Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga faces the possibility of losing one of his star players at the end of the year, as Payne Haas is contemplating a switch to represent Samoa.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the Brisbane Broncos prop has been in talks with the Samoa Rugby League and may join their squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
If he does decide to play for Samoa, it would prevent Haas from participating in the historic Ashes series against England scheduled for October.
Haas boasts a diverse heritage, including Samoan, Swiss, and Filipino roots, and qualifies to play for Samoa through his mother.
Payne Haas representing Australia during the 2023 Pacific Championships. Ian Hitchcock via Getty Images
The Herald indicates that Haas won’t make a final decision until after the State of Origin series concludes, but there have been discussions between him and the Samoan organisation over the past year.
As a tier two nation, Samoa would still allow Haas to play for NSW, similar to players like Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, and Spencer Leniu.
If Haas decides to represent Samoa, it would deal a significant blow to Meninga, given that numerous eligible Australian players have opted to showcase their heritage by representing Tonga and Samoa in recent years.
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