Bulldogs rising star ruled out of Pacific Championship
Jarome Luai and Joseph Suaalii are also both unavailable.
In what is new coach Ben Gardiner’s first squad for the island nation, Samoa will be attempting to replicate their World Cup success,
where they made the final for the first time.
The big blow for Samoa is the loss of Jarome Luai, who is out with injury after re-aggravating his shoulder issue during the grand final.
World Cup fullback Joesph Suaalii will also be unavailable due to a series of concussion he endured at the backed of the 2023 season.
“He’s unavailable. I had a discussion with the Roosters a few weeks ago… It’s concussion protocol. I don’t want to go too much into it
because I’m not privy to that information,” Gardner said via The Daily Telegraph.
“But with the concussions he had at the end of the year, he’s unavailable for the Tests matches because of those protocols.”
Samoan tri-series squad
Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
Sua Fa’alogo (Melbourne Storm)
Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks)
Luciano Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys)
Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)
Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys)
Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)
Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers)
Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)
Karl Oloapu (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Keenan Palasia (Brisbane Broncos)
Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm)
Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)
Fixtures
Saturday, October 14: Australia vs Samoa at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, 8:10pm
Saturday, October 21: New Zealand vs Samoa at Eden Park, Auckland, 4:00pm
Saturday, October 28: Australia vs New Zealand at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 8:10pm
Saturday, November 4: Final at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 3pm
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