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Samoa are winning fans by playing with nothing to lose

Roar Rookie
3rd November, 2014
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Rugby league is growing in the Pacific Islands. (AAP Image / Action Photographics: Robb Cox)
Roar Rookie
3rd November, 2014
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I could watch Samoa play rugby league all day – seven days a week and twice on Sunday.

In an entertaining Four Nations the Samoans have been the surprise packet and the clear shining light in a tournament that boasts three league giants New Zealand, England and Australia.

Against England in week one Samoa turned up to play. The underdogs completed 18 from 20 sets in the first half (in comparison England completed 7 from 13), a statistic that would put a smile on any NRL coach’s face, and the full time score of 32-26 didn’t really represent the reality of the game.

Once the full time whistle sounded James Graham, Garth Widdop and the motley crew of Englishmen knew they were very lucky to out-last the Samoans.

Week two Samoa travelled to New Zealand to face the Kiwis in their backyard. The Kiwis were expected to roll over their opposition and totally dominate the game – only problem was that someone forgot to give the Samoans the script, or if they did it was binned. Samoa outplayed the Kiwis for the majority of the game, with New Zealand just getting home 14-12.

Given their dominance over the Kangaroos the week before, New Zealand avoided a very embarrassing loss. For my money the better team lost.

The best thing about the Samoans is that, in the tradition of the great underdogs, they relish playing like they have nothing to lose.

With the greatest respect to those playing for Samoa, they don’t possess any of the superstars of the game like Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk or Daly Cherry-Evans. But they do possess a team of men with an unrelenting commitment to the task at hand and to each other, and they are not phased one damn bit about the makeup of the opposition.

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As Frank Pritchard was quoted as saying after the weekends game, they are not “here to make up the numbers; the boys wear the jersey with pride and honour.” In 160 minutes of football they have proven that with interest.

Much of the credit must go to the coach Matt Parish and his coaching staff, who have convened a great player group while also doing the required homework on the opposition. By doing this he has, two weeks running, put his charges in a position of winning both games.

So bring on the Australians. The Kangaroos’ biggest issue is they have everything to lose – they will be desperate to win and are facing an opposition who will be playing their last game of the tournament with nothing to lose.

Not a good combination. I can smell an upset.

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