Warrington: Samoan stars have backed controversial coach Matt Parish to deliver the country’s first World Cup final berth – just 18 months after calling for his axing.
Players including Josh Papalii, Jarome Luai and Anthony Milford last year signed a letter to the Samoan Prime Minister requesting that Parish be fired.
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There were 34 current and former players who signed the letter which raised serious concerns over Parish’s alleged unprofessional approach to coaching.
Parish claimed at the time that the players were “coerced” into signing the letter without knowing its contents.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuiaepa Sailele Malielegaoi called the group’s demands disrespectful and the Australian-born coach kept his job.
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England thrashed Samoa 60-6 in the World Cup opener but Parish rallied his men to make the knockout stages and upset Tonga in the quarter-final.
They’ll now face England at the Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday morning AEDT for a spot in the final against Australia or New Zealand.
It marks an incredible turnaround for Parish who Papalii only had good things to say about ahead of the semi-final.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the coach and always have,” Papalii told foxsports.com.au.
“We definitely enjoy ourselves away from the field but on the field we focus.
“It’s just a shame the first game went like that but because we worked pretty hard leading up to that week.
“We’ve finally been in camp for enough time to build combinations and I felt like we turned up (against Tonga) and the boys dug deep for each other.
“We just have to play our kind of footy this week. That first game we let that game get away from us but we’ll be prepared for sure.”
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Foxsports.com.au asked Samoa second rower Jaydn Su’a if Parish had changed his approach since their first game walloping.
“It was important for us to buy in and we have,” Su’a said.
“I can’t even put into words what it means for our people and our little country (to make the semi-final), I get emotional talking about it.
“It’s very special and now we’ve got to get one back on England, I can’t wait.
“That first game feels like a long time ago now.
“We were (embarrassed) but we brushed it aside, we know we’re better than that and we know it’s not going to happen again.”
Su’a emphasised they’re a different team to four weeks, but admitted England are the form side of the tournament.
“I don’t want to make excuses but we’ve now had a lot of time together, we’ve bonded well and we’ve played more game,” he said.
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“Each game has gotten harder and harder so look they’re going to be tough, they’re probably going to be the most in-form team of the competition, but we’re ready to bang.”
Roosters star Joseph Suaalii has been sensational playing fullback for Samoa and Papalii revealed the teenager leaves nothing to chance.
“He’s overboard professional, hey,” Papalii said.
“It’s incredible to see and I’m pretty sure everyone in this camp has taken a leaf out of his book in how to prep for a game.
“He’s pretty much just getting started and he’s already a superstar. Definitely one to watch.”
Su’a echoed the sentiment: “He’s crazy. He’s very diligent in all his preparation and stuff like that and it’s good to see him get the reward.”
