised, Kiwi raised and Samoan raised boys?
Pita Godinet - Yeah obviously everyone has been raised differently. A few of us boys have been raised here and you sort of know the difference between us and the Aussie born Samoans. Luckily we have our ‘CEO’; we call him the ‘Chief Entertainment Officer’. He pretty much grounds us all, and you’ve seen the Siva Samoa; we get into a circle and he gets everyone up to dance, even if you cant dance he’ll teach you.
Josh Papali’i - I’m pretty fresh myself, so when I have to speak Samoan I will. I think the older boys are definitely more professional than the younger boys. I’ve always been a big believer in just coming as you are and that’s how I like to keep it. A lot of people from the outside think I’m a leader and someone who says a lot, but I don’t really start saying things till we’re on the field and under pressure. I like to have fun as well.
Suaia Matagi - I think the good thing about it is that we got to spend a week in Samoa and there was unity straight away. No matter where you’re born everyone just came together for Toa Samoa.
Bunty Afoa - It’s funny; you find the guys that are plastic and the guys that are fresh. Some of the guys try to talk in Samoan and we just start cracking up. But then you have guys that can really talk it. We have a great bond; on the first day everyone starting bond straight away so its pretty good.
All the Samoans are the same, whether you’re from the islands or NZ or Australia, when you come together everyone is the same because we all show each other respect and love so it’s a massive brotherhood.
Sefa Paulo - My roommate Jarome Luai, it was his first time in Samoa. He’s grown up in Australia, but for him to come over to Samoa and even just asked about words and try to learn so he can talk to people it’s funny but he’s embracing it. You can see the Kiwi boys that have grown up with that in school and had Polyfest and all that, it comes natural to them.
Even for myself, I feel like I’m trying to be Samoan but I sound like an Aussie, people get my accent confused. But it’s all part of everyone bringing their own unique ways to gel.
Who are the clowns or crack-ups in the team?
Bunty Afoa - It’s Josh; he’s got a sense of humor that’s really crack up. He likes to crack jokes and mock people, and Joey Leilua too. It’s mostly the senior boys that are the funniest ones.
Sefa Paulo - Probably Young (Tonumaipea), he’s just funny because he’s got a mustache and thinks he’s from Mexico. You just look at him and you want to laugh, but he’s a good character and a good laugh.
As a former Kiwi, have you got some insights into how you will play them?
Yeah we just have to respect them, they’re never weak. No matter what the outcome we just have to play.
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For more details on tomorrow nights game and to buy tickets click here
Lessssss Goooooo TOA SAMOA!!
