Shepparton’s Samoan community rallies behind Rugby League World Cup team

Samoa will take on Australia on Sunday morning in the World Cup final and the community will gather again for its biggest celebration yet.

Samoan community member Sahara Moananu, who has helped organise the parades alongside her parents, said the community was uniting for a special moment in her country’s sporting history.

“It’s mostly to represent our culture, because they’re the first of the Pacific Nations to have made it to a grand final, all of the Pacific Islanders are coming together to show their support for the boys on the field,” Moananu said.

After Samoa defeated Tonga earlier in the tournament, Moananu said the Pacific Islander community in Shepparton had rallied behind Samoa, which has defied the odds throughout the tournament to sail through to a historic World Cup final.

She said a huge turnout gathered last Saturday, with more expected this weekend.

“All of the Islanders are coming together to support Samoa as well, the Fijians and Tongans, they’re all showing support,” Moananu said.

“There was heaps of people (last Saturday) in their community colours, flag colours, they even dressed up as much as they could.

“It was just a different turnout, no-one was expecting that many Islanders, even some Australians came along to support.

“On Sunday we drove around for our victory drive after the win against England and everyone is looking forward to this Saturday.”

Aside from the parade, the community gathered for dancing and other cultural celebrations last weekend.

“We did a bit of entertainment, a bit of dance and the Samoan haka,” Moananu said.

“I’ve never seen the community come together as big as this.

“It is something that we’ll obviously remember.”