Corey Parker calls out 'disrespectful' detail as Samoa and England clash sparks debate

It’s passionate, intimidating, colourful and riveting – but how much respect should opposition teams give to rivals' pre-match war cries? That's the question being asked after the Samoan rugby league team's in-your-face rendition of the Siva Tau before kick-off against England last weekend racked up more than a million social media views.

St George Illawarra forward Luciano Leilua led the cry, with four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai featuring heavily alongside fellow NRL stars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Izack Tago, Jeremiah Nanai and Shawn Blore. Viewers were enraptured by vision of Manly hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong going nose-to-nose with England interchange player Mikey Lewis before the pair bumped heads in a gentle two-way butt on the halfway line.

The Englishman then challenges Chan Kum Tong to "let’s go" after they separate, while Samoa’s Francis Molo remains entangled with England duo George Williams and Matty Lees after the performance ends. The pre-game exchanges set the scene for a fiery encounter, won 34-18 by England amid several skirmishes and a push-and-shove involving all 26 players.

The England camp had no problem with the Siva Tau but were also not going to take a backward step and allow Samoa to intimidate them. Captain Williams, who was named man-of-the-match, said: "It was just a stand-off, to be honest.

"Standing on that halfway line and fronting up... we see that as our territory and we didn’t want to let them come over it for the start of the game. I think that’s where it (the niggle) starts, doesn’t it? I think it’s a mindset of both teams and then it probably boiled over a bit."

Lewis added: "I'll never back down. It's our territory - they've got to earn to get over our side and that's the culture we've built with England. I enjoyed it. It got me pumped up."

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Corey Parker believes Samoan players might have gone too far

But former Brisbane, Queensland and Australia backrower Corey Parker believes the Samoans may have over-stepped the mark against England. He told Radio SEN: "I'm all for the war cries but what happens, hypothetically, if Gordon Chan Kum Tong does that and you give him a good, old-fashioned 'don’t argue, get out of my space type thing?'

"Is that disrespectful? Are you supposed to just cop it? Do you just wear whatever's going on? If there's a little shove at the start of the game, who's at fault?

"They are right in your face, right in your space. If Gordon Chan Kum Tong came and pressed his head firmly into mine and I was in an Australian jumper…come on, mate, come on.

"Are we supposed to just cop it because it’s a war cry? I appreciate it, I respect it but don't come and push your head into mine. I don't know if I would react that kindly."