Latest news with #TinoFaasuamaleaui
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Walters handed boost as potential Kangaroos defector 'hasn't made a decision'
New Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said he only wants to take players to England who want to represent the green and gold as Tino Fa'asuamaleaui admits he hasn't come to a decision over a potential switch. Walters knew one of his first roles as the national coach was to address reports trio Hamiso Tabui-Fidow, Payne Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui are all thinking of playing for Samoa at the end of the season. The trio have all played for Australia at some point, but are considering playing for Samoa moving forward. While this has opened up a debate around State of Origin eligibility, the trio are yet to make any official call with the NRL season still going. Although Fa'asuamaleaui has broken his silence around the situation and claimed he will make his decision after the season's end. But it appears Walters will have time to meet with the Queensland forward who hasn't made up his mind. "For now I haven't made a decision. I'm hoping I'm in the boat where I have to make a decision," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Obviously being in rehab probably rules that out at the moment. I just want to get my knee right, play good football and hopefully I get to that point at the end of the year where I get to select." Fa'asuamaleaui said he has been tossing up the decision after a visit back to Samoa to see his family. "I am massively connected to my Samoan culture. Me and Iszac were fortunate enough to go back at the end of last year after 10 years," he said. "To be back there with my family and see all the kids I grew up with who now have kids like me, it brought a real connection to my culture. I have always loved being Samoan and I am still on that journey of learning my culture more and understanding it." Fa'asuamaleaui played six games for Australia across 2022 and 2023, but has been injured in recent years having struggled to back-up for the green and gold at the end of the season. And while Fa'asuamaleaui is unsure of who he will play for, Walters claimed he isn't going to ask any of them to remain in the green and gold if they don't want to represent the jersey. RELATED: Hughes re-signs as Munster twist could prevent another star leaving Stunning development for Cleary brothers as Luai under heavy fire Kevin Walters issues demand to Aussie stars Speaking on NRL 360, Walters claimed he respects the decision of the players wanting to make a switch and won't stand in their way. The former Australian representative said he wants to restore the pride in the jersey and only wants players who want to play for Australia in the 22-man squad to tour England. 'I have had some conversations and picked up the phone,' Walters said on Monday. 'There will be some meetings in the next couple of weeks with those guys. I won't be trying to convince them to play for the Kangaroos. "I will sit down with these guys and outline my plan on where we are going to take the jersey and then get an understanding of their feelings towards that and how they feel about playing for the Kangaroos. If they want to continue and play for our jersey that is great I love that and if they don't I totally respect that.' Tabuai-Fidow played for Samoa in the 2022 World Cup, but was hampered with injury and only featured in one game. He has represented Australia six times since then having won the Pacific Championship last year in a stacked side. Haas has represented Australia four times. The Kangaroos will play a three-match Ashes series for the first time since 2003, with the first Test against England getting underway at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25. Walters will select a 22-man squad to tour England after the NRL season.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Walters vows to act as three players consider walking away from Kangaroos
Kevin Walters says one of his key tasks after being appointed Kangaroos coach will be trying to convince star trio Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to commit their national allegiances to Australia. Walters was on Wednesday officially named to lead the Kangaroos in the Ashes series in England at the end of the year, but he may be missing three of Australia's best players. It's understood Origin stars Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow are all leaning towards representing Samoa in the post-season Pacific Championships, rather than playing for the Kangaroos in the Ashes. The trio's defection would also have major implications for next year's World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea. If they make the move, the star-studded trio would become the latest in a growing list of rep stars to honour family and play for the country of their heritage, rather than the nation where they were born. NSW Origin