Payne Haas on verge of Kangaroos defection to represent Samoa

The Kangaroos’ Ashes assault is expected to be dealt a blow with Brisbane Broncos enforcer Payne Haas on the verge of pledging his allegiance to Samoa at the end of the season.

Haas, arguably the best front-rower in the competition, has been in discussions with Samoan Rugby League officials about representing his heritage at the Pacific Championships at the end of the year.

Haas won’t make his decision public until at least after this year’s Origin series and is focusing his attention on leading the Broncos to a premiership.

However, sources with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity say Haas plans to represent a different part of his heritage in the Pacific Championships.

Haas has been talking with the Samoan Rugby League for the past 12 months and was on the verge of defecting last year before an ankle injury ruled him out of the end-of-season Test matches.

Samoan Rugby League officials declined to comment when contacted and are wary of the Australian Rugby League getting in the front-rower’s ear to convince him not to join the team that lost to the Kangaroos in the 2022 World Cup final at Old Trafford.

No official paperwork has been lodged, nor has Haas spoken to Australia’s coach Mal Meninga about the matter.

It comes as Meninga prepares to lead his team to England for the first Ashes series in 22 years for a three-game series from the end of October.

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.

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 will be eligible to play for New Zealand if he foregoes Origin – providing he applies for and receives an exemption from the NRL – because he has only represented Australia in a Nines tournament, not a full, 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.

Sydney Morning Herald

 

[Sproj]

Interesting point to me is that Mal has complained about losing these guys but doesn’t seem to be doing anything about trying to encourage anyone to play for Aus. He seems to just sit on his hands.

It’s great for the international game but you would think the Australian coach would be trying to figure out why so many players seem to want to defect.

 

[Old Mate]

I hate it if he gets to play for the blues and Ponga can’t play for qld.

 

[theshed]

I love this stuff ar the moment. It’s great to have a (almost) legitimate international game.

The elephant in the room is that most these players are born in Australia. The next generation of players will have Samoan heritage parents or even grand parents born in Australia which starts to then limit the player pool again.

 

[Santa]

I love this stuff ar the moment. It’s great to have a (almost) legitimate international game.

The elephant in the room is that most these players are born in Australia. The next generation of players will have Samoan heritage parents or even grand parents born in Australia which starts to then limit the player pool again.

I assume these nations won't stop producing new players though, who would still have closer connections to Samoa, etc. Especially if we eventually get a Pacifica NRL team.

 

[kman]

If players represent in origin then the 1st country they must represent should be Australia.

 

[Big Del]

If players represent in origin then the 1st country they must represent should be Australia.

If Origin was the selection trial for the Kangaroos I`d agree .
In reality the NRL comp and the finals are the selection trials .

 

[BroncsFan]

I think the more representation across the Islands the better... Australia doesn't lack in players for the jersey and increased international competition is a good thing.

Doesn't bother me that guys play origin and also play for Samoa, Tonga, etc. there are specific criteria they have to meet to be eligible for origin.

I would open origin up to NZ and England as well, because I don't really think the tiering system works.

If Tonga or Samoa became a Tier 1 nation and their players were no longer able to play origin, then it would dent those international teams and weaken the international game, which makes Australia stronger when it's not needed.

 

[Dexter]

I think the more representation across the Islands the better... Australia doesn't lack in players for the jersey and increased international competition is a good thing.

Doesn't bother me that guys play origin and also play for Samoa, Tonga, etc. there are specific criteria they have to meet to be eligible for origin.

I would open origin up to NZ and England as well, because I don't really think the tiering system works.

If Tonga or Samoa became a Tier 1 nation and their players were no longer able to play origin, then it would dent those international teams and weaken the international game, which makes Australia stronger when it's not needed.

It will make Australia weaker in the not so long term.

 

[Morkel]

International is about heritage.
Origin is about which state's development system they grew up playing within.

The two are different concepts, playing Origin and for another nation is not mutually exclusive.

 

[BroncsFan]

It will make Australia weaker in the not so long term.

I think that's an issue for ARL to deal with.

As it stands the perception I get is that players care mostly about a Qld or NSW jersey, and then after that there are top level guys that care more about Samoan and Tongan jerseys than an Australian jersey.

It's up to the ARL to make players give a shit about an Australian jersey.

