Payne Haas on verge of Kangaroos defection to represent Samoa
The Kangaroos have been locked in to play three Tests against England, starting with a Test match at the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium in London. The remaining two matches will be played at the new home of English Premier League club Everton and Headingley in Leeds.
Haas isn’t the only big-name Australian player considering his international future. Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is also in the sights of the Samoan Rugby League.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s and Payne Haas lock horns in Origin back in 2020.Credit: Getty
While he hasn’t committed to playing for Samoa, the front-rower is believed to be weighing up a potential defection despite representing the green and gold on seven occasions. Fa’asuamaleaui made his international debut for Samoa in 2019.
It also comes amid reports that New Zealand coach Stacey Jones is trying to lure Kalyn Ponga away from Australia to represent the Kiwis.
Under NRL rules, Ponga cannot play State of Origin and for a tier-one nation (which New Zealand is) other than Australia. He is still eligible to play for New Zealand if he foregoes Origin because he’s only represented Australia in a Nines tournament, not a 13-a-side Test match.
Samoa is not considered a tier-one nation, which means Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui can represent their respective states and play for Samoa at the end of the year.
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