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9 Oct 2024

Shaun Wane relishing Samoa series

Shaun Wane relishing Samoa series

Shaun Wane says there are “no surprises” in the strength of the squad named by Samoa overnight for their historic trip to England, and is relishing the challenge ahead in the forthcoming two-match series against the 2022 World Cup finalists. 

Toa Samoa head coach Ben Gardiner has selected a 23-man squad to be led by Jarome Luai, fresh from his fourth consecutive NRL Grand Final triumph with Penrith, and also including Luai’s Panthers team-mate Izack Tago, the cross-code New Zealand international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – who is set to represent the country of his birth for the first time – plus John Asiata and Ricky Leutele, who have been team-mates at Leigh Leopards for the last two seasons. 

England head coach Wane will finalise his squad next Tuesday, after Saturday’s Betfred Super League Grand Final, ahead of the first ABK Beer International at The Brick Community Stadium in Wigan on Sunday October 27 – with the second match at the AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium the following Saturday (November 2). 

“Samoa have named a strong squad, no surprises there,” Wane said today. 

“They’ve got world-class talent across the park, and we know exactly what they’re capable of. 

“We respect their strengths, but we’re focused on ourselves. We’ve been preparing hard, learning from our previous encounters, and fine-tuning our game. 

“They got the better of us last time in a tough battle, but we’re ready for the challenge ahead and excited to face them again. They are going to be two fantastic Tests.” 

England’s only previous home meetings with Samoa both came in the World Cup two autumns ago.

Wane’s team romped to a 60-6 win in the opening match of the tournament at St James’ Park in Newcastle, with two tries each for Dominic Young and Elliott Whitehead, and 24 points from Tommy Makinson - only for the Samoans to claim dramatic revenge in the Semi Final at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London, snatching a 21-20 win in Golden Point extra-time through Stephen Crichton’s long-range drop goal. 

 

Tickets for the ABK Beer Internationals are available now at rugby-league.com/tickets.

 

England Performance Squad (to be reduced on Tuesday): Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), John Bateman (Warrington Wolves), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark (St Helens), Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), Tyler Dupree (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), James Harrison (Warrington Wolves), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Elliot Minchella (Hull KR), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh Leopards), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors), Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dom Young (Sydney Roosters).

 

Samoa squad: Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers, captain), John Asiata (Leigh Leopards), Shawn Blore (Melbourne Storm), Luciano Leilua (St George Illawarra Dragons), Ricky Leutele (Leigh Leopards), Terrell May (Sydney Roosters), Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Francis Molo (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys), Josiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans), Junior Pauga (Sydney Roosters), Keenan Palasia (Gold Coast Titans), Paul Roache (NZ Warriors), Simi Sasagi (Canberra Raiders), Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Jake Tago (Parramatta Eels), Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers), Jazz Tevaga (Manly Sea Eagles), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Lazarus Vaalepu (Melbourne Storm).