The Brisbane Broncos’ hopes of keeping hold of Payne Haas have received a massive boost after a major setback for R360 which leaves the future of Zac Lomax in limbo. The inaugural edition of the rebel rugby competition was slated to get underway in October next year but organisers have now confirmed it’s been pushed back two years, and will start in 2028 instead.
R360 organisers contacted player agents on Friday night to deliver the shock news, which raises fresh doubts about the viability of the project. It’s been widely speculated that R360 organisers were forced into the move after struggling to acquire sufficient financial backing or players to launch next year.
The R360 setback leaves the Broncos in pole position to retain Payne Haas, while Zac Lomax’s future is further clouded after his release from Parramatta. Pic: Getty
“The decision to shift our launch to 2028 is a strategic decision based on timing,” R360 board member and former England rugby star Mike Tindall said. “Launching under compressed timelines would not meet the standards we set for R360, nor would it deliver the long-term commercial impact that the sport deserves.”
The news now leaves the Broncos in pole position to retain Haas after offering him a contract extension worth around $1.2 million a season. It’s understood the superstar prop was weighing up a $3 million offer to join R360, with tax incentives meaning the deal would be the equivalent of being on $5 million for one season in the NRL.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said this week the club would give Haas all the time he needed to make a call on his future. But the Brisbane boss says they were desperate for the premiership winner to stay at the club and help build a new dynasty at the Broncos.
“We’ll let him have a bit of a break and when he comes up for air we’ll get back in contact and start working that through,” the Broncos CEO said this week. “But hopefully he stays… it would feel wrong for him not to be a Bronco but there are some big decisions ahead for Payne.” The R360 news means Haas’ future in Brisbane is looking increasingly more likely now.
What now for Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax?
However, the R360 setback has left the future of league stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Zac Lomax in limbo, after both were linked with moves to the upstart rugby competition. Papenhuyzen was granted a release from the final year of his Melbourne Storm contract in 2026, but has indicated he could pursue career opportunities outside of footy.
Zac Lomax (L) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (R) were both tipped to sign with R360 after being released from their NRL contracts. Pic: Getty
While Parramatta agreed to release Lomax from the final three years of his deal, having played just one season with the Eels in 2025. It was widely assumed the move was made so Lomax could join R360 next year without facing a 10-year ban from the NRL for any current players defecting to the competition.
A condition of Lomax’s release from the Eels is that he can’t play for another team in the NRL until 2029, unless Parramatta grants him permission to do so. It leaves Lomax facing a major dilemma after walking away from his $700,000 a season deal with the Eels, with overseas rugby, boxing or MMA being mentioned as possible career switches for the former NSW and Kangaroos winger.