More than 1,000 supporters attended a Samoa fan day last week as Stephen Crichton prepared for the team's Rugby League World Cup opener against France on Friday.
The match at CommBank Stadium is a key chance for Samoa to begin another run towards the final, after reaching the decider in 2022.
Crichton scored the extra-time field goal that beat England in that tournament's semi-final, helping turn the players into national heroes and drawing a social-media tribute from Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
The Canterbury captain returns to the centres after switching to five-eighth midway through a difficult NRL season, when coach Cameron Ciraldo sought a spark for the Bulldogs' attack.
The positional change helped Canterbury's late-season revival, though the club missed the finals, and Crichton says the experience has improved his game.
"It's taken my game to another level now going back to centre," Crichton said.
"Not just in attack but defensively as well."
He said playing in the halves taught him how to support the player beside him, both in defence and attack.
Samoa's game against Tonga in week three has sold out, leaving Friday's fixture as the team's only other Sydney match during the tournament.
"That's where the expectation comes from now," Crichton said of the support following the 2022 campaign.
He said the squad was focused on staying present and giving fans energy in return.
Crichton will reunite with former Penrith teammates Brian To'o, Spencer Leniu and Jarome Luai, who helped Samoa reach the 2022 final.
"I can see the fire in Romy's eyes to prove a lot of people wrong," Crichton said of Luai.
"I'll be right next to him proving them wrong too."