Samoa earned regional bragging rights heading into next year's netball World Cup after an unbeaten run at the Oceania Qualifiers in Auckland.
The Samoans overwhelmed Fiji 54-43 on Saturday to finish atop the standings, capping off a week that included victories over Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.
Samoa celebrate a clean sweep at the Netball World Cup Oceania Qualifiers. Photo: Facebook/Netball Samoa
Coach Frances Solia said the primary focus was to secure World Cup qualification but the team's own aspirations were higher.
"We had a lot of expectations upon ourselves to achieve what we achieved and I think we have exceeded everyone's expectations," she said.
"I think everyone just wanted us to qualify but we had said from the start that we wanted to come in ranked number one, ranked unbeaten so it's just been a really nice way to end a week with that win."
The Fiji Pearls had arrived in Auckland ranked three places higher and off the back of a comprehensive build-up that included matches against New Zealand, Jamaica and Malawi in the Taini Jamison Trophy and six matches at the Commonwealth Games.
Samoa toured Scotland and Wales in December but Solia said a series of preparation camps in New Zealand were equally vital to their preparation.
"Our CEO Rosie (Esera) has just been amazing to be able to fund our camps and I knew that I really wanted to have - we had about three or four camps in this lead up and it's not easy getting the funding," Solia said.
"It's not easy to chase that kind of money so for her to be able to pull it off just to make this happen is huge. I think straight after yesterday's game I just went and gave her a big hug and said thanks for pulling it off for us."
Samoa finished 10th at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney. Photo: Netball World Cup 2015 SYDNEY
The win over Papua New Guinea on Wednesday also held special significant for the team, after the Pepes had beaten them at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby three years ago, Solia said.
The former Samoa captain said the current crop of players deserved praise.
"When you're a close-knit (group) and you build a good culture I think the outside factors are irrelevant and I think that's where the team got to," she said.
"They made a real effort to ensure that we built the right culture coming into this Oceania Qualifiers and I think what the girls achieved is a real testament to the efforts and hard work that they've all put in.
"We never ever had a full squad in training camp probably at any one time because people had work and people were already tapping into unpaid leave and you just had to roll with it," Solia reflected.
"There wasn't much more I could do about it, I wasn't going to stress them out even more, so it's just enormous for us and the country. I know everyone back home is really proud of the girls' efforts."
Frances Solia, seen here playing for Samoa at the 2003 World Cup, will coach the team at the 2019 event in Liverpool. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Now that their passage to Liverpool is confirmed, Solia said the next step was to begin planning the next 15 months.
"I'll meet with the CEO, we'll have a conference call and discuss where to from here. There's some things I want to do to get us ready again," she said.
"I have the easy job, I think Rosie has the tough job in convincing funders to help us out and get us some more fixtures because it's important that we get some internationals before the pinnacle event next year."
Meanwhile, Fiji also secured their World Cup berth by finishing runners up in the Oceania event.
