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Opinion
Finally, we have a new challenger at the Rugby League World Cup: Samoa. The size and power of the Samoan team is capable of beating any side on its day and the code screaming for a serious challenge from them over the course of the next five weeks.
With PlayUp offering odds of $11 for a Samoan win, it seems canny to invest a little; considering both the squad that will represent the tiny South Pacific nation and the fact that rugby league would benefit greatly from one of the long awaited new challengers finally maturing into a real threat.
Across 15 editions of the World Cup, both the early tournaments that featured just a handful of teams and the current ones that involve improving Pacific nations and new players like Lebanon, Jamaica and Greece, just three teams have triumphed.
Australia has 11 World Cup trophies at its rugby league headquarters, New Zealand just the one earned in 2008 and Great Britain reigned supreme on three occasions; 1954, 1960 and 1972.
Not that the events have ever been boring, yet the number of nations in serious contention has traditionally being three, with that number a stretch when the English have looked well off the pace of the Aussies and Kiwis.
This year will see 16 teams involved and whilst Scotland, Lebanon, Jamaica, Italy and Greece are certain to be in for a hiding or two, the diversity added to the tournament is a clear positive.
Martin Taupau. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
However, at the pointy end, it will be pretty much status quo, aside from a power-packed Samoan side that looks to have a physical advantage over every other team.
Two key factors for Toa Samoa will be whether coach Matt Parish is able to quickly gel the immense talent at this disposal and match the professional efficiency of the top teams. Another will be finding the halfback option that controls and oversees the game plan and allows the monstrous size and power of the squad to take full advantage.
The number seven looks to be an area of real concern for Parish, with Anthony Milford probably the man to be given the task of taking pressure of Jarome Luai in the halves and allowing him to play similarly to the way he does with Penrith. Chanel Harris-Tavita is Parish’s other option at halfback and the decision could be a crucial one.
Seven men that played in the recent NRL grand final between the Panthers and Eels have been selected in the squad and the strong Penrith feel sees Luai, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Taylan May, Izak Tago and Brian To’o all headed to England.
Parramatta’s Junior Paulo and Oregon Kaufusi join the five other Samoan grand finalists still in top physical condition, something that could be a distinct advantage considering the number of opposition players that have now sat out for over a month in waiting.
The attractive $11 looks even juicier when you reflect on a potential back line featuring May, To’o, Luai, Crichton, Tago, Joseph Suaalii and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and either Harris-Tavita or Milford at the base of the scrum.
Frankly, if that back line fires, I’m not sure who stops it.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
After Samoa defeat England and belt the Greeks and French to advise to the quarter-finals, the other sides awaiting them will also be reminded of the frightful pack of Samoan forwards.
Paulo, Kaufusi, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Luciano Leilua, Martin Taupau, Josh Papalii and Kelma Tuilagi are challenging enough to tackle individually, let alone when they come in waves one after another. In top flight, even the Australian’s will struggle to combat the onslaught.
Parish will have to overcome a perceived lack of depth at hooker, with much pressure placed on Huddersfield’s Danny Levi and few other options should one be required.
Ball control will be everything. If Toa Samoa turn up and complete at 80 per cent or higher, the World Cup could well be theirs. In three past quarter final appearances it has been poor handling and a lack of polish and control that have hampered Samoa’s chances and Milford and co. in the halves could well be the determining factors.
I am taking the $11, using the capital built after predicting a Parramatta fade out in the grand final. I am taking it for two reasons.
Firstly, Toa Samoa scare the heck out of every team they will face, whether they like to admit it or not and secondly, the best thing that could happen to rugby league right now would be a new World Cup champion.
The game needs it.