NRL 2023: Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga calls for international rugby league eligibility rule change

Just three weeks after representing Australia, Maroons star Murray Taulagi has switched to Samoa. Now Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga wants to see the farcical dual-eligibility rules scrapped.

Payne Haas will end a four-year wait to wear the green and gold again this weekend. Picture: Getty

Australia coach Mal Meninga has called for an overhaul of Test eligibility rules that would see NRL stars banned from switching between nations.

Meninga wants international dual-eligibility scrapped to finally put an end to NRL players changing national allegiance ahead of Saturday’s Test between Australia and Samoa in Townsville.

In the ultimate farce, Murray Taulagi will debut for Samoa, just three weeks after the Cowboys winger wore green-and-gold for Australia’s Prime Minister’s XIII clash against PNG.

Just 12 months ago, Taulagi was a member of the Australian squad that defeated Samoa 30-10 in the World Cup final, underlining the rubbery nature of international league’s eligibility rules.

Now Meninga has had enough of the Test eligibility transit lounge.

Mal Meninga has had enough of the international eligibility farce and has called for an overhaul. Picture: Getty Images.

The NRL Immortal says it’s time for the code’s stars to declare their Test allegiance at the start of their careers with no going back as part of a ‘Pick and Stick’ international policy.

“I don’t believe guys should be able to go back and forth (between countries),” Meninga said.

“What I would like to see is that every player nominates which country they want to play for right from their first registration in the NRL.

“That way, there is no confusion around who they are eligible for.

“When they make the NRL and they have to make a tough decision on Test football, they have to make one call.”

Under the current RLIF rules, players have the opportunity to switch countries between tier-one and tier-two nations.

Australia, England and New Zealand have tier-one status, while the likes of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, France and Papua New Guinea occupy the second tier.

That structure has allowed Taulagi to switch nations for this Test and scores of others have defected over the past two decades, including Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo and Anthony Milford.

But Meninga says the dual tiers should be removed to prevent NRL players jumping between nations.

Murray Taulagi: 'I wanted to be under a coach that wanted me. I haven't heard from Mal since.' Picture: NRL Imagery

The system was previously designed to bolster the depth of emerging nations such as Tonga and Samoa, but the Kangaroos coach believes the explosion of Polynesian talent in the NRL gives those countries the ability to dethrone Australia.

“I believe they should consider taking away the tier-one and tier-two system,” Meninga said.

“Because the Pacific Nations are going to be bolstered by some great players in our NRL competition.

“So let’s take out the tiers and then every NRL player has to make one decision for the country they want to play for and stick to it.

“There’s good numbers now in the Samoa and Tonga teams.

“We want to see competitive Test matches and we’ve got that now.”

Meninga says he has no issue with Polynesian stars such as Samoan trio Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton playing State of Origin – on the proviso they meet interstate guidelines.

“Everyone in Australia has some ancestry except for the First Nations people, we all come from different parts of the world,” he said.

“I believe if you are born in Australia and born in NSW or Queensland, you should be eligible for State of Origin.

“I have no issue with Jarome Luai for example playing for Samoa and NSW … as long as he is eligible.”

Jason Taumalolo famously turned his back on New Zealand in 2017 to represent Tonga. Picture: Getty Images.

The Kangaroos will play their first game on Australian soil in four years on Saturday night and Meninga is wary of a Samoan side desperate to atone for last year’s World Cup final loss.

“Samoa deserve to be where they are, they played really well in the World Cup,” he said.

“They have got a whole great array of talent coming through with Samoan ancestry and then you look at the team they picked for this Test match, it’s a formidable side.

“We had a few hiccups early in the piece (with Josh Addo-Carr being ruled out), but I like the balance of our team … the guys all want to put the green and gold jersey on which is even better for me.”

HAAS, NAS SIGNAL HIGH-PROFILE DEFECTION PLANS

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga is facing a representative tug of war for Payne Haas with the superstar Australia and Broncos prop revealing he is open to one day playing for Test rivals Samoa.

