Samoa players have created a bond to last a lifetime, inking ‘685’ - the dialling code for Samoa - onto their bodies as inspiration for the Fetū's 2026 World Cup campaign.
Skipper Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala was the first of the group to commit to the tattoo when she pledged her allegiance to Fetū Sāmoa after playing for the Kiwi Ferns at the last World Cup in 2022.
“A lot of the girls, as well as the staff, got tattoos, which is '685', which is obviously our area code for Samoa," Nu'uausala said.
“I had mine done two years ago, which was right after I played World Cup for the Kiwi Ferns, and I just knew the time was right for me to come home.
"That's when I put that on my body permanently, and I'm here now, so it's exactly where I belong."
Fetu Samoa kick the day off with the Siva Tau
After beating Tonga and Fiji in Pacific Bowl matches which doubled as World Cup qualifiers, Samoa claimed the seventh berth at RLWC2026 and a place in last Sunday's Pacific Cup promotion-relegation play-off against Papua New Guinea.
Ranked 24th of 27 nations with women's teams before the Pacific Championships, Samoa triumphed 34-12 against the fifth-ranked Orchids and are now ready to prove themselves against tier-one nations in next year's tournament.
Nu'uausala believes the way for Samoa to compete with the likes of Australia and New Zealand is to develop the young stars who have established themselves in the Fetu line-up.
Nu'uausala the destroyer
Seven members of the squad are still in their teens - Evah McEwan, Lindsay Tui, Sienna Lofipo, Sarina Masaga, Tavarna Papali'i, Jessica Patea and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala.
"There's a lot of girls that came here that were playing development for NRLW," Nu'uausala said. “As much as they learn off us senior players, we learn a lot from them as well.
"They bring out the youth in us, so it's been awesome having them alongside us in the Samoan team, so I'm looking forward to what the future holds with Fetu."
The Broncos forward has been impressed with the young crop of players emerging through the squad and said they have all been enthusiastic to learn more about their Samoan heritage.
“They get around us old ones, they embrace our culture really well, and it's good because us a lot of us older ones are trying to learn more about our culture as well," she said.
"It’s not like we're at different levels, we are all on the same level, and it's been an awesome campaign.
Fetu Samoa wins the Pacific Bowl
"We didn't come into this competition to make up numbers, we were here to win and that is exactly what we did. We are here to make a name for our small nation.
"I tell everyone that this is definitely the highlight of my career."
The win against the Orchids was Samoa's fourth in a row after the Fetu last year ended a drought since 2008. During that period, Samoa have played just seven Tests, including three this year.
Fetu coach Jamie Soward, who took charge last year, also got the '685' tattoo before last Sunday's Test against the Orchids and showed it off at the post-match press conference as he reflected on Samoa's four-week campaign.
“I got that '685' tattoo because I wanted to create history, and we did that. It’s still a little bit sore today,” Soward said.
