Luai to lead star studded Samoa team to England

Wests Tiger recruit Jarome Luai is set to cap a remarkable season by captaining a star-studded Samoa team on their upcoming tour to England.

Luai, who was a key figure in Penrith's fourth premiership win and starred in NSW's historic Origin series win, will lead a team which includes the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jeremiah Nanai, Deine Mariner, Blaize Talagi and Terrell May.

Samoa will play England in two Tests at Wigan on October 27 and Leeds on November 2 in what has been dubbed a "revenge" tour after the Pacific nation upset the hosts in the semi-final of the World Cup in 2022.

"It was really nice to have a conversation with him after the grand final on Sunday night and obviously he was very excited about winning the grand final for the fourth time in a row," Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said.

"But to then be able to tell him that he was going to not only represent his country again but captain his country for the first time, that was a really nice conversation to have.

"Jarome, as we all know, is a guy who is full of energy, he has definitely put his best foot forward and it is a great opportunity for him to showcase not only his talent but also his leadership skills for his country."

Panthers team-mate Brian To'o joined a dozen stars unavailable for the tour - including Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton, who is getting married next week - after injuring his keen in last Sunday's grand final defeat of Melbourne.

However, the depth Samoa boasts was highlighted by the strength of the squad that Luai will lead, with Tuivasa-Sheck and Nanai among 11 debutants.

Tuivasa-Sheck, who returning to the Warriors this season after a two-year stint in rugby union during which he represented the All Blacks, played 20 Tests for New Zealand from 2013 to 2019.

However, the Apia born superstar wanteds to fulfil a long-held desire to represent Samoa and told Gardiner he was available for the end-of-season tour to England.

The decision is a massive boost for Samoa, who became the first Pacific nation to reach a World Cup final in 2022 with a line-up that included Luai, Crichton and To’o.

Tuivasa-Sheck won the IRL Golden Boot as international player of the year in 2019 and joined Gary Freeman (1992) as just the second Kiwis international to win the Dally M Medal in 2018. Jahrome Hughes last week became the third.

Mariner is another who knocked back a Kiwis jersey to play for Samoa, while Nanai, who was a member of this year's Queensland Origin team, represented Australia at the 2022 World Cup.

Cowboys team-mate Murray Taulagi, who was also a member of Australia's World Cup squad, switched to Samoa during last year's Pacific Championships and Nanai has followed suit.

The Samoa squad will assemble in Sydney next week, with a number of players to attend Crichton's wedding on Thursday, and will have a training session before flying to England on October 19.

Samoa squad to tour England

Anthony Milford (Dolphins)
Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers)
Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos)
Francis Molo (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles)
Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
Jake Tago (Parramatta Eels)
Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
Jazz Tevaga (Manly Sea Eagles)
Jeral Skelton (Wests Tigers)
Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)
John Asiata (Leigh Leopards)
Josiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans)
Junior Pauga (Sydney Roosters)
Keenan Palasia (Leeds Rhinos)
Lazarus Vaalepu (Melbourne Storm)
Luciano Leilua (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Paul Roache (Warriors)
Ricky Leutele (Leigh Leopards)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Shawn Blore (Melbourne Storm)
Simi Sasagi (Canberra Raiders)
Terrell May (Sydney Roosters)