Wests Tigers NRLW players Christian Pio and Jetaya Faifua have been named in the Fetu Samoa squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
It follows a historic season for the Tigers, when the NRLW squad played finals football for the first time.
Powerful front-rower Christian Pio will again represent Samoa after being a key figure in their 2024 Pacific Championships squad.
Pio has been a mainstay of the Tigers since their inaugural NRLW season in 2023 and has represented the Club on 34 occasions.
A consistent performer, Pio played in all 12 matches for the Tigers this year and averaged 70 run metres per game whilst amassing 176 tackles with only 10 misses all season.
Jetaya Faifua returns to the Fetu Samoa squad after representing them twice in last year’s Pacific Championships against Australia and New Zealand.
Experienced at the NRLW level with 31 appearances across three clubs, Faifua brings attacking prowess to the Samoan side with blistering speed and dazzling footwork.
With five games already under her belt for Samoa, the young half is set to represent them on the World Cup stage for the first time.
Wests Tigers NRLW Head Coach Craig Sandercock is excited for the Tigers duo, saying they have more than earned their spot in the squad.
“I’m really happy to see the players recognised. It's a real privilege to play for your country,” Sandercock said.
“Congratulations to both players, and full credit to them for training hard and playing well towards the back end of the season, earning their jersey.”
Fetu Samoa's campaign kicks off on Friday, 16 October, when they clash with the Australian Jillaroos at 8.05pm at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
