2014 Four Nations: Sauaso Sue recalled as Samoa prepare to face New Zealand

Samoa coach Matt Parish has recalled Wests Tigers loose forward Sauaso Sue for their Four Nations showdown with New Zealand in Whangarei on Saturday.

Sue, who was one of three players suspended and fined following an incident at a Brisbane nightclub on the eve of the tournament, is named on the Samoa bench as Parish makes rotations following their defeat to England.

Samoa provided a thorough test for Steve McNamara’s England, twice leading and threatening to sting the 2013 Rugby League World Cup semi-finalists in an enthralling Brisbane affair.

The Pacific Islanders came close to pulling off a shock result on their tournament debut in front of a near-50,000 crowd at the Suncorp Stadium when they led 10-6 and 22-20, but the Tomkins brothers, Sam and Joel, came to England's rescue with crucial second-half tries.

In the end England emerged 32-26 winners, but Wakefield Wildcats half-back Pita Godinet and New Zealand Warriors prop Isaac Liu have been rewarded for their efforts in the defeat.

Godinet came from the bench to bag a brace of tries, his second opening coming from a well-orchestrated dummy move, while Liu also graced the scoresheet when he was introduced.

Parish has promoted both try-scorers to the run-on side, while Canterbury Bulldogs centre Time Lafai returns having missed the England game due to his wedding.

Lafai gets the nod at the expense of Ricky Leutele, who does not even get the consolation of a place on the bench as Samoa seek a crucial victory to keep their Four Nations campaign alive.

Samoa: T Simona (Wests Tigers); A Winterstein (North Queensland), T Lafai (Canterbury Bulldogs), J Leilua (Newcastle Knights), D Vidot (Brisbane Broncos); B Roberts (Melbourne Storm), K Stanley (St George Illawarra); I Liu (Sydney Roosters), P Godinet (Wakefield Wildcats), D Fa'alogo (Newcastle Knights, capt), F Pritchard (Canterbury Bulldogs), L Ah Mau (St George Illawarra), J McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
Replacements: D Lui (Manly Sea Eagles), J Sene-Lefao (Manly Sea Eagles), S Sue (Wests Tigers), M Masoe (St Helens)