Anthony Milford is swapping maroon for blue after being named in the Toa Samoa squad for Saturday's Pacific Rugby League Test against Tonga.
The 23 year old played in Queensland's Game One State of Origin defeat against New South Wales earlier this month but will be unavailable for Game Two on Sunday after opting to represent Samoa.
Anthony Milford headlines the Toa Samoa squad. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Milford played in Samoa's Pacific Test defeat by England last May but missed the World Cup due to a shoulder injury.
Manly winger Jorge Taufua is set to make his debut for Samoa, having previously represented Tonga, however four former Toa Samoa internationals have switched allegience to New Zealand ahead of the Kiwis controversial test against England in Denver this weekend.
Jorge Taufua will debut for Toa Samoa in the Pacific Test, having played for Tonga at the 2013 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Warriors winger Ken Maumalo, St George-Illawarra forward Leeson Ah Mau and Newcastle prop Herman Ese'ese were all a part of Samoa's World Cup squad at the end of last year, while Bulldogs second-rower Raymond Faitala- Mariner played two tests for the Toa in 2016.
They're among seven new caps in a severly under-strength Kiwis team.
Brothers in Arms
Rabbitohs duo Robert Jennings and Junior Tatola are the debutants in the star-studded Tongan rugby league team named to face Samoa.
Robert Jennings will debut for Tonga after impressing for South Sydney. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fresh from scoring four tries in South Sydney's hammering of Parramatta, Jennings has been selected alongside brother Michael in the Mate Ma'a Tonga squad to play for the Polynesian Cup.
Addin Fonua-Blake is the latest to switch allegiance from New Zealand while Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo have kept their committment to Tonga, alongside Sio Siua Taukieaho, Daniel Tupou and Tuimoala Lolohea.
Warriors duo David Fusitu'a (foot) and Solomone Kata (hamstring) and Broncos forward Tevita Pangai junior (ribs) were unavailable due to injury.
Coach Kristian Woolf will add two more players to the squad during the week.
Boas missing as PNG Hunters dominate Kumuls squad
Rhadley Brawa and Junior Rau will make their test debut at Campbelltown Stadium after being named among nine Papua New Guinea Hunters players in the Kumuls squad to face the Fiji Bati for the Melanesian Cup.
PNG Hunters winger Junior Rau. Photo: Queensland Rugby League
Ipswich Jets winger Richard Pandia, who made his debut during last year's Pacific Test win over the Cook Islands, is the only member of 18-man squad who did not feature in the Kumuls run to the quarter finals at last year's World Cup.
Lachlan Lam will start alongside Watson Boas in the halves after Kumuls vice-captain Ase Boas was left out of the squad, having spent the past month recovering from dengue fever.
Meanwhile Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Samoa will all have new captains for the Pacific Test.
Kumuls World Cup skipper David Mead and Tonga's Sika Manu are both playing in the UK Super League and were not considered for selection while Samoa's Frank Pritchard announced his retirement in January.
Toa Samoa squad:
Bunty Afoa, Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee Kam, Christian Crichton, James Gavet, Pita Godinet, Sam Kasiano, Tim Lafai, Joey Leilua, Luciano Leilua, Mason Lino, Dunamis Lui, Tyrone May, Anthony Milford, Isaiah Papali'i, Joseph Paulo, Ligi Sao, Jorge Taufua.
Mate Ma'a Tonga squad:
Andrew Fifita, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havilli, Ata Hingano, Will Hopoate, Konrad Hurrell, Michael Jennings, Robert Jennings, Sione Katoa, Tuimoala Lolohea, Manu Ma'u, Joe Ofahengaue, Junior Tatola, Jason Taumalolo, Sio Siua Taukieaho, Peni Terepo, Daniel Tupou.
PNG Kumuls squad:
1. Nene McDonald, 2. Junior Rau, 3. Thompson Teteh, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Richard Pandia, 6. Lachlan Lam, 7. Watson Boas, 8. Enock Maki, 9. James Segeyaro, 10. Luke Page, 11. Rhyse Martin, 12. Rod Griffin, 13. Rhadley Brawa, 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Willie Minoga, 16. Adex Wera, 17. Stanton Albert, 18. Nixon Putt.
