Samoa squads named for Pacific Championships

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Six players who featured in this year's NRL Telstra Premiership grand final have been named in a strong Toa Samoa squad to contest this year's Pacific Championships.

Premiership-winning Penrith Panthers quartet Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Izack Tago and Brian To'o will be joined by Brisbane Broncos duo Keenan Palasia and Jesse Arthars in new coach Ben Gardiner's squad to take on Australia and New Zealand in the tournament starting later this month.

However, with Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai ruled out with a shoulder injury he reaggravated in the win over the Broncos, with fresh faces including Daejarn Asi and Karl Oloapu are expected to spend time in the halves. 

Dubbed "the minister for energy" by Gardiner, the coach said he was hopeful to see Luai join the squad and would still be a "close part of what we do".

After guiding his side to their first ever Rugby League World Cup final last year, Samoa will again be led by Eels skipper Junior Paulo who said the tournament would provide his team with "another opportunity to shock the world again".

"With the balance of young and senior players, it's definitely a good combination that we have got going," Paulo said.

Samoa will play its first game of the Pacific Championships against Australia in Townsville on October 14.

Toa Samoa squad

Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos)
Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers)
Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm)
Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks)
Luciana Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys)
Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)
Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)
Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys)
Grey 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)
Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)
Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm)
Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers)

Fetu Samoa

Long-time Kiwi Ferns prop Annetta Nu'uausala and cross-code Titans star Niall Williams-Guthrie have been included in the Fetu Samoa squad for this month's Pacific Championships.

A 12-Test veteran of the New Zealand national team, Nu'uausala joins coach Jamie Soward's group for the Test against Fiji Bulikula on October 15 in Port Moresby, while Williams-Guthrie will captain the side as she becomes a dual-code international, following a long career representing New Zealand in rugby union. 

Queensland Maroons hooker Destiny Brill adds some experience to the group, alongside impressive Wests Tigers forward Christian Pio, who will serve as vice captain. 

On the back of strong rookie campaigns which culminated in being part of the Titans' inaugural grand final squad, winger Destiny Mino-Sinapti and utility Sienna Lofipo have both earned selection. 

Outside of the NRLW contingent, Soward has included Auckland-based talent Onjeurlina Hunt and Makayla Eli, while Anasis Afia makes the squad from the Samoa domestic scene. 

Niall Williams-Guthrie (Gold Coast Titans), Christian Pio (Wests Tigers), Annetta Nuuausala (Brisbane Broncos), Onjeurlina Hunt (Auckland Vulcans), Makayla Eli (Auckland Vulcans), Taylor Mapusua (St George Dragons), Destiny Mino-Sinipati (Gold Coast Titans), Lindsay Tui (Parramatta Eels), Petesa Lio (Canberra Raiders), Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (Wests Tigers), Sienna Lofipo (Gold Coast Titans), Destiny Brill (Brisbane Broncos), Pihuka Berryman-Duff (Parramatta Eels), Fiona Jahnke (Cronulla Sharks), Jetaya Faifua (North Queensland Cowboys), Janelle Williams (Canberra Raiders), Tamerah Leati (Newcastle Knights), Tafao Asaua (Manly Sea Eagles), Malaela Sua (Gold Coast Titans), Anasis Afia (Apia, Samoa).