stars Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton are among the highest-profile stars to pledge their allegiances to Samoa, who would be even stronger with the addition of Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow. Walters understands the importance of family to many of the Australian-born players with Pacific Island backgrounds, and would be fully supportive of the trio if they decided to defect from the Kangaroos. But he's definitely keen to speak with the three Origin superstars and try to convince them to play for Australia. RELATED: Madge spills family detail that has Walsh and Broncos primed for finals Panthers fans divided after Ivan Cleary forced to axe grand final hero Teammate responds amid calls for NRL stars to cop ban from Origin Kevin Walters hoping to convince star trio to play for Australia "In time I will, but that's probably not a conversation for today," he said. "I just want to explain to those players that are contemplating, I totally understand their situation, but let's get the Kangaroos opportunity in front of them and see where they're at with that. We move forward from there." Tabuai-Fidow represented Samoa in one World Cup match in 2022 and won the 2024 Pacific Cup with Australia. And Fa'asuamaleaui was a key part of the Kangaroos' 2022 World Cup-winning squad. He did play a Test for Samoa in 2019, but has represented Australia in his past seven Tests. All four of Haas' Test matches have been with Australia. But Walters says regardless of the outcome around the star trio, the Kangaroos will still remain strong. "One thing about the Australian rugby league team is that there's great talent. We know that," he said. "So if some players elect to play for Pasifika nations or whatever nation, we've got plenty of depth here in Australia. Obviously we want the best players available. It's been a terrific State of Origin series with great talent on show from both states, so I'm sure we'll get a very strong 22 to take on the English in October and November." Kevin Walters excited by 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' Walters is tasked with succeeding Mal Meninga after the former Kangaroos coach stepped down to take charge of the Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027. The former Maroons and Broncos coach won a World Cup with Australia as a player and said it was a 'dream' to be handed the Kangaroos role, with the 12-month deal putting his aspirations to coach again in the NRL again on hold. "Certainly. At the moment, my focus is the Kangaroos," Walters said. "It's a 12-month contract so it's the opportune time for me to come in and get some hard work done and then prepare these guys for what will be a very tough series. "When that phone call came to ask if I would be interested in coaching the Kangaroos, the hairs on the back of my neck really stood up and bristled. As a kid, you dream about... playing for the Kangaroos, which I was fortunate enough to achieve, and now to be given the opportunity to coach them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Walters coached Queensland to two State of Origin series wins out of four and was at the helm of Brisbane when they reached the 2023 grand final before being sacked at the end of last year. If he leads the Kangaroos in a successful Ashes tour of England, there is a strong chance Walters would be retained for next year's World Cup.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wests Tigers player under fire as vision emerges of tackle that injured Titans gun
Angry NRL fans have called for Wests Tigers forward Alex Twal to be suspended over a 'third man in' tackle that resulted in an injury to Titans star Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. The Gold Coast captain had to come from the field in the first half of his side's heartbreaking 21-20 loss to the Tigers, who snatched victory with a last-minute Adam Doueihi field goal. The loss piles more pressure on Titans coach Des Hasler, who is staring down the barrel of the first wooden spoon of his career, with Gold Coast rooted to the bottom of the ladder with just seven games left in the season. The situation is even more grim after Gold Coast's captain was forced from the field with a knee injury in the first half, following a controversial incident that left some fans fuming. Fa'asuamaleaui was wrapped up in a tackle from Tigers duo Doueihi and Terrell May just metres away from the opposition tryline when Twal came in as the third man and tackled the Titans skipper around the legs. The initial contact from the Tigers forward was around the waist but the force of the tackle caused Tino's knee to twist awkwardly and he was in obvious discomfort right away. Tino initially tried to play on but was ultimately subbed off a short time later. Despite remaining active on the sidelines after he came off, the Gold Coast skipper took no further part in the game and is set for scans to determine the severity of the knee