Samoa bosses hold talks with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui over allegiance switch, Payne Haas reveals when he will make Kangaroos call

With Payne Haas already considering an allegiance switch, Samoa bosses are ramping up their attack on Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos, holding secret talks with a Queensland Origin enforcer over a possible defection.

Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has held talks with Samoa bosses as the emerging rugby league nation attempts to poach the Queensland Origin enforcer from the Australian fold.

This masthead can reveal Samoa coach Ben Gardiner has met with Fa’asuamealeaui as the tier-two nation ramps up its attack on Mal Meninga’s World Cup-winning Kangaroos.

The Fa’asuamealeaui development comes as Broncos and Kangaroos prop Payne Haas confirmed a News Corp report that he is considering walking away from Australia to represent Samoa.

The prospect of Fa’asuamaleaui and Haas spearheading Samoa’s front row would be a crushing blow to Meninga’s Kangaroos and make the Pacific nation a genuine force at next year’s World Cup.

Fa’asuamaleaui’s management confirmed Samoa’s interest but said the Gold Coast captain would not be rushed into a decision as he makes his way back from a knee reconstruction.

“Tino has been approached by Samoa,” said Fa’asuamaleaui’s agent Simon Mammino.

Samoa bosses have held talks with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

“At the moment, Tino is coming back from his knee injury, he is fully focused on the Titans and he won’t be thinking about representative football until later in the season, if not post-season.

“But there’s definitely some interest there and if they (Samoa) get all the players they are chasing, it’s a very formidable team.”

It is understood Gardiner flew to Brisbane for a meeting with Fa’asuamaleaui in pre-season, when the Titans hardman was in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a snapped anterior cruciate ligament.

Gardiner spruiked his vision for Samoa’s national team. Fa’asuamaleaui was shown a team list of a full-strength Samoan side, potentially including Broncos prop Haas, who is almost certain to quit Australia after this year’s State of Origin series.

Unlike Haas, Fa’asuamaleaui has already represented Samoa, playing his one and only Test in 2019 before being blooded by Australia for their World Cup campaign three years ago.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been impressive since his Titans comeback. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Ironically, Fa’asuamaleaui was part of the Australian team that beat Samoa 30-10 in the 2022 World Cup final at Old Trafford.

In December, the Maroons champion flew to Samoa for a family wedding. While there, he met Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and was a special guest at a youth tournament as he reconnected with his Samoan heritage.

Born in Gympie, Fa’asuamaleaui is a proud Queenslander who has played 12 Origin matches since his Maroons debut in 2020.

Rated a future Origin captain, Fa’asuamaleaui could play for Samoa and the Maroons under eligibility rules, but there is a risk quitting Australia could jeopardise his Queensland leadership prospects.

Mammino said Fa’asuamaleaui, who has played seven Tests for Australia, is also passionate about the green-and-gold jumper.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. Picture: NRL Photos

“Playing for Australia means a lot to him,” he said. “Tino takes great pride playing for his country, it’s just an emotional pull between two countries, whether to play for Australia or represent his heritage.

“He loves playing for Queensland. That Maroon jumper means a lot and he could be a future captain. The way he sees it, if he plays good football for the Titans, the rep selection will look after itself.

“Tino is always very humble with rep football. He never thinks he is an automatic selection, he feels the need to prove himself on the field every year and every game, that’s his mentality.”

Mammino said Haas’ final decision - he is leaning towards Samoa - would have no bearing on Fa’asuamaleaui’s representative future.

“I manage quite a few Polynesian players and I see how much it means to them,” he said.

“It’s difficult for some Polynesian kids to work that out because there is a strong connection to their culture and it makes their family proud playing for Tonga or Samoa.

“I go to their homes and you see their cultural pictures on the wall and they are very fond of their parents and grandparents, so representing the nation of their elders is very important.

“Tino is very family oriented. His Samoan side comes from his dad and his uncle lives here, so Tino is very connected to that side of his family.

“I don’t think Payne’s decision will influence Tino. He will make the call of his own accord.”

WHEN HAAS WILL DECIDE KANGAROOS-SAMOA ALLEGIANCE

Broncos superstar Payne Haas has revealed he is interested in defecting to Samoa and will consider sensationally walking away from Australia after this year’s State of Origin series.

As first revealed by this masthead, Haas has been weighing up his representative future for the past six months and is open to the prospect of turning out for Samoa to honour his family’s heritage.

Haas’ revelation comes in the week of NRL multicultural round, with the NSW Origin enforcer to lead Brisbane’s pack in their round 5 clash against the Wests Tigers on Saturday night.

Haas said he has yet to officially quit the Kangaroos but will make a definitive call after this year’s Origin series in what could be a crushing blow for Australia coach Mal Meninga.

The Broncos prop was tight-lipped about his representative future but concedes donning the white and blue of Samoa is a genuine possibility.

“I’m not really going to talk about it, but I will be transparent and honest,” he said.

Payne Haas is considering an international defection to Samoa. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“I have been considering it, but I won’t make a decision until after Origin.

“That’s me being transparent and honest so I can put that to bed right now.

“It (NRL multicultural round) means a lot to all of us boys who have different heritages, we are representing not just ourselves but our family as well.”

Haas is currently the NRL’s form prop of the premiership and Meninga would be desperate for his Kangaroos enforcer to be on deck in the run to Australia’s historic Ashes campaign in 2025.

Meninga is no stranger to big-name defections. Andrew Fifita dropped a World Cup bombshell in 2017 when he snubbed Australia to represent Tonga, Penrith duo Brian To’o and Steve Crichton and former Queensland Origin utility Anthony Milford have turned out for Samoa.

Haas has played four Tests for Australia since his national debut in 2019 but is likely to defect to Samoa after his Origin commitments with NSW this season.

Payne Haas has made four Test appearances for the Kangaroos. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“It’s about representing my grandparents,” he said.

“My grandfather is getting pretty old to be honest and I grew up around my Samoan family.

“So I’d be silly not to consider it and I want to represent them and I’ll make that decision after Origin.

“I’m not 100 per cent yet so we will see what happens.”

Haas insists he is not thumbing his nose at Meninga and the Kangaroos culture he has built.

“It means the world to play for Australia,” he said.

Payne Haas will make a call on his international allegiance after State of Origin. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I don’t take the green-and-gold jumper lightly.

“I grew up here in Australia and Australia has given me lots of opportunities as well.”

Haas concedes there is a prospect he will be black-listed by Meninga, even though he is permitted under the rules to switch back to Australia because Samoa is a tier two nation.

“I know what will happen if I do make the decision to switch, but after Origin I’ll decide what to do,” he said.

“But I am solely focused on playing good footy for the boys here.”

Asked what the decisive factor will be in his final decision, Haas said: “I’m not sure.

“I am just worried about playing for the Broncos and delivering for the boys here and when that time comes when I have to make a decision I will.”

Originally published as Samoa bosses hold talks with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui over allegiance switch, Payne Haas reveals when he will make Kangaroos call