$40k payday clouding superstar’s crucial World Cup call
If money is a motivator for Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the superstar front-rower might be swayed from defecting to Samoa at of the World Cup later this year after it was revealed how much Australia’s players will be paid to represent the nation at the tournament.
All Kangaroos squad members will receive a flat fee of $40,000 for competing at the World Cup, where they are favourites to take home the title in November.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has yet to decide if he will defect NRL Imagery
The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) and the ARL Commission came to an agreement to ensure Australia’s players are well compensated for representative fixtures.
The 13 other nations competing will receive $850 for each game they play, with that sum able to increase if the country’s association can afford to.
It means that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Payne Haas, who both defected to Samoa, will make $4250 if they get through to the World Cup final.
That sum is $35,750 less than what the pair would have made if they opted against switching their allegiance from Australia.
It is also significantly less than the $3,000 per game that Tongan, Samoan, New Zealand and Australian players got for competing in the Pacific Championships.
Any player who plays in the All Stars fixture gets a flat fee of $7,000, making that game more lucrative than the World Cup for most players.
While Australian players will be thankful for their pay, Samoa could risk losing Fa’asuamaleaui, who is still weighing up a defection from Australia.
Samoa’s head coach Ben Gardiner admitted last month that he was still hopeful that Fa’asuamaleaui, who he viewed as a certain starter, would switch his allegiance.
“We had a number of chats last year,” Gardiner told SEN.
“The boys need to play where they’re comfortable and where their heart is ... we (Gardiner and Australian coach Kevin Walters) want the boys to play where they wanna play and where they’re gonna play their best footy. That’s important.”
The opportunity to join Samoa’s star-studded line-up, including Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu, along with representing his heritage still could outweigh the financial incentive for Fa’asuamaleaui.
Samoan players sing the national anthem before the Pacific Championships. NRL Imagery
Kotoni Staggs is another player Australia could lose, with the Blues centre eligible to represent Tonga on the international stage. He appears to be sticking with Australia for the time being.
Quizzed on World Cup player payments, Walters was unaware of the pay disparity that could influence who elects to be eligible to represent Australia.
“There’s always pressure when you play for Australia, and I also think the financial rewards are not an incentive for any player playing international rugby league – it doesn’t come into it, they’d all do it for nothing,” the Kangaroos coach said.
The Rugby League World Cup will take place from October 15 to November 15.
