Suaalii's 'huge' World Cup decision praised

NRL fable Andrews Johns has praised Joseph Suaalii's decision to correspond Samoa astatine this year's Rugby League World Cup.

Suaalii copped fierce disapproval from immoderate sections of the media aft electing to play for the Samoan nationalist squad alternatively than that of his state of birth, the Australian Kangaroos.

Speaking connected Nine's The Sunday Footy Show, Johns commended the prodigious backmost for pledging his allegiance to Samoa, successful what helium labelled a "huge" determination for the competition.

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Joseph Suaalii is acceptable to correspond Samoa, not Australia, successful the World Cup. (Getty)

"I deliberation it should beryllium perfectly applauded, it's large for planetary footy and he'll beryllium 1 of the stars astatine the World Cup," helium said.

"He volition animate - already similar what Tonga has done - a procreation of Pacific Islander players.

"This is large news."

With household reasons influencing Suaalii's decision, Storm large Billy Slater championed players representing whichever eligible federation they place with more.

"You've got to deliberation astir erstwhile you're lasting determination with that jersey on, bash you consciousness similar you beryllium to that jersey? That's what it comes down to," helium said.

"It's really made the planetary crippled a batch stronger."

However, New South Wales State of Origin manager Brad Fittler did rise immoderate considerations.

"The cardinal is going to beryllium aft the World Cup with what they bash with the eligibility rules for Origin and besides however our planetary calendar looks successful the future. How bash we get these teams to vie wherever the players don't pain retired but we get capable truthful that sides tin amended and signifier teams implicit years?" helium said.

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Suaalii is the latest successful a big of players eligible for aggregate nations to person opted against Australia.

Brian To'o announced helium would play for Samoa successful July, portion Junior Paulo and Josh Papalii both made the aforesaid telephone a mates of weeks later.

However, Slater said the Kangaroos would not beryllium abbreviated of strikepower for the World Cup.

"Don't worry, Australia has a truly beardown squad and I deliberation they're the favourite to triumph [the World Cup]," helium said.

"Everyone is talking astir Tonga and New Zealand, you've got to bushed Australia, though, and they've got immoderate prime players successful their squad and they're going to instrumentality immoderate beating."

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