Statement Time: Toa Sāmoa urged to fire warning shot in RLWC opener against France

Toa Sāmoa must do more than just get past France tonight at Western Sydney’s CommBank Stadium. They need to put the entire Rugby League World Cup on notice.

That is the firm message from former Kiwis and Sāmoa prop Joe Vagana, who insists Ben Gardiner’s side are not in Australia to make up the numbers four years after reaching their first World Cup final in 2022.

Speaking with Levi Matautia-Morgan on Pacific Mornings, Vagana said Toa Sāmoa have the perfect mix of proven premiership winners and fearless young talent to go one step further and lift the trophy.

“They're not here to make numbers,” Vagana said. “I do believe that they're here and they're here to win this competition.”

Despite losing a handful of stars to late tournament withdrawals, Sāmoa boast an enviable spine and a terrifying engine room.

NRL's Newcastle Knights’ young back-rowers pledged their futures to Sāmoa over New Zealand, complementing an elite core backed by NRL grand final and Super League glory.

Listen to Joe Vagana's full interview below.

While Sāmoa go into tonight’s match as heavy favourites against Les Chanticleers, the spotlight is on how fast Gardiner's side can lock in their combinations.

Co-captain Stephen Crichton shifts back to his familiar role in the centres after spending the back end of the NRL season in the halves for Canterbury while Jarome Luai and Chanel Harris-Tavita steer the ship from the middle.

With Sāmoa entering the clash at full health after trimming their squad down to 20 players, Crichton says Luai is primed to make a statement.

Co-captain Stephen Crichton returns to his preferred centre spot against France. Photo/Facebook/Toa Sāmoa

“I can see the fire in Romy's eyes to prove a lot of people wrong, and I'll be right next to him, proving them wrong too,” Crichton told media. “I'm very excited to see what he can do in this campaign, and our first few sessions he's just been running amok.”

Vagana’s main focus is on how clinical the boys look in laying their platform.

“It's just playing our game, playing to our strengths,” he said. “I'm sure the coach wants our forwards to dominate up front.”

Vagana wants Toa Sāmoa to flex their muscle early, stick to their structures and use the French clash to fine-tune their combinations for the battles ahead.

“We've got strike all over the park,” Vagana said.

The former frontrower took plenty of heart from the New Zealand's Kiwis ferocious forward display against Australia in Sydney on opening night.

Toa Sāmoa assemble ahead of tonight’s Rugby League World Cup opening clash against France at CommBank Stadium, aiming to launch another historic campaign four years after reaching the 2022 final. Photo/Facebook/Toa Sāmoa

Australia held on for a nail-biting 24-22 after the Kiwis dominated huge stretches of the contest, though the match was marred by a suspected broken arm to Kalyn Ponga on his Test debut.

With the Kiwis setting a brutal physical standard against the Kangaroos, Vagana says Toa Sāmoa must match that intensity against France to let the heavyweight nations know what is coming.

“There has to be a message sent out that they're here and they mean business,” he said.

Beyond tonight’s encounter, a massive blockbuster against Tonga on 1 November in Parramatta is already sending shockwaves through the community.

Red and blue flags are flying high across West Auckland including Vagana’s own neighbourhood of Te Atatū.

“I'm expecting a lot of fireworks, a lot of passion,” Vagana said. “I'm sure this is the game that everybody's put on their calendar.”

Watch Toa Sāmoa ready to launch their Siva Tau at the RLWC when they meet France in Sydney tonight.

Recalling the deafening atmosphere when the two Pacific powerhouses collided in Brisbane last year, Vagana praised how both teams continue to unite Pasifika fans across the globe.

Tonight, however, all eyes are on CommBank Stadium. The big men need to lay the groundwork, the backs need to strike, and Toa Samoa must prove their title credentials from the very first whistle.

“They're going to gel together for the next few weeks starting tonight,” Vagana said.

In other games tonight, the Australian Jillaroos’ women’s World Cup opener against Fetu Sāmoa at CommBank Stadium in Sydney from 10.05pm NZ time.

On Saturday 17 October, Papua New Guinea play Lebanon at 4.25pm NZT at the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby, Tonga take on England at HBF Park in Perth at 9.05pm NZT while the Fiji Bati face off with Cook Islands on Sunday 18 October at the Newcastle International Sports Centre in New Lambton from 5.05pm NZT.

You can check out the official Sāmoa vs France - Round 1 Match Highlights from their previous World Cup clash to see how these two national teams match up on the field.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, left, widely known by his nickname "The Hammer", meets fans in Western Sydney. Photo/Facebook/Toa Sāmoa

TEAMS

Toa Sāmoa: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Brian To'o, Izack Tago, Stephen Crichton, Deine Mariner, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jarome Luai, Francis Molo, Benaiah Ioelu, Junior Paulo, Connelly Lemuelu, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Jazz Tevaga, Spencer Leniu, Shawn Blore, Sualauvi Fa'alogo, Ata Mariota, Clayton Faulalo.

France: Arthur Mourgue, Benjamin Laguerre, Latrell Siegwalt, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, Léo Darrelatour, Cesar Rouge, Théo Fages, Romain Navarrete, Benjamin Garcia, Lambert Belmas, Arthur Romano, Mathieu Jussaume, Julian Bousquet, Amir Bourouh, Tiaki Chan, Jordan Dezaria, Mathieu Cozza, Thomas Lacans, Louis Grossemy.

Elton Lonaratha Jnr, a journalism student at Wintec, is currently completing a six-week internship at PMN News.