Samoa's players left Port Moresby with bilum bags and knitted hats after fans traded the gifts for their jerseys and shorts following a 64-6 win over Papua New Guinea.
Jarome Luai said supporters even asked for his underwear. "They wanted my undies too. I was like, nah, sorry, no can do," he told AAP.
Brian To'o said the attendance board showed 15,000 people.
"I saw on the board there was 15,000 people but bro, that was probably one of the biggest atmospheres I've ever played in," To'o said.
He described the crowd's energy as grand-final-like and said football meant a great deal to local people.
To'o said meeting children in PNG had made him emotional, and he hoped to bring them hope and joy when he joined the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
He will remain with Penrith through the 2027 season, while Luai is set to join Parramatta on a one-year deal from November 1 after leaving Wests Tigers.
Luai likened playing before the home crowd to representing NSW in State of Origin at Suncorp Stadium.
He also praised PNG five-eighth Gairo Voro, saying he looked forward to playing alongside him in the future.
Samoa returned to Sydney on Sunday and will meet Tonga next week, with the winner set to top Group B/C.