Payne Haas, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow given blessing to defect to Samoa

Mooted coach Kevin Walters is facing the prospect of losing three certain selections for his first series in charge of the Kangaroos - and the fight to retain them may have gotten a little harder.

A Kangaroos star has given Payne Haas, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow his blessing to defect to Samoa as new Australia coach Kevin Walters confronts a ­potential Ashes triple blow.

Walters is facing the prospect of losing three certain selections for his first series in charge of the Kangaroos as the NRL prepares to green light his coaching comeback.

The former Broncos coach is expected to be appointed Mal Meninga’s successor for Australia’s year-ending Test tour of the United Kingdom.

Walters, 57, has been eyeing a return to coaching since being dumped by the Broncos after Brisbane’s 2024 NRL capitulation. The ARL Commission is on the verge of formalising his appointment to lead Australia’s Test team for the three-match tour and Walters will face an early challenge. Queensland duo Fa’asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow along with Blues and Broncos star Haas are considering defecting to Samoa for the Pacific Championships.

Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan before their clash against Samoa in 2023. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The trio would be walk-up selections for the Kangaroos, potentially leaving Walters in a predicament to find another three players.

Broncos lock Pat Carrigan has played alongside Haas, Tino and ‘Hammer’ for the Kangaroos and understood their desire to play for Samoa.

“They’re elite players in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going,” he said. “The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points.

“That’s where rugby league should be and I think it’s only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for.

“That’s what’s going to help with the growth of it. If their hearts are with Samoa, then their heart is with Samoa.”

The Test eligibility debate is a polarising one.

Australia, New Zealand and England are currently classed as Tier 1 nations, which allows players with dual-eligibility to also represent Tier 2 countries like Samoa and Tonga.

State of Origin players are allowed to play for Australia or a Tier 2 nation, but not New Zealand or England.

“Everyone has different cultural backgrounds and family experiences,” Carrigan said.

“My love to play for Australia and for my country comes from my parents and their hard work so if those boys feel passionate about representing Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it. That’s their choice and I think it makes for a better product. I don’t begrudge them at all.”

Walters coached Queensland’s Origin team from 2016-19 and Carrigan said his passion would transfer to the Kangaroos jersey he wore 12 times as a player.

“His personality, his charisma, his passion for any jersey that he’s ever worn and especially for his country would be massive,” Carrigan said.

“He knows how to bring the best out in a wide magnitude of players from different backgrounds. If he was coaching our country I’d definitely feel pretty confident as an Aussie fan. I hope the big fella gets the job done.”

Originally published as Payne Haas, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow given blessing to defect to Samoa