Broncos superstar to make big call on Samoa defection
Reports on Thursday linked the NRL's best prop with a change in eligibility, with 25-year-old Haas set to begin preferencing his Samoan roots over the Kangaroos in future international fixtures.
It comes after months of speculation that Haas could join the likes of Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai as superstar players to have chosen Samoa over Australia in recent years.
Per International Rugby League rules, a player eligible for a tier-one nation like Australia and a tier-two nation such as Samoa can change allegiance provided they do not represent both teams in the same calendar year.
Brisbane behemoth Haas' decision would clear him to be available for the post-season Pacific Championships, also ruling him out of Australia's Ashes tour.
The move is a significant boost for Samoa, who underlined their status as a new powerhouse of international rugby league by making the World Cup final in 2022.
Having Haas on deck for the 2026 edition of the tournament would strengthen Samoa's case for a first World Cup trophy.
'It's fantastic news if you're Samoa, they're setting up for the World Cup,' Meninga told SEN.
'The attraction for going to Samoa is they believe they will be the first Samoan side to win the World Cup.
'If you're wanting to see more competitive games in the international space then it's really good.'
The news looms as a blow for new Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters, who had previously indicated his hopes of convincing Haas, Jeremiah Nanai and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to stay put in the Australian set-up.
'It's disappointing for the green and gold as he's grown up in our system,' said Meninga, who stepped down as Kangaroos coach earlier this year.
'(Walters) will be disappointed.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
27 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Perry feels the pain as Phoenix taste defeat again
Ellyse Perry's Birmingham Phoenix were bowled out for just 76 as they slumped to their fourth defeat from five games in The Hundred with an 88-run thrashing at the hands of London Spirit. The defending champions struggled in the opening stages when Australian Georgia Redmayne was dismissed early without scoring and Emily Arlott bowled both Cordelia Griffith and Charli Knott. Kira Chathli underpinned the innings with a fantastic 69 runs from 35 balls, but her effort was ended after edging Perry, the Phoenix's Australian captain, behind. Another Australian, Grace Harris, picked up where Chathli left off with a quickfire 34 before being trapped lbw by Arlott for her third wicket as the Spirit closed on 6-164. Aussie opener Georgia Voll fell early for eight in the Phoenix's chase and Emma Lamb enjoyed a bright start before being run out for 23, the highest score of their innings. Perry departed after adding five. Amy Jones and Arlott both finished with 10 runs and were the only other players to make double figures. Meanwhile Manchester Originals edged to a five-run win against the Northern Superchargers. England bowler Kate Cross removed Kathryn Bryce and Australian Beth Mooney early on but Deandra Dottin hit a brilliant unbeaten 51 from 26 deliveries to help the Originals post 5-117. Bryce found an early breakthrough when Davina Perrin hit her delivery to Sophie Ecclestone, but the Superchargers gained control with Alice Davidson-Richards and Australian Phoebe Litchfield's partnership. The pair blasted 64 runs from 47 balls before Litchfield was dismissed for 31 by Bryce for her second wicket and Kerr soon took the scalp of Davidson-Richards, who fell for 29. Wickets suddenly fell in quick succession as another Superchargers Aussie, Annabel Sutherland, was caught by Fi Morris off Ecclestone and skipper Hollie Armitage was bowled by Kerr. And some solid bowling at the death saw Ecclestone take Bess Heath's wicket and Bryce caught Cross off Lauren Filer for the Originals to narrowly claim their third win of the competition.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Daly Cherry-Evans responds to Roosters' backflip rumours
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans says he's handling the firestorm around his playing future 'as best as he can', conceding a finals series in his last season at the Sea Eagles is now unlikely. The Sea Eagles' 26-12 loss to the Tigers on Sunday essentially eliminates them from finals contention. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It's a disappointing scenario for Manly, who have lost four games in a row to fall out of the eight. Cherry-Evans cut a dejected figure on the field at full time and in the Sea Eagles' post-game press conference. 'We're now hoping to make the finals which is where you don't want to be,' the Manly skipper said. 'I don't know if toll is the right word, but after the game there is a bit to process. I've got a lot of love for this place so obviously wanted to finish with a finals campaign but that's really unlikely. The realisation of that is why I looked so disappointed after the game.' Cherry-Evans was then asked by a journalist if the outside noise around his future has affected him. The star half is expected to join the Roosters next season although nothing has been made official. Given Cherry-Evans' up-and-down form, combined with the recent red-hot run of the Roosters and their halfback Sam Walker, it has led to speculation the Chooks might have a case of buyer's remorse. In addition, it was reported earlier in the week that Cherry-Evans' Roosters deal hasn't been registered by the NRL yet. 'Just to be clear so I can differentiate, I'm definitely not happy with losing four in a row,' Cherry-Evans said. 'Everything else to be honest with you, I'm doing the best I can and feeling like I can hold my head up high.' Manly coach Anthony Seibold didn't want to make excuses for what he labelled a 'massive step back'. However, he noted his team's injury crisis, with seven first choice forwards all unavailable. 'We've come off the back of a really tough month of footy where we've played three of the top four teams, which has taken a fair bit of juice out of us,' he said. 'We were entrenched in the finals so the last month has been really disappointing for us. 'We're missing some of our bigger bodies and we were beaten up the middle today. 'Seven of what we potentially thought would be first choice forwards unavailable at present, but our group today, we beat Melbourne a month ago. Same group of players. So injuries are not an excuse. 'We were way off today but we lost the battle in the middle. I can bulls**t you but that's where we lost it.'
