However, the latest attempts at the title have been good-humouredly brushed off by Tarras farmer John Perriam, minder and owner of the late renegade wether and unofficial world record-holder, Shrek.
''They won't give up until they find something that'll beat the old Kiwis, will they?'' Mr Perriam laughed.
''Good luck to them ... That's good. It keeps up the good old transtasman rivalry.''
Last month, Tasmanian sheep Shaun's 23.5kg fleece fell short of Shrek's decade-old record of 27kg.
Since then, Samson - from the New South Wales region of Monaro - has reportedly been relieved of a 27.53kg fleece.
But Mr Perriam said once the dust settled, Samson's wool weight would probably drop.
''If he's from Monaro there's quite a good possibility ... two Ks [2kg] of that will actually be sand, red dust ... in the fleece.
''Most of those sheep are very low-yielding because they're full of vegetable matter and dust ... I don't think they can really claim it yet. We're not going to concede yet, anyway.''
News of Samson's fleece has caused much amusement among Mr Perriam's friends, who have offered some cheeky rebuttal.
One suggested the authenticity of the Australian claims was ''very hard to believe, given that the early settlers were all carefully selected by High Court judges from the old country'', Mr Perriam teased.
FarmOnline reported a local minister witnessed the weighing of Samson's fleece to ensure it met Australian Record Book standards. Video footage and digital scales information had been sent off for verification.
But Mr Perriam maintained his dust theory.
''I would just about bet you anything ... it doesn't matter whether they had a minister there or not.''
And if Samson was ultimately proven to be the world's woolliest sheep?''We'll have to go and find another one,'' he joked.
In January this year, a merino wether from Twizel dubbed Big Ben also made a play for Shrek's record. Big Ben's reported 28.9kg fleece is still awaiting recognition by Guinness World Records. - Additional reporting APNZ
