Junior Paulo looks to offload during the rugby league World Cup men's quarter-final against Tonga. Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP
Toa Samoa have been given a boost ahead of their Rugby League World Cup semi-final against England after successfully challenging a one-match ban for their captain.
Junior Paulo was placed on report after Samoa's quarter-final against Maate Ma'a Tonga for raising his forearm as he ran into opposing forward David Fifita. But he has now been cleared by a judicial panel.
In a further boost, fullback Joseph Sua'ali'i received a caution for raising his knee in a tackle and is also free to play against England.
Samoan players were said to be in tears after their 20-18 defeat of Tonga which broke new ground as Toa became the first Samoan team to qualify for a World Cup semi-final in rugby league or rugby union.
"It was pretty surreal," prop Royce Hunt said. "We walked into the sheds after the game and the coach was like, 'you just made history, boys'. We had a few tears in our eyes but we are not done yet. We still have a job to do.
"To go up against our brothers on the other side … we knew all week it was going to be a tough game and we just put our best foot forward. We did it for Samoa."
Unfinished business
Now, Samoa face an England team that thrashed them 66-6 in the tournament opener in Newcastle.
"We have got some unfinished business with the England team," Hunt said. "They embarrassed us in game one, so we are going to come out and hopefully put on a show for the world.
"We still had belief in our team and we just kind of pulled ourselves together during the week, and said 'let's put the past behind us', and that's what we did."
Luai and Panthers team-mates Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago, Taylan May and Spencer Leniu, as well the Eels duo of Paulo and Oregon Kaufusi, had only arrived in England six days before the opening match after playing in the NRL grand final.
"We didn't have many sessions before our first game so apologies if we looked scrappy but we are building from here," Luai said.
"I know we will be a different team. We made history and big props to our people back home."