Sacked Broncos coach Kevin Walters claims he could have convinced superstar prop Payne Haas to stay at Red Hill, throwing shade at the club’s premiership coach Michael Maguire and inflaming rumours the player wanted out due to a rift with the boss.
Club legend Walters coached the NRL team for four years. They missed the finals three times but almost won the 2023 premiership, ultimately losing to Penrith after leading the grand final by 16 points.
He was dumped as coach after the team finished 12th in 2024 and replaced by Maguire, who won Brisbane its first NRL premiership since 2006, despite running criticism from a section of Broncos old boys who remained dirty about the Walters axing.
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But a bomb was dropped on Broncos HQ just a few months after the grand final win, when Haas on Sunday revealed he will join South Sydney on a three-year deal from 2027.
Some are calling it the biggest player move to hit the NRL this century, up there with the likes of Cooper Cronk joining the Roosters or Greg Inglis moving to the Bunnies before winning the 2014 premiership.
Kevin Walters was sacked as Broncos coach. Getty
After the news broke on Sunday the rumour mill went into overdrive, with speculation claiming Haas had fallen out with Maguire.
He issued a carefully-crafted press release via the club on Thursday denying there was any issue with the coach, but confirming he was keen to reunite with his first NRL mentor Wayne Bennett at the Bunnies.
Speaking to the Inside Ball podcast, Walters was asked by co-host and Nine journalist Ben Dobbin if he believes he could have convinced Haas to stay at the Broncos.
“Yeah … but I’m not coaching there,” Walters replied.
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“If I was coaching in the NRL, he would be one of the first players I would target, so hats off to Wayne Bennett. He has fallen in his hands, it’s great for the Souths fans.”
Walters took the opportunity to flame the Maguire rumour without directly accusing the coach of falling out with arguably his best player.
Payne Haas of the Broncos celebrates a try. Getty
“It is a bit strange without knowing the full details and facts,” he said.
“Normally when your club wins a premiership and they have been to two grand finals in three years, the value of your players rises, it’s constantly rising with the salary cap and you are constantly under pressure to keep players.
“But Payne Haas is the peg in the ground, a long-term player. If you have Payne Haas in your stable, you do not lose Payne Haas.
“He is the world’s best prop and anyone who wants to argue that doesn’t know rugby league.
“It is puzzling why he has left. I don’t think it was about money, so what was it about? We are probably never going to know.
“He bleeds Brisbane. It’s just one of those mysteries. Some of the Souths players thought it was April Fool’s Day.
“It will never be revealed the exact reasons, it will just stay underwater.”
Walters said he has been in contact with Haas in the days since Sunday’s news broke.
“I haven’t spoken to him, I’ve only texted him,” Walters said.
“He is OK. There is a fair bit of stress on everyone but he is OK.
Haas will turn out for the Broncos this year as they look to back up their 2025 success with another premiership.
They are currently in England preparing for the World Club Challenge against Hull KR next weekend.