Origin star Tino Fa'asuamaleaui commits to playing for Australia in Ashes
Updated . First published at
NRL and State of Origin superstar Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has committed to representing Australia in this year's Ashes.
The Gold Coast forward revealed his decision to AAP following weeks of speculation about his representative future.
Fa'asuamaleaui is also eligible to play for Samoa and had toyed with the idea of switching allegiances to represent his father's heritage at the Pacific Championships.
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He made his Test debut for Samoa in 2019 before being picked for the Kangaroos.
But he will instead fly to England with the Australian squad and pull on the green and gold for at least one more series.
He says a 30-0 thrashing at the hands of New Zealand in the last Pacific Championships final spurred him on to play for Australia and make amends.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Harry Grant of the Kangaroos. Getty
"The reason I'm sticking with Australia is I feel like I have unfinished business," Fa'asuamaleaui told AAP.
"Last year I was out injured, so the last time I wore the green and gold was getting flogged by the Kiwis. It doesn't sit well with me.
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"I want to give Aussie the best chance of winning the Ashes and do the green and gold proud.
"It's also the first Ashes in 22 years. To be a part of something that historic doesn't come around often.
"I want to look back and say I played my part in a moment like that."
Fa'asuamaleaui has well and truly left the door open to play for Samoa in the future.
He's able to play for both nations given Australia is in tier one - with only England and New Zealand - while Samoa is in tier two.
His former Aussie teammate Payne Haas dropped a bombshell last month when he informed Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters he would be playing for Samoa this year.
Other NRL and Origin stars like Stephen Crichton and Brian To'o have also ditched Australia to represent other nations in recent years.
The first of three Ashes Tests will be held at Wembley on October 25.
Walters is yet to pick a squad.