Forcing players to play for Australia, so they can also represent Qld or NSW (i.e. the leagues that developed them as footy players), means you get guys playing for Australia that aren't actually passionate about the jersey... and in doing so you weaken the international game.

Australia is already odds on favourite to win every game that they go into... forcing guys to play for them instead sharing out players to other international teams is basically bringing them in from $1.10 to $1.01 and decimates the international game whilst it's at it.

 

[Sproj]

Just tighten up the international criteria. Origin has its own criteria, so they can be separate. And even the way it currently is, NZ is probably even currently being impacted more than Aus because they are tier 1.

I agree with @BroncsFan that the tier system doesn’t work because there is no way currently NZ is stronger than Samoa or Tonga or at least won’t be for much longer.

If you want the international game to grow then ultimately you either need Aus to get weaker or the island nations to get stronger. How good would it be going into a World Cup having no idea who is going to win let alone be in the final. As it currently stands you know it will be Aus v NZ/Samoa/Tonga with England an outside chance.

 

[McHunt]

If Payne wants to identify as a Samoan man, I'm cool with that. I'm not so sure how fair it would be if he wants to play for the women's team.

 

[Dexter]

I think that's an issue for ARL to deal with.

As it stands the perception I get is that players care mostly about a Qld or NSW jersey, and then after that there are top level guys that care more about Samoan and Tongan jerseys than an Australian jersey.

It's up to the ARL to make players give a shit about an Australian jersey.

Forcing players to play for Australia, so they can also represent Qld or NSW (i.e. the leagues that developed them as footy players), means you get guys playing for Australia that aren't actually passionate about the jersey... and in doing so you weaken the international game.

Australia is already odds on favourite to win every game that they go into... forcing guys to play for them instead sharing out players to other international teams is basically bringing them in from $1.10 to $1.01 and decimates the international game whilst it's at it.

The perception I get is they go where the money is.
As soon as the money became equal the players rediscovered their passion for heritage prior to that 99% couldn't give a **** about it unless they couldn't make Austrain teams.

 

[mitch222]

If Payne wants to identify as a Samoan man, I'm cool with that. I'm not so sure how fair it would be if he wants to play for the women's team.

Elsie Albert would smash him so he wouldn't dare cross her path

 

[BroncsFan]

The perception I get is they go where the money is.
As soon as the money became equal the players rediscovered their passion for heritage prior to that 99% couldn't give a **** about it unless they couldn't make Austrain teams.

Is the money equal now??

I thought money for international appearances was paid for by the country's rugby league board i.e ARL for Aus reps, NZRL for kiwis, etc.

And in that sense the ARL would absolutely dwarf everyone else... so repping Australia would earn them the most money per appearance.

I know the origin appearances are big money and there was all the talk about guys playing for other countries playing origin for the pay day, but that doesn't really bother me.

To me origin is basically QRL vs NSWRL and there is criteria that defines if you qualify or not.

Considering there are basically only 2 states in the entire world that are able to develop guys to the absolute peak of the game, it would be expected that most elite players will have come through one of those systems and they are passionate about representing those systems.

The pay day is there, but state of origin is the peak of the game and they still need to get picked to get their pay cheque.

 

[Dexter]

Is the money equal now??

I thought money for international appearances was paid for by the country's rugby league board i.e ARL for Aus reps, NZRL for kiwis, etc.

And in that sense the ARL would absolutely dwarf everyone else... so repping Australia would earn them the most money per appearance.

I know the origin appearances are big money and there was all the talk about guys playing for other countries playing origin for the pay day, but that doesn't really bother me.

To me origin is basically QRL vs NSWRL and there is criteria that defines if you qualify or not.

Considering there are basically only 2 states in the entire world that are able to develop guys to the absolute peak of the game, it would be expected that most elite players will have come through one of those systems and they are passionate about representing those systems.

The pay day is there, but state of origin is the peak of the game and they still need to get picked to get their pay cheque.

I did think that but what I can find is the RLPA rejected it.

 

[Ondi]

I honestly don't care. Internationals lost their appeal to me a long time ago. The passion and rivalry that went into those ashes tours in the 90's are what springs to mind. I couldn't wait for those GBR matches.

The atmosphere of those matches are only matched by origin now in my opinion. If deep down these players want to represent other countries then I'm all for it.

It should bring out their passion/fight for the country they play for out and provide a better spectacle overall.