South Sydney recruit Payne Haas made a surprise visit to Kangaroos camp on Monday – but he wasn’t answering a World Cup SOS from good friend and Australian coach Kevin Walters.
Nor was the NRL’s premier prop about to share intel about Sunday’s semi-final opponents Samoa, the Pacific nation Haas had been planning to represent before he was ruled out of the tournament with a hand injury.
It turned out the 26-year-old was simply taking the opportunity to catch up for lunch with a few good mates, including Pat Carrigan, David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, before starting pre-season training with the Rabbitohs.
Wearing a black Mizuno cap, white R4W activewear top, and with his left ring finger and pinkie heavily strapped, Haas was warmly received by some of the biggest stars in the game.
Souths skipper and Kangaroos forward Cameron Murray joked Haas may have been using some of his new contract money to buy a house in upmarket Double Bay, where the Kangaroos are staying.
“I know he’s on the lookout for some real estate,” Murray said. “Who knows, we might see an article or two about him sniffing around this area. I’m looking forward to rubbing shoulders with him in the red and green.”
Fa’asuamaleaui told this masthead: “It’s good to see him come into camp and say hello to all the boys – we’re all close mates – and ‘Kevvie’, who is his former coach. He had hand surgery and starts pre-season training on Friday.”
There were reports Haas might be fit in time to make a late Cup cameo for Samoa, but coach Ben Gardiner ruled that out following Sunday’s epic match against Tonga
Fa’asuamaleaui said he had been tempted to commit to the Samoans for the World Cup, especially after seeing Haas pledge his allegiance to the Pacific nation.
“But there were a few things I wanted to tick off here,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“We won the World Cup in 2022 when I was coming off the bench. Now I’m in the No.10 jersey, and that was something I wanted to achieve. I also enjoyed my time under Kevvie last year [during the Ashes], and didn’t want to hand over the green and gold jersey just yet.”
Fa’asuamaleaui said he cried during the anthem when he played a Test for Samoa in 2019, and the pre-game scenes this weekend at Allianz Stadium would be emotional for him and his four children, who are proud of both their heritages.
The front-rower lost his father Fereti on the eve of Origin II this year, and said of playing in his honour: “People think if I’m not wearing a Samoan jersey that I’m not honouring him.
“I have my last name [tattooed] on my back, and I’m wearing his last name on any jersey I wear. He’s the person I love so much and miss and wish I could continue to talk to him; I’ll honour him in the green and gold jersey.”
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