Samoa coach Matt Parish has criticized international rugby league organisers in the National Rugby League (NRL) for not looking after Pacific nations after it was revealed Samoan players received no match payments for their game against Tonga at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta last Saturday night.

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) reported the Tongan side received $500 each in match payments, only after they sourced their own sponsorship.

However, players from the Kangaroos, Kiwis, City and Country teams all received match payments from the NRL, which Parish says is a scar on the game and that someone needs to stand up for Pacific nations.

Tonga coach, Kristian Woolf agrees with Parish. “Whatever we are able to get we make sure we give the players as much reward as we can,” Woolf said. “Our guys would play for free, but by no means does it make it fair.”

Parish labeled those in the NRL who look after Pacific nations as weak. “Until we get someone willing to stand up for the Pacific nations we are always going to have this problem,” he said.

The Daily Telegraph reports Australia and New Zealand each receive $180,000 to fund the mid-season Test whereas four Pacific Nations share around $350,000 between them, roughly $87,000 each to cover all costs.

Pacific Nations coaches aren’t paid for their services either.

Parish believes the NRL doesn’t want Pacific nations like Samoa and Tonga to be too strong because it hurts the bigger countries.

“They don’t want us to beat Australia and New Zealand, because if that happens people will lose jobs,” he said.