KEY POINTS:
The building of Samoa's rugby league side with ex-Kiwis is a double-edged sword for New Zealand.
The Samoans will be well-coached by Warriors assistant John Ackland at next year's World Cup and given the poor stocks of the Kiwis at present, the unthinkable upset is not a ridiculous fantasy. At the 1995 World Cup the Kiwis only just beat a Tongan team similarly stacked with New Zealand-bred players.
The Samoans showed style and passion in their World Cup qualifying games after being forced into the repechage following a loss to Tonga. Yesterday they disposed of Lebanon 38-16 at Featherstone with a clinical display that sends a warning to other teams.
Lebanon paid for another slow start as they dropped to their first defeat in a campaign that began more than 12 months ago.
They were able to claw back half-time deficits in their earlier matches against Ireland and Wales but this time gave themselves too much to do after trailing 28-8 at halftime.
Samoa hooker Chris Vaegafa scored first, burrowing over from dummy-half, and fullback Tangi Ropati added a second try at 10 minutes. Lebanon never recovered.
The Samoans were ably led by captain Nigel Vagana at five-eighth yesterday, he and Penrith prop Frank Puletua also touching down and former Mt Albert and now Hull KR fullback Andreas Bauer sealing it with two second-half tries.
Lebanon, who made the last World Cup back in 2000 and beat Wales to get to yesterday's eliminator, scored through Adham El-Zbaideh, Tom Joseph and Danny Chiha but missed all the conversions.
Penrith halfback Joe Paulo was named man of the match. So after dumping the USA 42-10 and yesterday's victory, Samoa join Ireland, Scotland, France, Tonga and Fiji in pool B at the Cup competition in Australia next October/November.
It's easy to see Samoa finishing ahead of the more highly fancied France and Papua New Guinea. Consider their Cup squad. Cousins Nigel and Joe Vagana, Ali Lauitiiti, Tony Puletua, Motu Tony, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Matt Utai, Willie Talau, Francis Meli and David Solomona are all hardened Kiwis and NRL or Super League veterans. They are joined by Super League players Hutch Maiava, Harrison Hansen and Kylie Leuluai, Australian first-graders Phil Leuluai from Cronulla, Smith Samau the Gold Coast wing, Warriors prop Evarn Tuimavave, Roosters five-eighth Setiamata Sa, Knights centre George Carmont and Auckland Lions wing Malo Solomona. Just six of the 25-man squad come from clubs on the islands.
Of concern for the NZRL is the fact young players the likes of Hansen, Tuimavave and Sa were genuine Kiwis candidates, the first having already played the mid-year game against the Lions in 2005. That, and that further up-and-comers who qualify via their parentage may well now elect to join this strong islands side rather than play for their country of residency. The other side to the story is that a strong Samoan team that can perform at top level would be a good test for the Kiwis as build-up to their Tri Nations games.
Polynesian power is a steadily growing force in the best rugby league competitions.
It would appear that only a lack of finance might stall what promises to be Samoa's rapid elevation in world stocks - but then if they play consistently well they should be able to attract more sponsorship and broadcasting dollars.
Look out, Kiwis.
