Paulo: Samoa need to be more resilient

Rugby League – Rugby League World Cup Launch – Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Britain – October 10, 2022 Australia’s James Tedesco, Cook Islands’ Brad Takairangi, England’s Sam Tomkins, Fiji’s Kevin Naiqama, France’s Benjamin Garcia, Greece’s Jordan Meads, Ireland’s George King, Italy’s Nathan Brown, Jamaica’s Ashton Golding, Lebanon’s Mitchell Moses, New Zealand’s Jessa Bromwich, Papua New Guinea’s Rhyse Martin, Samoa’s Junior Paulo, Scotland’s Dale Ferguson, Tonga’s Jason Taumalolo and Wales’ Elliot Kear pose for a photograph Action Images/Ed Sykes

Samoa captain Junior Paulo called for his side to be more resilient after they slipped to a 60-6 defeat against England in the Rugby League World Cup opener, writes Josh Graham at St James’ Park.

The bookies had made the Pacific Islanders favourites to spoil the hosts’ party at St James’ Park but a lack of preparation was laid bare as England ran in 10 tries to the delight of the majority of the 43,119 in attendance.

Matt Parish’s men never got going with the likes of Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton unable to replicate the form that helped Penrith Panthers claim their second successive NRL title a fortnight ago.

Izack Tago’s first-half interception was all they had to show for their efforts against an inspired England.

“I think any team would be struggling if they are that far behind on the scoreboard but you have obviously got to be more resilient. It is hard to stop momentum when it’s going one way,” said Paulo, whose side trained together for the first time on Monday.

“You have got to be able to find a way to stop it and go again. Any team that turns over the ball that much, the other team is going to capitalise on it.

“With a quality team like they have, completing high, that’s just the result.

“Don’t get me wrong they are a quality team, but we have definitely got a quality team too. We have just got to be resilient and bounce back.

“They obviously outclassed us today but this is the start of the tournament, so we have got to go back, regroup and move on to the next week and, despite a few injuries, we have got guys who are going to slot in and do the job.

“We’ve only got each other to lean on, so it’s a good test of character for us moving forward.”

Samoa have injury concerns, with prop Braden Hamlin-Uele helped from the field with a calf problem, Tyrone May stretchered off with a dislocated hip and wing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow seen leaving the ground in a moon boot due to a syndesmosis injury.

But head coach Parish was in no mood to make excuses as his side look to get their Group A campaign back on track against Greece next Sunday, although he admitted his injured trio are unlikely to feature again in the tournament.

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“It wasn’t the result we wanted obviously, it is what it is. England played very well, we had a few injuries and a few setbacks that we probably didn’t handle as well as we could,” he said.

“They got a lot of momentum and we couldn’t swing it back. We’ve got a few injured guys in there that I don’t think will take any further part in the tournament.”

Jack Welsby scored the first try of the tournament before assisting Dominic Young twice to give England an 18-6 half-time lead.

They then they ran in 42 unanswered points after the break, Anthony Milford’s sin-binning for a late hit on Sam Tomkins helping to open the floodgates.

England ran in six tries in the last 16 minutes, but Parish insisted his side did not throw in the towel.

“That’s disappointing but look we rolled in here this morning with a good team, we’ve still got a good team,” he added.

“I wouldn’t say that [we gave up]. We had a man in the sin bin, a second row in the centre and one in the centre that was busted, so I wouldn’t say that.”

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available viarlwc2021.com/tickets