Jamie Soward says his fresh tattoo proves his role in Samoa’s successful Pacific Championships campaign was not about putting himself in the shop window for his next coaching role.
The Samoa head coach revealed in the aftermath of Sunday’s 34-12 promotion play-off win over Papua New Guinea that he recently had the numbers “685” inked on his hip.
Samoa’s international dialling code is 685 and the number is worn as a badge of honour by the country's residents and diaspora.
Soward had helped Samoa qualify for the 2026 World Cup - the country’s first in 18 years - with a win over Fiji in the women’s Pacific Bowl last week.
It comes as Soward, who was let go by St George Illawarra’s NRLW side at the end of this season, continues to be linked to the NSW women’s State of Origin role which is currently held by Kylie Hilder.
“My individual stuff, I’ll put to the side,” Soward said.
“I want to be a coach ... I feel like I've got a lot to offer.
“Personally, it hasn't been a great couple of months but I said to (Samoa captain) Annetta (Nu'uausala) that I was going to be all in for this campaign, I’m not doing it for a job interview.
“I got the 685 tattoo because I wanted to create history … it’s still a bit sore today.”
The victory over the Orchids in the play-off at CommBank Stadium ensures the Samoans will get a crack at the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns in next year’s tournament.
“Enormous for the country of Samoa, and enormous for every other emerging Samoan player,” Soward said.
But the Samoan coach said he won’t be actively pitching for dual-eligble players such as Jillaroos prop Sarah Togatuki.
“Of course, we want people to choose us, but I'm not going to get hung up on girls that have dual heritage," he said.
“It must be a horrible decision to have to choose one side of the family.”
PNG were no match for Soward’s side, except for inspirational captain Elsie Albert who crashed in for two second-half tries.
PNG’s Sera Koroi was sent off for a spear tackle on Sarina Masaga with 15 minutes left in the match.
Sareka Mooka was also placed on report twice, once for a hair-pull and another for planting an elbow in the face of Lindsay Tui.
