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Payne Haas Opens up on Emotional Decision to Represent Samoa over Kangaroos

On Sunday in Brisbane, Payne Haas confirmed he will represent Toa Samoa, posing with a Samoan flag at the media unveiling and set to debut in the Pacific Championships on October 26.
Haas traced the choice to a 2023 anthem moment in Townsville, saying his mother Joan Taufua gave her blessing despite her legal situation.
A decorated forward, Payne Haas has played four Tests for Australia and appeared 17 times for New South Wales State of Origin and is a multiple Dally M Prop of the Year award winner.
The decision immediately removes Haas from Australia's Ashes tour to England, while Samoa gains a high-profile player, boosting ticket sales for the Samoa-Tonga Test at Suncorp Stadium, with Ben Gardiner welcoming the move.
The switch positions Haas toward the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea, with international rugby league eligibility rules allowing annual tier-one and tier-two nation changes and possibly inspiring Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to follow Jason Taumalolo's example.

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