Samoa rugby league powerbrokers have reportedly held secret meeting with Titans star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui — who is torn regarding his looming international eligibility decision.
According to Code Sports, Samoan bosses have continued their aggressive recruitment drive after it was revealed Payne Haas will defect from Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos side.
Fa’asuamaleaui is reportedly weighing up his decision regarding his international future following his meetings.
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The lure of representing Australia in an Ashes tour is one major factor, while the Gold Coats skipper also would reportedly love to help Samoa win the World Cup in 2026.
“I think Tino is 50-50 right now,” his manager Simon Mammino said.
“Samoa would love to have him and he is giving Samoa real consideration and rethinking what he does. Tino does love playing for Queensland and Australia.
“He will catch-up with ‘Kevvie’ (new Australia coach Kevin Walters) and have a chat, because it is attractive to play in an Ashes series in England.”
However, there is the possibility Fa’asuamaleaui could do both, defecting to Samoa after this year’s Ashes series.
Samoa bosses reportedly want all players on board to make their decision this year, with back-rower Jeremiah Nanai also reportedly making the decision to join Haas.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is another player being targeted by Samoa, with Fa’asuamaleaui previously making a single appearance for the Pacific nation in 2019.
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“There’s no pressure on anyone. We’re trying to get people that want to play for Samoa for the right reasons,” Gardiner said.
“It’s no secret that we are trying to build an elite professional high-performance camp that takes into account the synergy of culture and religion, which is a very big part of the Samoan way.
“If we do it the right way, players will want to come on board because it gives them a different experience to what they get at an NRL club.”
Fa’asuamaleaui is also in the midst of a huge decision regarding his club future and he’s set to hit the open market come November 1 and field mammoth offers from rivals.