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Rockets' Aussies eclipsed by Southern Brave starlet
Australian trio Ash Gardner, Alana King and Heather Graham were powerless to prevent their Trent Rockets side slipping to a six-wicket defeat by a teenager-inspired Southern Brave in the Hundred at Trent Bridge. Spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, 17, took 4-13, including Bryony Smith for 10 and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt without scoring in her opening spell. Gardner, the Rockets captain, showed some defiance, hitting 25 from 16 balls before being bowled by Lauren Bell while King made an undefeated 24. The other batters fell away with Corteen-Coleman going on to dismiss Graham for three and Emma Jones for another duck. With the hosts reeling on 8-55, Kirstie Gordon managed 32 from 27 balls to at least post a competitive total of 106. In reply, Maia Bouchier scored 42 off 30 balls and Sophie Devine was unbeaten on 41 as the Brave reached 4-109 with two balls to spare. Elsewhere, Sophia Smale took 3-13 as Oval Invincibles produced a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire. The visitors, set a target of 151, were skittled for just 111 off 97 balls at The Oval despite opener Sophia Dunkley hitting 56. Invincibles captain Lauren Winfield-Hill had earlier suffered a first-ball duck but Alice Capsey starred with 55 as they posted 5-150. Australian opener Meg Lanning hit 23 before falling lbw and compatriot Amanda-Jade Wellington added 17. Wellington then took the wickets of Hayley Matthews and Georgia Davis to finish with figures of 2-24 while Lanning took two catches. Australian trio Ash Gardner, Alana King and Heather Graham were powerless to prevent their Trent Rockets side slipping to a six-wicket defeat by a teenager-inspired Southern Brave in the Hundred at Trent Bridge. Spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, 17, took 4-13, including Bryony Smith for 10 and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt without scoring in her opening spell. Gardner, the Rockets captain, showed some defiance, hitting 25 from 16 balls before being bowled by Lauren Bell while King made an undefeated 24. The other batters fell away with Corteen-Coleman going on to dismiss Graham for three and Emma Jones for another duck. With the hosts reeling on 8-55, Kirstie Gordon managed 32 from 27 balls to at least post a competitive total of 106. In reply, Maia Bouchier scored 42 off 30 balls and Sophie Devine was unbeaten on 41 as the Brave reached 4-109 with two balls to spare. Elsewhere, Sophia Smale took 3-13 as Oval Invincibles produced a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire. The visitors, set a target of 151, were skittled for just 111 off 97 balls at The Oval despite opener Sophia Dunkley hitting 56. Invincibles captain Lauren Winfield-Hill had earlier suffered a first-ball duck but Alice Capsey starred with 55 as they posted 5-150. Australian opener Meg Lanning hit 23 before falling lbw and compatriot Amanda-Jade Wellington added 17. Wellington then took the wickets of Hayley Matthews and Georgia Davis to finish with figures of 2-24 while Lanning took two catches. Australian trio Ash Gardner, Alana King and Heather Graham were powerless to prevent their Trent Rockets side slipping to a six-wicket defeat by a teenager-inspired Southern Brave in the Hundred at Trent Bridge. Spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, 17, took 4-13, including Bryony Smith for 10 and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt without scoring in her opening spell. Gardner, the Rockets captain, showed some defiance, hitting 25 from 16 balls before being bowled by Lauren Bell while King made an undefeated 24. The other batters fell away with Corteen-Coleman going on to dismiss Graham for three and Emma Jones for another duck. With the hosts reeling on 8-55, Kirstie Gordon managed 32 from 27 balls to at least post a competitive total of 106. In reply, Maia Bouchier scored 42 off 30 balls and Sophie Devine was unbeaten on 41 as the Brave reached 4-109 with two balls to spare. Elsewhere, Sophia Smale took 3-13 as Oval Invincibles produced a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire. The visitors, set a target of 151, were skittled for just 111 off 97 balls at The Oval despite opener Sophia Dunkley hitting 56. Invincibles captain Lauren Winfield-Hill had earlier suffered a first-ball duck but Alice Capsey starred with 55 as they posted 5-150. Australian opener Meg Lanning hit 23 before falling lbw and compatriot Amanda-Jade Wellington added 17. Wellington then took the wickets of Hayley Matthews and Georgia Davis to finish with figures of 2-24 while Lanning took two catches.
