Haas is eyeing up a national switch that would come as a big blow to the Kangaroos.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has hinted that he won’t stand in Payne Haas’ way if the prop decides to switch national allegiances and play for Samoa. According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, Haas is considering defecting from Australia’s Test team come and it comes amid suggestions Samoa are also chasing fellow Kangaroos forward and Queensland State of Origin star, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Samoa is not considered a tier-one nation so Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui would both be able to continue playing Origin for their respective states if they did decide to commit their allegiances to Samoa. Both men were born in Australia but have Samoan descent and it’s understood Haas was considering a switch to Samoa for last year’s Pacific Championships until an ankle injury ultimately ruled him out of the tournament.
Haas is yet to speak to Meninga about his plans for the national side, with the Kangaroos coach set to lead his men in a first Ashes series against England in 22 years, starting in October. Losing either Haas or Fa’asuamaleaui would be a massive blow to the Kangaroos and it would be even worse if both were to defect from Australia and switch their national allegiances.
The Kangaroos will play a three-match Ashes series for the first time since 2003, with the first Test against England getting underway at London’s Wembley Stadium on October 25. The second Test will be played in Liverpool on November 1 at the brand-new 53,000-seat Everton Stadium, while Leeds will host the Test at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on November 8.
Mal Meninga responds to bombshell Payne Haas reports
And Meninga has made it clear that he only wants players in his Kangaroos squad that are fully committed to playing for Australia, despite admitting he has not yet spoken to Haas to get his thoughts. The Australia coach did suggest that Origin should be used as a stepping stone to play for Australia, with eligibility rules sure to come under the microscope if Haas or Fa’asuamaleaui were to jump ship.
“I haven’t spoken to Payne so it’s all purely speculative at the moment,” Meninga said. “I’ve said all along I think international rugby league is important for the game. We live in a country that dons the green and gold colours and I want people and players who are passionate about that.
“It’s what comes from your heart. If you’re truly Australian then you want to play for Australia, don’t you? “That’s the way I look it. If you’re a Queenslander then you want to use that Queensland jersey as a stepping stone to play for Australia. It’s the same for New South Wales. I want players who want to wear the green and gold badge.”
The situation comes amid reports New Zealand coach Stacey Jones is attempting to poach Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga. The Knights and Maroons Origin star was born in Australia to Kiwi parents and spent a large part of his childhood growing up in New Zealand. Ponga has represented Australia in a Nines tournament previously, but because New Zealand are a tier-one rugby league nation he would have to give up Origin and receive an exemption from the NRL, in order to be eligible to play for the Kiwis.
