LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Mal Meninga, the coach of the Kangaroos, discussed the possibility of Payne Haas and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui switching their national allegiances to play for Samoa.
Both players have Samoan descent but were born in Australia.
Reports suggest that Samoa is pursuing these Kangaroos stars, with Haas even considering a switch last year until an injury thwarted his plans.
Meninga has not yet spoken to Haas about his intentions but stated that he values players who are fully committed to representing Australia.
He believes that Origin should serve as a pathway to playing for the national team and emphasized the importance of international rugby league.
Meninga expressed his desire for players who are passionate about donning the green and gold colors, indicating that he expects full dedication from those in the Kangaroos squad.
Despite the potential loss of Haas and Fa'asuamaleaui, Meninga remains focused on leading Australia in the upcoming Ashes series against England after a 22-year hiatus.
The first Test will take place at Wembley Stadium on October 25, followed by matches in Liverpool and Leeds in November.
While conceding that he has not discussed the situation with Haas, Meninga emphasized the significance of players committing to representing Australia and wearing the national team's colors with pride.
International eligibility rules may face scrutiny if these Kangaroos stars opt to switch allegiances, although Meninga highlighted the importance of players being passionate about playing for Australia.