Mal Meninga’s plans for this year’s end-of-season Ashes tour have copped a massive jolt with Broncos prop Payne Haas set to change his international allegiance to Samoa.
Haas would have been one of the first players picked for the three-Test tour of England in October when the series is revived after an absence of more than 20 years.
The 25-year-old Brisbane powerhouse has represented Australia in four Tests since his debut in 2019 although he would have played more if not for the pandemic and various injuries.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, he was planning on defecting to Samoa at the end of last season for their two-Test tour of England but aborted those plans due to an ankle injury.
Haas is yet to officially confirm he will represent Samoa at this year’s Pacific Championships against New Zealand and Tonga but is expected to make an announcement later in the season.
He has again played a starring role for the Broncos in their 3-1 start to the season under Michael Maguire.
Born in Newcastle, his decision to represent the homeland of his mother will also have ramifications for Meninga’s hopes of retaining the World Cup next year.
Widely considered the best prop in the game, Samoa are a much stronger chance of upsetting the Kangaroos this time around after going down to them in the 2021 final in England.
The Australian Rugby League Commission confirmed last week that three Test matches between Australia and England would be held in London, Liverpool and Leeds across three Saturdays from October 25.
Payne Haas pushes away Scott Drinkwater. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The tour will notably feature the first rugby league international at the storied Wembley Stadium since the 2013 World Cup, as well as a clash at the new Everton Stadium that opened in Liverpool last month.
The Kangaroos have won the last 13 rugby league Ashes series dating back to 1970, with the series previously contested by Great Britain rather than England.
The Kangaroos won all three Tests on the most recent tour in 2003 with a squad captained by Brisbane superstar Darren Lockyer and including current Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
with AAP
