By Rich Cowley, Date: 25/10/17
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Kick-off time: 28th October 2017, 8.10pm (Local Time)
The Kiwis go into this match as favourites against Pacific rivals Toa Samoa. New Zealand might have had a few players jump ship but still have a pretty strong line up and will be thereabout come semi-final time.
With Shaun Johnson calling the shots and Tuivasa-Sheck back on the field the Kiwis will have plenty of attacking options. Captain Adam Blair will lead the Kiwis from up front against a pretty sizable Samoan pack.
The Kiwis should top their pool but Toa Samoa will have other ideas.
The Samoan Team have been getting stronger on the back of the mid-year Pacific Cup competition. This has allowed Toa Samoa to build team spirit and improve combinations.
The bookies are giving Samoa a twelve and a half head start in this match. Samoa have powerful forwards like Frank Pritchard and Junior Paulo leading up front.
Samoa’s weakness could be in the backs where they will find it hard containing the New Zealand attack.
Rugby League fans should tune into this game early to catch the two nations go head to head in their respective war dances.
New Zealand 2017 RLWC Team:
1 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK
2 Dallin WATENE ZELEZNIAK
3 Gerard BEALE
4 Bradley TAKAIRANGI
5 Jordan RAPANA
6 Kodi NIKORIMA
7 Shaun JOHNSON
8 Martin TAUPAU
9 Thomas LEULUAI
10 Adam BLAIR (c)
11 Kenny BROMWICH
12 Joseph TAPINE
13 Simon MANNERING
14 Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA
15 Russell PACKER
16 Isaac LIU
17 Danny LEVI
18 Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVES
19 Peta HIKU
20 Te Maire MARTIN
21 Addin FONUA-BLAKE
Samoa 2017 RLWC Team:
1 Young TONUMAIPEA
2 Peter MATA’UTIA
3 Timoteo LAFAI
4 Joseph LEILUA
5 Ken MAUMALO
6 Joseph PAULO
7 Ben ROBERTS
8 Junior PAULO
9 Jazz TEVAGA
10 Sam LISONE
11 Joshua PAPALII
12 Frank PRITCHARD (c)
13 Leeson AH MAU
14 Pita GODINET
15 Herman ESE’ESE
16 Suaia MATAGI
17 Bunty Afoa
18 Zane MUSGROVE
19 Ricky LEUTELE
20 Frank WINTERSTEIN
21 Fa’amanu BROWN
