'The international game is growing stronger': Haas commits to Samoa

Toa Samoa coach Ben Gardiner believes the international game will continue to grow stronger after star prop Payne Haas committed to playing for the Pacific nation at the upcoming Pacific Championships and the 2026 World Cup.

Haas, who is regarded as one of the best players in the game, confirmed he would represent his Samoan heritage at a press conference in Brisbane on Sunday with Gardiner and Toa Samoa team manager Hannan Laban.

The 25-year-old NSW State of Origin forward hopes to inspire other players to represent their heritage, with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow considering returning to Samoa, where they began their international careers.

After becoming the first Pacific nation to qualify for a World Cup final in 2022, Samoan players and staff have been building towards RLWC2026 in Australia and Papua New Guinea in the belief they can win the tournament.

“We're looking to have players of great quality join us and build a really strong team, building into the Pacific Championships, but also leading into Rugby League World Cup 2026,” Gardiner said.

“It's been a four-year process for us to get here, three years now and four years for the Rugby League World Cup, to be able to put the best team together to be able to represent the small country of Samoa on the big stage.

“We're not just representing the country, we're representing all Samoans throughout the world, and to be able to add someone of Payne's playing quality, and quality as a person, is just a great responsibility for me as a coach and real privilege to have him by our side.”

Jason Taumalolo led a Pacific revolution when he chose to play for Tonga over New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup and the Kristian Woolf-coached side have continued to be an international force, qualifying for last year’s Pacific Cup against Australia.

In doing so they beat the Kiwis – the 2023 Pacific Cup champions – for a second time and have also enjoyed wins over the Kangaroos and Great Britain.

“I think it's an indication that the international game is growing stronger and players are able to take a step forward and go, ‘I want to represent my heritage and my background’," Gardiner said.

“To be able to bring all players into that, whatever level of exposure they've had throughout their life and be able to learn about their heritage and their history, as well as play rugby league, that's pretty cool, I reckon.

“Jason doing that several years ago back, that was a great opportunity for Tonga, but now we represent our own moment here for Toa Samoa.”

Former Kiwis captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the 2019 IRL Golden Boot winner, and Queensland Origin stars Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi, who were members of Australia’s World Cup squad in 2022, have also pledged their allegiance to Samoa.

“For those guys, it was about experiencing the culture and the spiritual side of our game and some of the things that we were able to do in camp we've been able to build around those capacities, and they're things that you don't experience at an NRL club,” Gardiner said.

“That's what separates us from, firstly NRL clubs and then other nations. We have the opportunity to join in the learning of the culture, the learning of the history of Samoa, and a number of our players have different exposure to that.

“Payne is not just one of the best players in the world, he is a really good person that cares about what we're doing as a group and wants our team to do well. That’s just as important as his playing ability.”