Winning a World Cup is the final frontier for Payne Haas, and he is fully committed to attempting to do so with Samoa.
There had been reports the Brisbane prop was considering switching back to Australia for the 2026 tournament, but the 26-year-old has quashed those suggestions.
Haas, who has Samoan heritage through his mother Joan Haas, committed to Toa Samoa for last year’s Pacific Championships after previously playing four Tests with Australia.
He helped lift Samoa into the Pacific Cup final after starring in a 34-6 win over Tonga.
The powerhouse front-rower is a man of his word and said there was no way he had considered making himself available for the Kangaroos.
“I made my decision last year to move to Samoa from Australia,” Haas said.
“The kind of person I am, I wouldn’t backflip on them. I want to represent my mum, my grandmother and my grandad as well, and there is no way in hell that I would (backflip).”
Haas is already on his way to being recognised as an all-time great, but lifting Samoa to World Cup glory would be a huge achievement and could elevate Pacific rugby league to another level.
Samoa has been drawn in the same pool as France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga for the 10-team tournament to be hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in October and November this year.
Haas is a key member of a Samoa forward pack that boasts the likes of Francis Molo, Jaydn Su’A, Simi Sasagi, Junior Paulo and Terrell May.
The back line includes premiership-winning stars Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton. Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has also committed for the World Cup.
There is a sense the side can go one better than its 2022 World Cup performance, when it was beaten by Australia in the final.
“With the kind of calibre of players we have got, there is a great chance, but that is still far away,” Haas said.
“This is my last two months here, so I am trying to focus on the Broncs.”
Last week Haas dominated the State of Origin decider for New South Wales, terrorising Queensland up front in a stunning 30-12 win. It was his third Origin series win when playing all three matches, and his second in a decider at Lang Park.
Last year’s premiership win with Brisbane ticked that box, and Haas was also named the club’s player of the year for a sixth time.
He is without doubt the Broncos’s greatest player of the decade, and a worthy successor to the likes of Glenn Lazarus, Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva and Brad Thorn.
Haas will join South Sydney next year, but is fully committed to reviving Brisbane’s spluttering season as it targets winning all eight of its remaining matches to give itself a chance of defending its title.
AAP
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