Leigh Leopards pair John Asiata and Ricky Leutele have been selected in the Samoa squad for this autumn’s tour of England.
Samoa will travel to the Northern Hemisphere later this month for two Tests against Shaun Wane’s side, with the first being held on October 27 at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan. The two sides will meet again at Headingley Stadium in the first weekend of November.
Coach Ben Gardiner has named a strong squad littered with NRL stars, while Asiata and Leutele are the only current Super League representatives. Asiata, who will be joining Hull FC in the off-season has played for Samoa on two previous occasions, but his most recent international experience came with Tonga with the forward qualifying to play for both nations.
Leutele, on the other hand, has seven caps for Samoa, with his last coming in 2017. Also included is Leeds Rhinos recruit Keenan Palasia, who has joined the Rhinos on a two-year deal from Gold Coast Titans and will link up with the club in pre-season.
Jarome Luai is arguably the biggest name included in the Samoa fold, with the four-time Premiership winner captaining his country this autumn. Luai’s involvement means he will be forced to push back his first day of training with Wests Tigers after bringing his time with Penrith Panthers to an end last weekend.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is another high profile name involved, while the likes of Anthony Milford, Francis Molo, Luciano Leilua, Shawn Blore and Deine Mariner have also been included.
A number of key players are absent this time around through injury, with Brian To’o, Stepehen Crichton and Junior Paulo among those ruled out.
The Samoa squad to take on England: Anthony Milford, Blaize Seuala-Talagi, Deine Mariner, Francis Molo, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Izack Tago, Jake Tago, Jarome Luai, Jazz Tevaga, Jeral Skelton, Jeremiah Nanai, John Asiata, Josiah Pahulu, Junior Pauga, Keenan Palasia, Lazarus Vaalepu, Luciano Leilua, Paul Roache, Ricky Leutele, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shawn Blore, Simi Sasagi, Terrell May.