The secrecy around Payne Haas’ decision to leave the Brisbane for South Sydney is being touted as an indicator the star prop wasn’t fully happy at the Broncos.
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Since the news of Haas’ free agency decision broke, rumours have continued to swirl around the forward’s desire to get out from under Michael Maguire’s intense coaching style despite both parties steadfastly denying such claims.
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“Payne Haas and the club have continued to come out and say there’s no drama with Madge, but common sense says why would he leave the Broncos if there wasn’t something that he wasn’t enjoying up there and if he wasn’t enjoying it, are there other players who aren’t enjoying it,” foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley said on NRL360.
“We heard the rumours over the summer haven’t we. It got pretty tough (at Broncos training) and a few weren’t happy with how things were going and with what Haas has done, you have to question it and be a little bit curious about it don’t you?”
Code Sports journalist Dave Riccio wants to take Haas on his word on why he chose to sign with Souths from 2027 but thought the way the situation unfolded involving a legend of the club was strange.
“When you’ve got a special relationship with your club and I’ve watched it unfold with legends of the game. When they make a decision on their career they do it with the club’s involvement as well. It doesn’t come in the dark of the night and drop by a press release,” Riccio explained.
“I just thought it was too contrived and not done as one club that the absolute best front-rower in the game is leaving our club … They were caught off guard, what does that say? What’s the relationship like?
“We can only take him on his word (on why Haas left) … but there’s been way too much rumblings and way too much noise in and around he wants a change away from Madge’s style of coaching.”
The Broncos didn’t get a right of reply to match or increase on the Rabbitohs’ offer.
Haas’ mind was made up when he told his Broncos teammates of his decision just a few hours before the news dropped to the NRL world on a Sunday afternoon. Despite Brisbane attempting one last-ditch bid to keep Haas, the 26-year-old wasn’t going to budge.
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Crawley said that perhaps Haas was “insulted” by the Broncos’ initial offer and that was enough for him to head elsewhere. Nine’s Danny Weidler reported at the time that Brisbane had “lowballed” Haas, though the club refuted that claim.
“What’s intriguing is that they didn’t even get a chance to fire their last shot and pay the extra money because he walked out before giving the Broncos the last chance,” he said.
“Some people, when they are insulted once, they don’t get back again … The fact of the matter is that if he was truly happy at the club, he’s not leaving the Broncos when you’ve just won a comp.”
According to Haas, Bunnies coach Wayne Bennett is one of the major reasons behind the move south.
The two share a strong relationship dating back to Bennett’s second coaching stint at the Broncos. Bennett was the one who handed Haas his NRL debut back in 2018.
Crawley noted Bennett and Maguire’s coaching styles can be very different which could lead to a longer playing career for Haas.
“Wayne is a different style of coach to Madge. Madge is deadset full on 24/7 while Wayne is a different coach in that he doesn’t drive them as hard all the time,” Crawley said.
“Perhaps, Payne Haas may have looked at things and thought, ‘well, I’m 10 years into my career, do I get more longevity under Bennett?’”