NRL fans are expressing their excitement after Payne Haas reportedly told a fellow rep player he’s leaning towards staying at the Brisbane Broncos. The premiership winner has been weighing up a $3 million per year offer from R360 – life-changing money for himself and his young family.
But The Courier Mail reported on Tuesday night that Haas has told an ‘NRL associate’ that he intends to stay put and has concerns about whether R360 will get off the ground. The rebel rugby union comp is intending to start in October next year, and officials are keen to start announcing some big-name signings.
Payne Haas has been holidaying with family, and the Broncos are keen for a decision when he gets back. Image: Getty
Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax have been linked to the breakaway comp, and both have been granted early releases from their contracts with Melbourne and Parramatta. Neither have stated they’ll be joining R360, and Papenhuyzen is reportedly considering walking away from professional sport altogether.
It’s believed Haas is concerned about a 10-year ban being proposed by Peter V’landys for any NRL player who joins R360. At age 25, it would all-but end Haas’ career in the NRL considering he’s a front-rower.
Earlier this week, V’landys said he was keen to have a chat to Haas. The Broncos star has been on holidays with his family overseas after representing Samoa at the Pacific Championships.
Payne Haas has been weighing up a $3 million offer that would be life-changing for himself and his family. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Payne Haas said to be leaning towards staying in NRL
On Tuesday night, leading journalist Peter Badel dropped the news of Haas telling a fellow representative star that he intends to remain with the Broncos. Badel said there are genuine concerns over the viability of the cashed-up league.
He wrote: “Well-placed sources say even R360 insiders, once bullish about the prospects of the F1-style glamour league kicking off, now have genuine reservations as to whether it has the fiscal bedrock to get off the ground. R360’s uncertainty is a factor, prompting Haas to inform a fellow representative player, one of the NRL’s biggest names, that he is leaning towards staying at the Broncos.”
The Broncos are offering Haas a new deal worth $1.2 million per season. But it’s believed that could increase to $1.5m when the salary cap increases from 2028.
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Speaking this week, Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy described the money on offer at R360 as potentially being “fool’s gold”. He told The Courier Mail: “Payne knows how we feel about him. We wanted to let him focus on Samoa. Now that’s done, I’m sure he’ll take a well-earned break and we will speak to Payne and his people when he gets back to Brisbane about what the future looks like.
“If the money that’s been speculated is right, then it’s not a shock that Payne would want to explore that. I’m sure he’d be wanting to make sure it’s not fool’s gold, too.
“We made him an offer some time ago and we will do whatever we can to convince him to stay, but we also have a salary cap to work with. Payne has a place at our club for as long as he wants it.”
On Tuesday night, NRL fans were rapt to hear Haas is leaning towards staying. It was reported earlier this month that he’d all-but decided to leave, but things have seemingly changed.