Asiata aiming for big year and addresses World Cup spot in 26

HE'D 'NEVER SAY NO' TO REPRESENTING SAMOA

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Hull FC loose-forward John Asiata

(SWPIX)

JOHN Asiata will “never say no” to representing Samoa at next year’s Rugby League World Cup, but he knows his Hull FC form has to be “unbelievable” if he wants to make the cut.

The Pacific Island nation is expected to aim for at least a semifinal spot in the tournament, which will be held in Australia and Papua New Guinea in October and November 2026.

And Asiata, who last played for Samoa against England in 2024, is well aware of the talent available.

Samoa hammered Tonga in this autumn’s Pacific Cup Championship and pushed New Zealand a lot closer than the end result suggests in the final.

They are expected to be right up there, with talents such as Jerome Luai, Brian To’o, Payne Haas and the like on their side, not to mention new Wakefield Trinity recruit Jazz Tevaga.