Brisbane Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy says the club is in constant dialogue with Payne Haas about extending his contract, amid reports the superstar prop is weighing up a mega-money switch to rebel rugby competition, R360. The Broncos have offered Haas an extension worth around $1.2 million a season, but it pales in comparison to what he could pocket with R360.
It’s understood Haas is weighing up a $3 million offer to join the upstart rugby competition, with tax incentives meaning the deal would be the equivalent of being on $5 million for one season in the NRL. If Haas does choose to make the switch though it would effectively be the end of his NRL career, with league bosses prepared to enforce 10-year bans for defectors.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy says Payne Haas will be given as much time as he needs to decide on the club’s contract extension and a potential switch to R360. Pic: Getty
Haas is still contracted with the Broncos until the end of 2026, when the R360 competition is set to get underway. But Donaghy and the Broncos are desperate to make Haas a Bronco for life after his extraordinary displays in 2025 helped the club snap its 19-year premiership drought.
The powerhouse forward, who turns 26 in coming days, only just returned to Brisbane late last week after enjoying some well-earned time off with his family in Fiji. And Brisbane’s CEO told SEN radio on Thursday that the club would give Haas as much time as he needs to make the biggest decision of his career.
Broncos happy to give Payne Haas time to decide his future
“His performances at the back-end of the year were enormous,” Donaghy told SEN about Haas. “We’re in constant conversation or dialogue with both Payne and his management. We’d love for Payne to stay, we’ve made no secret of that.
“He’s a Bronco through and through, he’s been great for the club and I feel in fairness the club has been great for him. It’s a wonderful relationship very much built on mutual respect and admiration and we’d very much like Payne to stay here.
“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. But hopefully he stays… it would feel wrong for him not to be a Bronco but there are some big decisions ahead for Payne and we’ll give him the time and respect to be able to go through that process and make those.”
Discussions over Payne Haas’ contract extension were put on hold while he was away on holidays with family. Image: Getty
Donaghy says he’s sceptical about the emergence of R360 and the threat it poses on the NRL, but is reluctant to dismiss the rebel rugby competition entirely. However, he’s confident the Broncos have the structures and culture in place to convince Haas to stay and build upon his legacy at the club.
RELATED:
“For us it’s just looking inwards, focusing on the environment we provide our athletes, the culture, the facilities we’ve got, the support staff around them to make them better players and also better people,” Donaghy said. “And if we do that I’ll back our program to keep our players and keep our group together.”
Speaking at Brisbane’s unveiling of their new club logo and away jersey on Wednesday, Broncos legend Darren Lockyer pleaded with Haas to stay and lead a new dynasty at the club. “At the end of the day, we love Payne and what he’s done for the club over the years,” the four-time premiership winner said. “He’s been a big part of the club, and we hope he stays.”