Jarome Luai has credited Samoa’s long list of unavailable players as inspiration as he prepares to captain the Pacific nation for the first time in its inaugural Test tour of England.
The Wests Tigers recruit headlined an understrength 23-man squad announced by coach Ben Gardiner on Wednesday for the two-match series that begins October 28 (AEDT).
An assistant coach at Penrith, Gardiner informed Luai he would captain Samoa as the pair celebrated the Panthers’ fourth consecutive premiership win on Sunday night.
The five-eighth missed last year’s post-season series with a shoulder injury but had been integral to the side’s push to the World Cup final in 2022.
Among those absent this time around are previous captain Junior Paulo, Tommy Talau, Murray Taulagi, Heilum Luki (all injured), Spencer Leniu and Stefano Utoikamanu (both personal reasons).
After premiership teammate Brian To’o (knee injury) and ex-Panther Stephen Crichton (wedding) also bowed out of the 2024 series, Luai perished all thought of joining the long list of outs – even if it will mean joining the Tigers later than originally anticipated.
“I’d sort of been contemplating it a bit. It’s been a long year, my body’s a bit sore and I’ve got to start a new club. I didn’t want to set that back any further,” he said.
“But I’d be doing myself a disservice and my family name a disservice if I didn’t go over there and lace up the boots for my country.
“(To’o and Crichton being unavailable) was more reason why I needed to, I needed to hold it down for the boys. They’ve got some things going on in the off-season, and rightfully so. I’ll go over there and hold it down.”
Elsewhere, North Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai is in line for his first Samoa cap after opting to represent his Pacific roots rather than Australia, with whom he played at the 2022 World Cup.
Gardiner revealed Nanai had taken Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s lead after the former New Zealand international made a similar decision to put his hand up for a Samoan debut.
“I said to Jeremiah that Roger’s playing, and he said, ‘Well, I’m definitely playing too’. It’s a little bit of a domino effect when you have elite players come and join your team,” Gardiner said.
Gardiner will have an early chance to work with the Panthers’ prized recruit Blaize Seuala-Talagi as the young utility prepares for a first representative jersey with Samoa.
Referred to as Blaize Talagi during his rookie season at Parramatta, the 19-year-old called Gardiner to say he wanted to use the surname Sueala-Talagi on tour to recognise both sides of his family.
Leigh Leopards forward John Asiata and centre Ricky Leutele, an NRL premiership winner with Cronulla, are the only two Super League players selected in the squad.
SAMOA SQUAD: 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.
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