I couldn't turn down England trip despite pressure to rest - Luai

Jarome Luai says he could not "turn down" the opportunity to captain Samoa for their two-Test series in England despite pressure to recuperate at the end of a punishing season.

Luai, who helped Penrith Panthers seal a historic fourth consecutive NRL Premiership title earlier in October, will join West Tigers on a lucrative deal for next term.

His decision to lead Ben Gardiner's side for the first time, in place of the injured Junior Paulo, means the Tigers will be without their star recruit when they start preparing for the new Australian domestic campaign.

"I was contemplating whether I should or shouldn't at the end of our season," Luai, 27, told BBC Sport.

“It’s been a long year and everybody wants to look after their body at the end of the day - but if my body was right, why would I turn something like this down? I am really excited and happy about getting the opportunity to lead these boys. It's something I’ve not done before.

“Ben told me I would be captain straight after we played the Grand Final. Right then and there, I said: 'Yeah man, let's get it done and do a great job for our country.'"

Samoa's first Test series in England is also their first visit since a dramatic 27-26 golden-point victory over the hosts in the semi-finals of the World Cup in November 2022.

Organisers expect a crowd of around 15,000 for the first Test at Wigan's Brick Community Stadium - formerly DW Stadium - on Sunday, 27 October, with the second at AMT Headingley in Leeds on Saturday, 2 November (both 14:30 GMT).

The Tests are part of an autumn series featuring England's men's, women's and wheelchair teams, with extensive live coverage across the BBC.

Saturday, 26 October: Wheelchair international: England v France: Robin Park, Wigan (14:30 BST). Live streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Sunday, 27 October: First men's Test: England v Samoa: Brick Community Stadium, Wigan (14:30 GMT): Watch live on BBC Two, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. Live radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Saturday, 2 November: Women's Test: England v Wales: AMT Headingley, Leeds (12:00 GMT): Watch live on BBC TV, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Live radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Saturday, 2 November: Second men's Test: England v Samoa: AMT Headingley, Leeds (14:30 GMT): Watch live on BBC TV, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. Live radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Note: All television and radio coverage is UK only.

Luai is one of four survivors from the Samoa squad who reached the last World Cup final at Old Trafford, with Brian To'o, Spencer Leniu and Jayden S'ua among their high-profile absentees.

The recently married Stephen Crichton, whose drop-goal condemned England to that semi-final defeat, is also missing.

Crichton's wedding was reportedly so well attended, external that Samoa would have struggled to field a team had their meetings with England taken place any earlier.

"I had to come into camp the next morning after Stephen Crichton's wedding," Luai added.

"I know the boys were pretty rowdy, having a few drinks, and I had to keep myself under control and understand I had a job to do.

"I was jealous of them having a good time but we trained and flew the next day. I had already made my mind up and knew what I was missing out on but I think they are jealous now I am here and they are looking on, on social media."

However, Gardiner has still been able to construct a squad packed with NRL quality, bolstered by the inclusion of former New Zealand dual-code international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and forward Jeremiah Nanai, who previously represented Australia.

England head coach Shaun Wane says there is a "good chance" that both second-row forward Junior Nsemba and winger Liam Marshall will be involved on Sunday.

The uncapped duo are among five players in Wane's squad who helped Wigan to the quadruple, an achievement unprecedented in the Super League era.

Marshall, 28, was Super League's leading try scorer and 20-year-old Nsemba its Young Player of the Year.

Their club-mate Harry Smith is likely to be tasked with getting England to tick from half-back, with former captain Sam Tomkins, now the team manager, seen as a mentor by several of the current side.

"He helped out for France and was really good working more with the attack," said Smith.

"It’s going to be a really big challenge. Samoa have a good forward pack and some outstanding backs. They are going be looking to bring it to us. We will try and do the same and see who breaks first. The better team will win. It won’t be a fluke or luck."

The notion that these two matches provide England with the chance for redemption after the events of two years ago has been dismissed by Samoa head coach Gardiner.

But St Helens full-back Jack Welsby said: "There’s always going to be a little bit of needle. There is history between us two now.

"We have a lot of respect for Samoa and their players but we're going to go out there and go after them. The whole coaching staff and players want to win 2-0. If you didn’t you would not be in the right job."

Luai added: "For us, the semi was probably a revenge game similar to these guys. They put a beating on us in the group stage of the World Cup with 60 points, which I am not used to.

"We know how much of a challenge it is going to be and we are excited for it. We will not back down, we are going to take it head on."