Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has hailed the Toa Samoa’s effort during the Four Nations tournament.
Tuilaepa was speaking during an official luncheon hosted by the government to welcome members of the squad who have flown back to Samoa to express their appreciation for the support from the country during the tournament held in New Zealand and Australia.
Among the players who have returned are Frank Pritchard, Reni Maitua, Leeson Ah Mau, Kyle Stanley, Dominique Peyroux, Sauaso Sue, Tim Simona and a few others.
Coach Matt Parish is also in the country.
At the Samoa Traditional Resort yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa thanked Coach Parish and his team for elevating Samoa to the level at which the country currently stands in rugby league.
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Although the team did not win any of the games, Tuilaepa said from what he saw, the passion, commitment and the desire from the players to succeed was admirable.
He commended them for putting Samoa first, saying their hearts for their country has elevated Samoa beyond the expectations of the rugby league world.
“You have rubbed shoulders with the most powerful teams in the world in rugby league and although you did not win a match, you performed admirably against the well established powerhouses,” he said.
“For that we congratulate you.”
Prime Minister Tuilaepa also encouraged the players to push further in terms of their career goals, discouraging them from being part of negative incidents that disgrace their names and that of their country.
“Making it to the Toa Samoa is the opening to greater opportunities for your future,” he said.
President of Rugby League Samoa, Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a, reciprocated the kind remarks by Prime Minister Tuilaepa, thanking the country for their support.
“We had high hopes of achieving more than what we did and we nearly achieved it,” he said. Tagaloa conceded that it was unfortunate for the players not to have won a game but the team will be better off from the experience.
Coach Matt Parish reiterated his pride to coach the Toa Samoa.
‘It was great honour,” he said. “The boys worked very hard during the Four nations and for the Toa Samoa now, I think they need a rest.”
A member of the management team, Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi, presented a medallion to Prime Minister Tuilaepa as a souvenir from Toa Samoa’s heroics at the Four Nations.
Toa Samoa set several records in the tournament. They include becoming the first Four Nations team to come excruciatingly close to defeating the top three. Samoa lost to England by six points before going on to push New Zealand to the death, going down by two points.
The lack of discipline against a determined Australian outfit cost the team dearly, resulting in their biggest loss of the tournament. The team will also be travelling to Savai’i to extend their thank you.
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