Samoa looks for power from pain in World Cup tilt

The Rugby League World Cup officially kicked off on Saturday with teams from 10 men's and eight women's sides. Samoa's captain, Junior Paulo, hopes his players who suffered a loss in last week's NRL Grand Final can channel their pain to help the team reach the final again, as they did in 2022. The men's tournament starts on Thursday night, while the women's edition begins on Friday afternoon.

Paulo understands the feeling of rising from the depths of a grand final loss and representing his country at a Rugby League World Cup. He is eager to support his teammates who are facing similar heartache. Last season, Paulo's Parramatta side lost the grand final to Penrith, but he forged ahead and led Samoa in a historic World Cup final against Australia.

Samoa, along with nine other men's teams, will compete in the tournament, starting with Australia vs. New Zealand on Thursday night. The women's tournament will begin with the Jillaroos facing Samoa in Parramatta on the following evening. Four of Samoa's players—Greg Marzhew, Pasami Saulo, Francis Manuleleua, and Jermaine McEwen—lost to the Sydney Roosters in last Sunday's grand final.

Paulo's co-captain, Romey Luai, has been a focal point for the team, despite some criticism towards the end of the year. Paulo is confident in his abilities and wants to see him grow as a leader. The team will also face Papua New Guinea and Tonga in their upcoming matches. The tournament is a significant opportunity for the Samoan side to represent their country on a global stage.