Toa Samoa’s head coach and co-captain both believe veteran Jarome Luai will be the key man in their campaign at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Coach Ben Gardiner and co-captain Junior Paulo told NRL.com in Australia they both believe Luai is the man to guide them.
Luai has been instrumental in either the number six or seven jersey for the Samoans in the past, having led the side to the final at the 2022 event.
Gardiner said there are a number of options for his halves partner, with Chanel Harris-Tavita, Clayton Faulalo and Ronald Volkman all in the squad.
The coach believes his star playmaker will flourish in the team’s style and playing pattern.
“He’s played seven a number of times for us,” Gardiner told NRL.com.
“There’s that type of game where he’s required to manage the game for us as a seven. He’s our most experienced player in that area and he’ll handle it well.
“We play a style of football that’s a powerful style of football, a go-forward style of football that requires a lot of support, which opens up his running game.
“We all know he’s at his best when he runs the ball so we’ll be encouraging him to do that.”
Luai’s co-captain Paulo said they will wrap their support around the PNG Chiefs bound player.
“He’s able to brush everything off his shoulders and he’s ready to play some footy,” Paulo said.
“This is what Jarome has been looking forward to, playing once more for Samoa, but I think he’s a bit misunderstood by many people.
“Towards the back end of the year I think people were very opinionated about him. For Romy he’s locked into putting his best foot forward and representing Samoa. He clearly enjoys being in these camps.
I’ve been lucky enough to see Romy evolve as a leader and grow into being the leader he is now
“All the boys will be backing him and luckily nothing fazes Romy too much.”
Paulo said the team’s presence at home in Apia last week with their Fetu Samoa women’s team had reminded the players of what their heritage meant to them.
He said the welcome by the people and the support they received lifted the players’ spirits.
“The biggest thing was seeing the smiles on kids’ faces and them striving to want to be play for Samoa one day,” he said.
“The inspiration we can generate is why we represent Samoa so proudly.”
Meanwhile, Gardiner told NRL.com the team they have is the strongest they have been able to put together since the last World Cup.
Despite missing powerhouse forward Payne Haas and Terrell May, Gardiner is confident he has a squad capable of taking out the tournament.
“We’ve got a real balance of experience and youth and some guys that are in great form so it’s a great opportunity for us, our fans and our people,” he said.
“Our aim over the last four years was to build experience into our team, grow out key positions and bring guys along so that when we hit Rugby League World Cup 26, we were ready with our best team available.”
Gardiner has backed the former Penrith Panthers combination of Spencer Leniu, Luai, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton to spearhead their performances.
The quartet combined to win three premierships from 2021-2023 for the Panthers, before Crichton joined the Bulldogs and Leniu moved to the Roosters.
Luai and To’o stayed on at the Panthers in 2024 to help the club claim a fourth NRL title.
Gardiner believes his warriors will be ready to dismantle France at the CommBank Stadium in their opening game on Friday.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also in the squad along with Melbourne star Sua Fa’alogo, Brisbane’s Deine Mariner and Newcastle’s Francis Manuleleua, Jermaine McEwen and Pasami Saulo.
