I have visited Samoa several times, and one thing I remember is that between six and seven o’clock in the evening, the bell tolls signalling the hour of solemn prayer. A time for aiga (family) to come together.
The Samoans are renowned in the Pacific for their Fa’a Samoa: The Samoan way. In the dynamic of the Pacific, they stand as a distinct proud culture, often gazed upon with great interest and dignified affection, when in the presence of their Pacific counterparts.
The Samoans are a country set apart. Rightfully, they are most protective of their rich culture and language, including their faith. What makes this country special is its forwardness, boldness, and often crude and proud cultural stance. An outward display of strict cultural protocol even on the international stage in the sphere of politics, oftentimes proving to be controversial.
They are certainly one of the remaining countries throughout the Pacific region that read their news on prime-time television, first in the Samoan language; then in English – keeping their language alive, vibrant, relevant, and intact. This spills over in their interaction across all their engagements and extends to the Australian and New Zealand diaspora settings.
What I love about the Samoans is their fight. You just need to look at their journey, not only in rugby league but also in rugby union, to find a snapshot of their silent yet defiant rise.
In rugby union, the Manu Samoa team was often described as the dark horse of the 7s, being in the top four countries in years past. Vividly, I remember growing up in Fiji, and like all Fijian children, listening to the radio when the Fijian 7s team competed in the world circuit. The thorn in the Fiji side was unequivocally the Samoan team; and it would be, that they would face off against Fiji in the finals, during what was then the IRB circuit.
Believe me, because of this rivalry, one would have to have a lot of guts walking down the streets of Apia with a Fiji Rugby 7s t-shirt on. A look that would invoke that slight moment of fear – I have certainly been there to witness it.
To’a Samoa came into the delayed 2021 RLWC with the most NRL players and the shortest amount of time to gel as a team. It was talked about. How could they even stand a chance? A team when obliterated in their first game faced comments from online rugby league pundits to people in cafes laughing at the notion of Samoa ever getting through to the quarters or the semis.
If we were to go a few steps back, look at the stance that players of Samoan heritage made to represent their country. How could they even think of doing that? Most Australians felt a sense of betrayal, as the online discourse continued regarding the exodus of players to overall Pacific teams. Players who genuinely desired to don their country-of-origin jerseys at this auspicious international platform.
This is a dream finally coming true for Samoa. A dream that is congruent throughout the Pacific when it comes to possibilities.
In the early hours of last Sunday morning, this small, tiny island in the Pacific arose to their country’s first semi-final win. The first country in the Pacific to reach the RLWC finals. To’a Samoa’s win became a conversation over the Sunday breakfast table throughout the Pacific: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.
With an estimated makeup of 45% of NRL players, it is growing. NRL Pacific players have learnt from playing with the best in the world. It would then be fitting, and memorable to take this cup home for the first time to the Pacific, and for a very proud Samoa.
The bells will toll in celebration and thanksgiving – in Fa’a Samoa: The Samoan way.
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