And the tier-one exodus could continue with Kiwi Test giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona declaring his interest in joining forces with the Broncos bookend as part of a potential “Haas and NAS” front-row pairing for Samoa.

Haas will return to the national fold on Saturday when he spearheads Australia’s pack against Samoa at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium in a replay of last year’s World Cup final.

The Broncos prop will chalk up his third Test for Australia and first international since 2019 after the Covid pandemic and injury combined to consign Haas to a four-year absence in green-and-gold colours.

The 23-year-old is relishing the prospect of leading Australia to title glory in the inaugural Pacific Championships against Samoa and New Zealand, but Haas has left the door ajar for an eventual switch of nations.

Payne Haas will end a four-year wait to wear the green and gold again this weekend. Picture: Getty

The Broncos enforcer is proud of his family heritage and confirmed he hasn’t ruled out appearing for Samoa, who have poached a number of eligible Kangaroos including Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo, Stephen Crichton and Murray Taulagi.

“I wasn’t really thinking about playing for Australia (in this tournament), I was just focused on the finals,” said Haas, speaking for the first time since Brisbane’s crushing grand-final loss to Penrith last Sunday week.

“I thought it wasn’t the right time to make the decision yet (on turning out for Samoa).

“Hopefully one day I can play for Samoa, but at the moment I am blessed to be playing for Australia and putting on that jersey.

“It’s pretty cool for a few of us Broncos boys (including Pat Carrigan and debutants Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo) to go into Australian camp together, so it will be a cool experience.”

Jarome Luai is one of the high-profile players who have opted to play for Samoa in recent years. Picture: Getty

In reality, Haas could represent Australia for another five to 10 years before considering a cameo with Samoa in the twilight years of his career.

But there is always the chance of Australian players with Pacific Island heritage quitting the World Cup champions at any moment, a threat of which Kangaroos coach Meninga is acutely aware.

Haas was linked with Samoa for last year’s World Cup before withdrawing due to family and injury reasons and Meninga concedes more Australian Test stars could be lost to second-tier Pacific nations.

“It’s great to have Payne available for us,” Meninga said.

“The Australian team is stronger for his presence, so we’re looking forward to seeing him play in green and gold.

“He is looking forward to putting on the Australian jumper which is great.

Haas is the world’s best forward – but could turn out for Samoa in the coming years. Picture: Getty

“If you want a front-rower, Payne is the perfect model really, he can play big minutes and it’s all quality minutes.

“But it’s inevitable we will lose more guys.

“That’s why it’s important to keep developing talent that wants to play for Australia.

“I think in the years ahead we’re going to see the Pacific Island teams chock full of talent with some of the best NRL players in the comp.”

One of those players could be Asofa-Solomona, who has been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Pacific Championships.

A veteran of 12 Tests, the Storm enforcer made his debut for the Kiwis in 2017, but said the death of his father, Vasa, last year could motivate him to defect to Samoa.

“It would be great to see Payne play for Samoa and one day, I would like to put on that Blue jumper, too,” Asofa-Solomona said.

“I wouldn’t have minded playing with Payne at the Storm – Haas and ‘NAS’ sounds pretty good.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a New Zealand stalwart – but has also pondered making a switch to Samoa. Picture: NRL pics

“I know he is well connected to his Samoan side and is very proud of his Samoan side. A lot of people would be keen to see Payne playing in that blue jersey.

“It would bring a lot of excitement to the Samoan community and it would be great for the strength of international rugby league.

“I remember saying a few years ago I was committed to New Zealand, but the passing of my old man changed my outlook and perspective on life.

“I would love to honour my dad and playing for Samoa would be another way of doing that.

“At the moment, I am happy playing for New Zealand, but I would love to do my family proud.

“I spoke to my mum earlier this year. I asked her what’s your thoughts on me playing for Samoa and she said I would love you to. My whole career I have listened to my family’s instructions and that certainly could happen.

“I would consider Samoa for sure.”