Samoa looks for power from pain in World Cup tilt
With the men's and women's Rugby League World Cup officially launched, Samoa are looking to repeat their fairytale run to the 2022 final.
The Rugby League World Cup commenced on Saturday, with representatives from all 10 men's teams and eight women's teams officially kicking off the tournament. Samoa's captain, Junior Paulo, expressed hope that those on his team who suffered defeat in last week's NRL Grand Final could channel their pain into a repeat of their 2022 final appearance. The men's tournament commenced on Thursday evening, while the women's edition began the following day.
Understanding the depths of grand final disappointment, Paulo is eager to support his teammates who are currently experiencing similar heartache. Last season, he led Samoa to a World Cup final against Australia after the team's 28-12 loss to Penrith in the NRL Grand Final. Paulo's co-captain, Jarome Luai, has been the subject of much discussion throughout the season, with some expressing mixed opinions about his performance. However, Paulo remains confident in Luai's abilities, praising his dedication and enthusiasm.
Samoa's preparations for the tournament included a visit to Samoa, which Paulo described as an "indescribable" experience, reminding the players that they were embarking on a journey beyond themselves. The team will be facing France, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga in their upcoming matches, with all eyes on star halfback Jarome Luai after his headline-grabbing season.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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