injury. Fortunately, it was the opposite knee to the one Tino had to have operated on after suffering a season-ending ACL injury last season. But the incident sparked fresh backlash around the rugby league world as more fans call for a referee crackdown on third man in or cannonball tackles that target an opposition player's legs. RELATED: Craig Bellamy flags further absence for Storm star Cameron Munster Latrell moment says it all as Souths cop another season-ending blow Fresh calls for NRL to crack down on 'third man in' tackles Andrew Johns fumed about one from North Queensland's Karl Lawton that resulted in an injury to Roosters forward Siua Wong last month. "It was a cheap shot," Johns said at the time. "This isn't a shot at the Cowboys or Karl Lawton, because everyone does it and everyone trains to do it. Every club does it... I absolutely hate it. This has got to stop." Just like the Lawton incident last month, Twal was not penalised for the tackle on Tino after the Bunker ruled that the contact with his shoulder was above the Gold Coast forward's knee. But it doesn't make the tackle much less dangerous or reduce the risk of injury to the ball-carrier. And many fans suggested Twal should be suspended for the incident amid fresh calls for the NRL to crack down on third man in tackles. How was the tackler not sent off 😡...it's a cowards @NRL need to suspend player's who do do 10 weeks plus — Pete Hill (@MrQLD) July 20, 2025 That's textbook of why that sht was banned. Give him 6 weeks for that. — NjR. (@njr2727) July 20, 2025 Hasler refused to weigh in on the incident after the game or blame his side's latest defeat 'entirely' on the officials after admitting the Titans played "dumb" footy to surrender a 20-16 lead with four minutes remaining. "It's really disappointing that in the second half we fumble, we bumble, we miss tackles, we throw balls over the sideline, we get carried over the sideline and we complete 9 from 15 sets," the former premiership-winning coach said. "I'm really disappointed in that performance. It was really dumb. We didn't need luck. There was a scrum penalty and three knock-ons that the referee missed, but I'm not going to blame the loss entirely on the referee's performance. We didn't help ourselves." The under-fire coach's frustrations with his players was evident in an epic post-match spray in the change rooms that was captured on camera and quickly circulated online. Hasler looked furious in the footage and could be seen calling back players from the showers to continue delivering what one can only imagine was an almighty serve from the veteran coach. WATCH: Des Hasler was not impressed when some Titans boys hit the showers early(Fox League) — NRLCentral (@centralNRL) July 20, 2025
The Age
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to ‘let it slide'
Moeaki Fotuaika has urged officials to 'let a few slide' when addressing how the NRL's high-shot crackdown might impact the State of Origin opener. The Gold Coast prop has been named to start alongside clubmate Tino Faasuamaleaui in Wednesday's first game in Brisbane. And, on the back of a series-deciding loss at Suncorp Stadium last year, the pair have made a pact to 'lay the foundation' with physical defence. Complicating that is the fact there has never been a greater NRL focus on high contact. There were a record 18 sin-bins recorded in one round earlier this year with the Titans, at the time, the most penalised team for high-contact indiscretions. Loading Ahead of his 10th appearance for Queensland, Fotuaika said there was a need to manage aggression but also a hope the Origin arena would be adjudicated differently to club level. 'Controlling that aggression ... sometimes you can go a bit over the top,' he said on Thursday from camp on the Sunshine Coast. 'Hoping, because it's an Origin game, they can sort of let a few slide.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to ‘let it slide'
Moeaki Fotuaika has urged officials to 'let a few slide' when addressing how the NRL's high-shot crackdown might impact the State of Origin opener. The Gold Coast prop has been named to start alongside clubmate Tino Faasuamaleaui in Wednesday's first game in Brisbane. And, on the back of a series-deciding loss at Suncorp Stadium last year, the pair have made a pact to 'lay the foundation' with physical defence. Complicating that is the fact there has never been a greater NRL focus on high contact. There were a record 18 sin-bins recorded in one round earlier this year with the Titans, at the time, the most penalised team for high-contact indiscretions. Loading Ahead of his 10th appearance for Queensland, Fotuaika said there was a need to manage aggression but also a hope the Origin arena would be adjudicated differently to club level. 'Controlling that aggression ... sometimes you can go a bit over the top,' he said on Thursday from camp on the Sunshine Coast. 'Hoping, because it's an Origin game, they can sort of let a few slide.
