Newcastle centre Joseph Leilua is set to become a new poster boy for the international game after turning down a City jersey and opportunity to push his Origin claims to play for Samoa in Saturday night's Pacific Test against Tonga at CBUS Super Stadium.

Leilua was contacted by City coach Brad Fittler before the teams were announced last Sunday but told him that his allegiances were with Samoa in a move that has set the Knights star apart from a number of other players who withdrew from Test teams to play in the City-Country clash at Wagga on Sunday.

Samoa first: Joey Leilua. Credit:Jonathan Carroll

Samoa also failed in a bid to convince Brisbane five-eighth Anthony Milford to play as he does not want to harm his chances of selection for Queensland in this year's State of Origin series. However, Leulua's decision is viewed as a sign of the growing strength of the international game following the success of Fiji in the 2013 World Cup and Samoa in last year's Four Nations tournament.

Leilua was one of Samoa's best players in the Four Nations and he was also a member of the team beaten by Fiji in the quarter final of the World Cup team but had previously played for City in 2012. Fittler had wanted him to partner Dylan Walker in the centres on Sunday but after losing the South Sydney star with a knee injury the City centres will now be James Roberts and Waqa Blake.