Samoa captain Junior Paulo says the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final defeat is still “burning” for the players who were there as they prepare to meet Australia again at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Paulo said a win over Kevin Walters' Kangaroos would rank among Samoa's greatest achievements, while Australia centre Kotoni Staggs said his decision not to sing the national anthem came from a place of respect.
Paulo, a 32-year-old prop, said the players who featured in the 30-10 loss to Australia at Old Trafford four years ago had not forgotten it. "To lose a grand final like that … I'd be lying if I said it wasn't burning for the guys who were there," he said.
Australia beat Samoa in the 2022 World Cup final in England. Samoa's squad has changed since: Josh Papali'i has retired and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has switched codes to join the Wallabies, but the bulk of the backline remains, including five-eighth and co-captain Jarome Luai, winger Brian To'o and centre Stephen Crichton, with Spencer Leniu again set to come off the bench.
Paulo said it was a privilege to be in this position. “It's a privilege to be in this position for us,” he said. “It's an opportunity to be a part of history and hopefully what can be one of the biggest upsets.”
Paulo said fatigue would not be an issue after Samoa's gruelling 20-18 loss to Tonga, which was played 24 hours after the Kangaroos proved far too good for Karmichael Hunt's Cook Islands. “We've had a good couple of days just to emotionally regulate [after the] immense pressure that came with the game as well,” Paulo said.
Samoa may look to attack Australia through the middle. New Zealand smashed Australia up front in their narrow 24-22 loss in the tournament opener, while Fiji and the Cook Islands also physically put Walters' side under pressure, and former Kangaroos playmaker Luke Keary described Australia's struggles in the middle as "concerning". Paulo downplayed the point. "There's still a quality forward pack right across the park," he said.
Staggs, the Brisbane centre who has won nine caps for Australia since his debut in 2023, said his decision not to sing the anthem came from a place of respect. "I'm a proud Wirajudri boy and I'm proud of who I am and where I come from and me not singing an anthem doesn't mean that I'm not grateful," he said. "I still love wearing that jersey, when the anthem is getting played you look around and get emotional. But me not singing, it's a whole different meaning to that and that's just me."
He said his position on singing came from a desire to honour his ancestors. “Obviously in the past and what happened back in the day I've just learned from that,” Staggs said. “You also talk to your elders from back home and grandparents and stuff like and [understand] what they had to go through, it's more of a respect for my elders and my family. I'm a proud Australian as well but at the end of the day it's just something that I've lived by, and I've got no harm in it. It doesn't take anything away from the jersey I wear.”
Staggs has received the backing of Broncos teammate Patrick Carrigan, who said athletes should have the right to stand up for what they believe in. "As sports people there's a focus on us as role models but it probably points to a greater conversation for us to have as a society outside of football," Carrigan said. "And about the reason why the boys feel the way about the anthem and perhaps our history as a country too."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Samoa meet Australia on Sunday at Allianz Stadium four years after the 2022 World Cup final, with Paulo framing the match as a chance at revenge and at what he called one of the biggest upsets in the country's history.
- Australia's forward pack has been tested physically by New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands during the tournament, making the middle of the field the area Samoa are most likely to target.
- The dispute over the anthem has become a running theme around the Kangaroos, with Staggs and other Indigenous players facing criticism and teammates publicly defending their right to abstain.
Background
Rugby league's international calendar has expanded in recent years, and Samoa's run to the 2022 World Cup final in England raised the profile of the Pacific nations. Samoa lost that final 30-10 to Australia at Old Trafford. The two sides meet again on Sunday, with Samoa coming off a narrow defeat to Tonga and Australia having beaten a Karmichael Hunt-coached Cook Islands side.
Key Perspectives
Junior Paulo: says the 2022 final defeat is still "burning" for the players who were there, that victory would be "an opportunity to be a part of history", and that Australia still have "a quality forward pack right across the park".
Kotoni Staggs: says not singing the anthem comes from respect for his elders and family, that he is "a proud Australian as well", and that it "doesn't take anything away from the jersey I wear".
Patrick Carrigan: says athletes should have the right to stand up for what they believe in and that the anthem debate points to a wider conversation society should have.
Luke Keary: the former Kangaroos playmaker described Australia's struggles in the middle as "concerning".
What to Watch
- Whether Samoa can make the physical advantage up front that New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands found count against Australia.
- How Samoa recover from the short turnaround after their 20-18 loss to Tonga.
- Whether the anthem continues to draw comment around the Kangaroos as the tournament progresses.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPaulo says Samoa’s desire to avenge the 2022 final is still burning before its rematch with Australia.The Age - Latest News: “captain Junior Paulo says he is desperate to avenge the loss”
- Partly supportedPaulo says beating Australia could be one of the biggest upsets.The Age - Latest News: ““It’s an opportunity to be a part of history and hopefully what can be one of the biggest upsets.””
- SupportedPaulo said the defeat was still burning for the players who were there.The Age - Latest News: ““To lose a grand final like that … I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t burning for the guys who were there,” Paulo said”
- SupportedPaulo said a win would be an opportunity to make history and could be one of the biggest upsets.The Age - Latest News: ““It’s an opportunity to be a part of history and hopefully what can be one of the biggest upsets.””
- Partly supportedPaulo is a 32-year-old prop.The Age - Latest News: “Paulo, the 32-year-old 123kg wrecking-ball”
- SupportedPaulo said fatigue would not be an issue after Samoa’s 20-18 loss to Tonga, played 24 hours after Australia beat the Cook Islands.The Age - Latest News: “Paulo said fatigued would not be an issue, despite Samoa’s gruelling 20-18 defeat to Tonga being played 24 hours after the Kangaroos proved far too good for Karmichael Hunt’s Cook Islands.”
- SupportedStaggs said he was proud of his identity and that not singing the anthem did not mean he was ungrateful.The Age - Latest News: ““I’m a proud Wirajudri boy and I’m proud of who I am and where I come from and me not singing an anthem doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful.””
- SupportedStaggs said his decision not to sing was about respect for his elders and family.The Age - Latest News: ““it’s more of a respect for my elders and my family.””
- SupportedStaggs said he was proud to wear the jersey and that not singing did not take anything away from it.The Age - Latest News: ““I’m a proud Australian as well but at the end of the day it’s just something that I’ve lived by, and I’ve got no harm in it. It doesn’t take anything away from the jersey I wear.””
- SupportedCarrigan said athletes should be able to stand up for what they believe in and called for a broader conversation about society and history.The Age - Latest News: “Carrigan said athletes should have the right to stand up for what they believe in. “As sports people there’s a focus on us as role models but it probably points to a greater conversation for us to have as a society outside of football,” Carrigan said.”