The Pacific revolution has rolled on with Manly enforcer Martin Taupau defecting from New Zealand to pledge allegiance to Samoa.
After mulling over the move for the several years, Taupua has followed in the footsteps of Tongan converts Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita and Tevita Pangai by promising to turn out for the tier-two nation in next week's Test against Papua New Guinea at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.
It represents a big coup for To'a Samoa as they attempt to keep pace with their Pacific Island rival Tonga having been knocked out of the 2017 World Cup in the quarter-finals.
Less than 24 hours earlier Taupau was named in Michael Maguire's preliminary 27-man squad to take on Tonga, but after some soul-searching he phoned Kiwi officials to inform them of his change of heart.
"It was really tough the last 12 hours, I got the phone call from Madge yesterday afternoon telling me I'm in contention for selection and I really appreciated that," Taupau said.
"After that I took everything in and it was a really hard decision for me looking back on playing in that black and white jersey. I thought it was the right time to make that decision, more so for my family and heritage."
New Zealand-born Taupau played 24 Tests for the Kiwis after earning a solitary cap for Samoa in 2013.
Taupau said Maguire was understanding and supportive of his decision despite the Kiwis' stocks being whittled down by players defecting to Pacific nations in recent years.
Taupau holidayed in Samoa last year and he said getting involved in the community influenced his decision and now hoped to propel Samoa into the top four of the international rankings.
"I look at it as not only for the future of my kids, but for the future of the players coming through in the rugby league community," he said.
