Transcript
Samoa are the highest ranked Pacific nation, at fifth in the world and they're strengthened by the addition of Queensland and former Australia backrower Josh Papalii.
The Toa face a daunting World Cup opener against New Zealand on Saturday but coach Matt Parish believes the Pacific nations are the strongest they've ever been.
"World Cups come around every four years. It's unfortunate that you've got to wait that long to play top level nations but this is our opportunity to show what we've got. It's obviously the other Pacific nations too, it's their opportunity to show what they've got and I've got no doubt that this World Cup is certainly going to toss up a few surprises".
Fiji have reached the semi finals at the past two World Cups and can call on the attacking threats of Jarryd Hayne and the NRL's top-tryscorer Suliasi Vunivalu.
Bati coach Mick Potter says the squad have big aspirations but can't look any further than Saturday's opening clash against the United States.
"If you slip up in your first game and you go in with any complacency or anything like that you find yourself out of the World Cup. I don't like the old cliches but we certainly have to be mindful that we need to win our first game so I'm not jumping the gun, I'm not setting any targets but I know we're very ambitious but I think it would be foolish for me to come up with anything publicly, Athough our aspirations are high".
Mate Ma'a Tonga have grabbed the headlines since Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita opted to switch allegiance from New Zealand and Australia, and were quickly joined by Manu Ma'u, Sio Siua Taukieaho and David Fusitu'a.
Despite coming in for criticism, coach Kristian Woof is adamant it's good news for the game.
"I think that's exactly what you want for a World Cup and you want it to be competitive and you want the best players playing in it and that's what the change of rules (allowed) - and they are the right change even though they've copped a bit of flak lately. They are certainly the right change and they're heading in the right direction and they've allowed all the best players to be available for different nations so...that's what it needs to be about".
Papua New Guinea will create history on Saturday when the country hosts its first ever World Cup match between the Kumuls and Wales.
The National Football Stadium in Port Moresby is a sell-out and coach Michael Marum says there's a huge buzz around town.
"It's finally coming this weekend so everyone is looking forward to the match against Wales this Saturday afternoon. A lot of people are turning up at training, this sort of thing...there's a lot more requests for the players to go out to schools and hospitals and that sort of thing but we're really mindful of the time we've got left and the main focus is just on training, preparing a side to go out there and play well on Saturday."
Despite making big strides on the field, Pacific nations say the playing ground remains far from even off it.
Kristian Woolf says players make a big financial sacrifice to represent their heritage over the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
Matt Parish says it's grossy unfair and the governing body needs to take the lead in addressing the financial disparity in the international game.
"They've got a board there and they need to have some spine and make sure that every team in the tournament gets the same amount of money, then we will see a much evener contest. At the moment when you've got three teams getting $20,000 a game and the rest of us getting pittance it's very unfair and very uneven but if you pay everyone the same amount of money then let the players choose who they want to play for I can tell you then it will be a lot different story."
The Rugby League International Federation pays expenses for all teams during the World Cup but it's up to national federations to provide match payments.
International Development Manager Tas Baitieri says Australia, New Zealand and England can afford to do that but Pacific nations don't have the same capacity.
"So the International Federation is the one that will be required to see how we can prop them up, and that would have to come from excess revenue from the World Cup, to be able to have enough surplus income to pay the players what they would be due...so it ain't going to be solved overnight and let's hope the World Cup this year will deliver the outcome that we need so that the International Federation is in a much stronger position to be able to afford to play the players what they deserve."
Tas Baitieri says the matter is likely to be on the agenda when the Board of the International Federation meets in Sydney next week.
