Samoa enforcer Spencer Leniu has known as for an annual three-match sequence towards Tonga, arguing the rugby league Checks may attain an analogous standing to State of Origin.
Sunday’s sold-out Pacific Championships last has served as one other reminder of Take a look at soccer’s potential, with Tonga supporters taking up Western Sydney Stadium.
Samoa didn’t function on this yr’s event whereas on a historic two-Take a look at tour of England, however will return for the 2025 occasion towards Tonga and New Zealand.
The Tonga-Samoa conflict already looms as one of many largest blockbusters of subsequent season, with a thought it may entice as much as 50,000 followers in a sufficiently big stadium.
However Leniu believes extra is feasible.
He missed this yr’s England tour via private causes however was a part of the Samoa aspect that reached the 2022 World Cup last.
The prop has additionally overtly spoken about how Jason Taumalolo’s change to Tonga in 2017 impressed his personal choice to prioritise Samoa.
After watching Tonga attain this yr’s Pacific Championships last, he believes the time is true to strike for the 2 Pacific nations.
“Hopefully they’ll do an Origin sequence with us and Tonga,” the Sydney Roosters entrance rower stated.
“It is most likely the most important Pacific Island rivalry, between us and Tonga. It is unbelievable to see what they did this yr making it to the grand last.
“I reckon Tonga and Samoa needs to be like an Origin sequence. It could be unbelievable. In all probability [play] one in New Zealand after which one or two in Sydney or Brisbane.”
Leniu’s feedback come after officers from New Zealand enlargement bids argued final week {that a} north-and-south Island Origin sequence may very well be a part of the way forward for the NRL.
Whereas that may very well be performed similtaneously the NSW-Queensland Origin sequence, a Samoa-Tonga sequence wouldn’t be as straightforward to schedule.
Eligibility guidelines enable gamers to characterize each their state and Pacific nation of heritage, with 13 of this yr’s Origin gamers having additionally represented Samoa or Tonga prior to now 4 years.
An end-of-year three-match sequence between Samoa and Tonga would then be a greater match however may impede on the present success of the Pacific Championships.
The door may doubtlessly be open for extra flexibility within the consultant calendar when the NRL expands to twenty groups, with the potential for a shorter common season.
“I do not care when, I simply need it to occur. There is no such thing as a greater rivalry than us and Tonga within the Pacific,” Leniu stated.
“They hate us and we hate them so it will be an excellent sport. There’s a lot respect for them and what they have been in a position to obtain for his or her small nation.
“Us two nations going about it on the most important stage can be good for each nations.
“You may double [Sunday’s crowd of 28,728]. It was majority Tongan followers, however we would have the identical variety of Samoan followers there so it might be blue and crimson.”
AAP
