Maroons speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is weighing up whether to quit the Kangaroos and represent Samoa at the Pacific Championship this year, it has been reported.
According to the report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Queensland enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Blues front-rower Payne Haas are also considering the move, which is a setback for Kevin Walters, who is likely to be unveiled as the new Kangaroos coach.
The Kangaroos will take on England at the end of the year in the first rugby league Ashes series since 2003.
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Tabuai-Fidow represented Samoa at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (actually held in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), but only played one Test due to injury, before featuring in six Tests for Australia in 2023 and 2024.
Walters is set to put pen to paper on a deal to coach the Kangaroos for the three-Test series against England, which begins at London’s Wembley Stadium on October 25.
Tabuai-Fidow was moved to fullback for the Maroons for the Origin decider earlier this month in Sydney, replacing the injured Kalyn Ponga, and he excelled in the role.
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The 23-year-old is a contender for the Australian fullback spot, along with incumbent Dylan Edwards, Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga, if he recovers from injury in time and wants to play for Australia.
After the first Test at Wembley, the second Test will be played on November 1 at Liverpool’s Everton Stadium and the third Test at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on November 8.
